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| Peregrinación a los pesebres en Schoenstatt: la Hna Andrea con niños en la capilla de la Casa de Formación de las Hermanas Pilgrimage to the mangers in Schoenstatt: Sister Andrea with children in the House Chapel of Schulungsheim Krippenfahrten mit Krippenwanderung auf Berg Schönstatt: Schw. Andrea mit Kindern in der Hauskapelle des Schulungsheims |
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Comienzan en el Santuario Original Starting in the Original Shrine Beginn im Urheiligtum |
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Pesebre en la Casa de Misión Manger in the Mission House Krippe im Missionshaus |
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Junto al pesebre... By the crib... An der Krippe... |
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Muestra de pesebres Manger Show Krippen-Ausstellung |
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Pesebre en la Casa de Formación Manger in Schulungsheim Krippe im Schulungsheim Fotos: T. Wieland © 2007 |
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SCHOENSTATT, Teresa Wieland. As it is known, during Christmas, Schoenstatt receives visits from many people from the surrounding area. Here the people find what they are seeking during this time of commemoration, a time of joy and hope: the Christmas spirit. This is the reason so many people arrive here to participate in the "Ten Minutes by the crib" (the vigil with Christmas carols), at the same time it is also an excellent opportunity to visit the other mangers in the different houses and in this way learn more about the place.
"The groups come in the morning", says Sister Andrea, who is charge of the various groups during these days. "Sometimes they celebrate a Mass here, and then they have lunch. Then, they all gather in the Original Shrine and they begin their pilgrimage from there. "Recently, for example, two buses arrived from Xanten solely to make this pilgrimage. This year the groups had the opportunity to come from December 26th until January 8th. After visiting some mangers on Mount Schoenstatt, the groups go to the Adoration Church to share the Ten Minutes at the Manger with other visitors.
Pilgrims from Xanten
The group from Xanten (almost a 2 hour bus ride from Schoenstatt), who come on pilgrimage almost every year, come to see the mangers of the Original Shrine, the Mission House and the House of Formation. After a short vigil with songs, they walk up the mountain. For the bus drivers it is almost a test of courage, because the road is full of curves. In the Mission House, they can see mangers in the house chapel as well as several models of the Holy Family from different countries, among them, Ecuador, Africa, Brazil, Bolivia, and many more. The children are entertained accompanying the carolers with the little bells that Sister Andrea passes out, and they listen intently to the story of the Three Kings (represented by wooden figures) placed on the Christmas Pyramid, a typical German decoration.
The story of the Three Kings
The first king says that he wants to help the people and in this way find the true meaning of life. The second king follows, he wants these days to be days of much happiness and harmony. He wants the people to find an atmosphere of cordiality and sincerity. Sister Andrea shares some experiences of this Christmas, for example, that they were able to donate a manger to a children’s home, who did not know how to celebrate Christmas because they did not have a manger. Or in the case of a Serb family who was looking for work, the sisters could not help them, but they still wanted to give them Christmas gifts: games, stuffed animals, and clothes for their children. It was a way of giving this family some happiness on this day. After several songs, the group continues on it way from the Formation House to the Adoration Church to participate in the representation of the birth of Jesus with their children.
A success
The Sisters of Mary have offered the opportunity of spending a day in Schoenstatt during Christmas time for three years. During 2 hours the people travel to the different houses. The Ladies of Schoenstatt also organize the same thing except that in their case they make pilgrimages to the different parishes close to Schoenstatt. Some times up to seven buses per day arrive to Schoenstatt, which means there is much organization and work for the Sisters, but this does not bother them; rather, it is part of their of the contribution of providing the true meaning of Christmas. "For me, the best gift is for the people to have a beautiful day, full of joy and that they can take something of what they experience here, an atmosphere of peace, to their homes", says Sister Andrea, who wants to repeat this pastoral action next year because of the success it has had.
Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA