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Siempre con la mirada dirigida hacia el Santuario Always looking at the Shrine... Immer mit dem Blick zum Heiligtum… |
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Mil Ave Maria en Adoración del Santisimo Sacramento, en Paso Mayor Thousand Hail Mary in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in Paso Mayor Tausend Ave Maria in Eucharistischer Anbetung, in Paso Mayor |
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Construcción de la casa del casero Construction of the house of the caretakers Bau der Hausmeisterwohnung |
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Taller Workshop Gesprächsrunde |
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Ermita con la Placa por la Canonización de Joao. Wayside Shrine with the plaque for the canonization of John Pozzobon Bildstock mit dem Gebet um die Seligsprechung von Joao Pozzobon Fotos: Zunini © 2007 |
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ARGENTINA, Diana Zunini. On Sunday, March 11th, about 100 pilgrims and missionaries of the Rosary Campaign shared a Journey of prayer and reflection in Paso Mayor, united around the Mother and Queen of the People.
The encounter was the starting point for the Campaign, in search for the annual motto of pilgrimage, enlightened by the prayer of the One Thousand Hail Marys in adoration. In preparation for the year 2014, the centennial of the Covenant of Love and of the Original Shrine, the Schoenstatt Movement of the Archdiocese of Bahia Blanca is using the letters of the word SHRINE (in Spanish - Santuario), the letter for this year is N: Nothing without You, nothing without us.
To conquer the 24 hours of each day
The Journey began at 10:00 a.m. and it was very pleasant in spite of the difficulties on the road and that unfortunately many could not come because the road was closed for construction,
After the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the arrival of the Auxiliary to the Shrine, the prayer of the One Thousand Hail Marys began. The reflections were held in the Father’s hall, recalling the words that Father Kentenich said in Paso Mayor: "If instead of coming with empty hands, we would come here with full hands; the sacrifices that we bring are the reason that the Mother of God contemplates us with great joy". This stressed his effort for self-education, in the effort to know his own limitations, and to use self-education as the active cooperation and being conscious of the educational action of Mary.
Texts about anecdotes and different aspects of the life of John Pozzobon were also shared, to show how he acquired self-education at the hand of Mary, united to Tabor Shrine. They contemplated on his life so that it would enlighten their own life, their own road of self-knowledge, in order to overcome obstacles, and as he said: "to conquer the 24 hours of each day", everyone’s capital of grace will support the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign.
The reflections continued after alternate lunch times, and shopping in the bookstore. The closing session was held in front of the Shrine, to share the groups’ conclusions. The comments included the need of getting to know each other, of forgiving each other, always with a gaze toward the Shrine; to discover that in intimate and loyal dialogue with Mary they should change or to develop "a little bit more" to place it at the service of others, as living Shrines.
Let us transform our lives in the Covenant with Mary
In conclusion, the motto that was proposed for this year is: "Let us transform our lives in the Covenant with Mary".
Then it was time for Mass with the commissioning of the Pilgrim MTAs, in which Father Juan D’amico, reflected that the Lord tells us: I am the God of Life, of the pilgrims", and in this life God always accompanies us and he calls us to eliminate what is not good in our life, that which does not belong in our life. God has the power to transform us, but he needs our help.
After Mass they went singing in procession to the Wayside Shrine of John Pozzobon, where the plaque of John carrying the Pilgrim MTA on his shoulder was removed and it was replaced with an acrylic plaque with the prayer for his canonization. The plaque will be placed on the Wayside Shrine again when Joao is beatified, according to what Father Argemiro Ferracioli, postulator of John’s cause of canonization, said when he was in Paso Mayor. Just as John walked 140,000 kilometers, the plaque with his image will "walk" through the different communities, and prayers will be said for his intercession for abundant graces, especially for the sick, so that a miracle will be worked and that he will be canonized soon.
This is how they bid each other farewell until April 15th, when the 55th Anniversary of the Shrine will be celebrated with the certainty that Mary "will offer us her ability, power and educational strength".
"An explosion of faith"
Alicia, Granieri, a missionary of the Rosary Campaign from Bahia Blanca, from the community of the chapel of Saints Peter and Saint Paul, cannot find the words to describe what they experienced with "an explosion of faith":
"After the March 2006 pilgrimage, where we chose the motto "Strengthened in the Covenant, we walk, certain of the Mission", we truly feel the strength that the Covenant of Love which is lived with Mary gives. Our enthusiasm was great and contagious, each missionary placed all their love and work at the service of the Campaign and of the group. Bety made sure that those who sealed their Covenant would truly feel this exchange of hearts with the Blessed Mother, and she prepared a workshop for those who wanted to renew our Covenant. Maria Laura was in charge of the religious store and the post office where the petitions from the area are received. Norma, Silvia and Vilma were in charge of remodeling the religious store and the "Father Maibach" bookstore and they took care of them with great dedications and kindness. Elsa and Estela offered their service at the Regional Journey, working in the kitchen. I am writing an article for the chapel’s bi-monthly bulletin so the community will know about the Blessed Mother, the Campaign and its mission, and all the activities that are carried out in our group and in the Movement. Another thing that was carried out along with Cristina, Maria, Susy, Ester and Raquel was that we received the Auxiliary Shrine in May and it traveled to businesses, the school, the retirement center, the scouts and the children in catechism, who took her to the chapel in procession, and then began the One Thousand Hail Marys in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This time we crowned Mary so that She would reign in our Covenant of Love.
Collaboration with the parish
We participated in the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Paso Mayor, collaborating in the organization of the events that were carried out. Pilgrim MTAs were crowned. A missionary went to the Annual Journey of Representatives in Florencio Varela, another one went on pilgrimage to Brazil; we participated in team meetings, in talks organized by the Campaign, etc. All these experiences were shared at the monthly meetings, where we also presented a didactic workshop: we learned more about family life, the mission and about John’s holiness, how he lived his Covenant with the Blessed Mother and the fruits that this gave. At this time a new Auxiliary with a Father Eye visited us. At other meetings we read the Word of God and we chose different verses that were related to the mysteries of the rosary. At home each one meditated on the message of the verse that he was assigned and applied to his life, we committed to learn all the mysteries. Every Wednesday, we also prayed the rosary before Mass and we collaborated with the chapel and with the priests in different ways: Gladys is in charge of washing and ironing the altar linens, I collaborate as a Eucharistic Minister. We also participated as lectors and collecting the offerings, cleaning or in the campaigns that carried throughout the year.
A very strong, spiritual and concrete commitment
During Advent we prepared with an encounter where we reflected about the sacrament of reconciliation. How did we prepare our heart to receive Jesus? We made a very strong, spiritual and concrete commitment. In the spiritual aspect we went to confession, we expressed our gratitude to God and asked for His forgiveness and that of our neighbor. The concrete aspect was to collect baby clothes that were taken to the Penna Hospital, where it was joyfully and gratefully received by the volunteers. We also lived our Covenant intensely, we did all this without abandoning our mission with the Blessed Mother and her Son, Jesus. The most outstanding thing is that everyone in the group participates, some more actively; others supporting with their collaboration or by praying so that everything will turn out well.
We truly lived an "explosion of life" in 2006 and our desire is to continue by the hand of the Mother Thrice Admirable and to continue to grow in the faith during this year 2007.
The Blessed Mother is in haste
I am reporting all of this for the sole purpose of encouraging all the groups: to work hard so that they can follow this "heroic" road strengthened in the Covenant and so that those groups that feel discouraged or indifferent will interiorly seek the strength of the Covenant which gives life. So that the missionaries will become encouraged with prayer and with the capital of grace, asking other groups and the priests for help, and above all to place everything in the hands of the Mother of God. She is in haste so that her mission of taking her Son will reach all the families. John understood this, he knew about difficulties, illnesses, discouragement, but his heroism made him continue and today he asks us to continue with his Campaign and he asks for loyalty to it.
The Blessed Mother chose Paso Mayor to stay; Father Kentenich brought her picture and blessed the Blessed Mother’s Shrine, our Shrine. The many graces we have received should give fruit and this is our mission.
An explosion of faith, love, holiness, and commitment should explode in our hearts. It is an explosion of life that will expand from the Shrine of Paso Mayor to all the families. Our Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt will make it possible…"
Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA