Called to Action

Covenant Day in May

Misa de Alianza en la Iglesia de Peregrinos Covenant Mass in the Pilgrims’ Church Bündnismesse in der Pilgerkirche
Prédica: P. Egon Zillekens Sermon: Fr. Egon Zillekens Ansprache: Pfr. Egon Zillekens
Alianza de Amor en el Santuario Original Covenant of Love at the Original Shrine Liebesbündnis am Urheiligtum
La Hermana M. Consuelo con peregrinos de Chile y Perú Sister Consuelo with pilgrims from Chile and Peru Schwester Consuelo mit Pilgern aus Chile und Peru
Apertura de la Novena de Pentecostés Opening of the Pentecost Novena Eröffnung der Pfingstnovene Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Once again, Covenant Day was celebrated in the shadow of the Original Shrine, united to all who from Shrines, Wayside Shrines, and Homeshrines spiritually directed yourselves to the Original Shrine, the place where the Covenant of Love was sealed on that October 18^th. "Today, as each 18^th, heaven touches earth, but this 18^th is special: it is May, month of the Queen and we hope that you will always remain loyal to your covenant", Mario and Vivian Mera, from Ecuador, wrote to all their friends. Yes indeed, it is a special 18^th because it is the month of Mary that is celebrated during the month of May in many countries, but furthermore, it is also a special 18^th because it was celebrated in the Novena for Pentecost and while the V General Episcopal Conference of Latin America and of the Caribbean was held, and a few days after the Ecumenical Journey "Together for Europe".

What great joy the Holy Father’s first visit to Brazil has awakened! What a joy to see so many Pilgrim MTAs, an Auxiliary and a 24m² picture that the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth from Brazil took to all the encounters with the Pope! What a joy to know that the Jensens are representing Schoenstatt at the Conference, and that there are several Schoenstatt members present! A joy that this is being transformed into a mission! "When the Holy Father mentioned the youth and the ecclesial movements during his homily, everyone could hear a shout that said: "Pope Benedict Schoenstatt loves you!" Yes, we were there, to tell the Pope that we love him", says Father Mateus (in one of the six of his articles which will be published on sch.de during the course of the Conference). "But now that he is already back in Rome, now that he has left us, what are we going to say? It was impressive to have appeared live on O Globo (One of Brazil’s most important TV channels and one of the largest in the world)…but are we only going to stay in the euphoria of the moment? Are we simply going to remain with a marked impression of unforgettable day? No! Today we want to say: Pope Benedict, Schoenstatt loves you! We want to say as our Father and Founder: Church, Schoenstatt loves you! We want to be disciples and missionaries of Christ in the present time. Meanwhile, to continue to say: Pope Benedict, Schoenstatt loves you!, today we have to manifest our love for the Church and our love for the Pope. How! By renewing ourselves in the mission everyday; truly loving the Church through our love for apostolic and pastoral works, be it in the parishes, universities, schools, etc. I seek to be a disciple and missionary of Christ today! Our Father and Founder sought to be disciple and missionary of Christ… and you?’

This is a question that is not only directed to the Latin American Schoenstatt Family. Today during the celebration in the Original Shrine reference was also made about the V Conference and the subject of being disciples and missionaries – obviously it was a Pentecostal theme. It was the Holy Spirit, implored through the disciples around Mary, who transformed them into missionaries and made them go out to encounter of others, who made them go out to the ends of the earth.

Seven "yeses" for Europe

In the homily of the Covenant Mass, Father Egon Zillekens, a Federation Priest, tied the missionary impulse of Pentecost with the experience of the congress and of the Journey "Together for Europe" that was celebrated on May 10th-12^th in Stuttgart, with the participation of 250 Movements of different beliefs, in which there was a strong participation by Schoenstatt members. This Journey culminated with a proclamation of "seven Yeses for Europe" –without dwelling on complaints and claims that is sometimes typical of Christians, without stressing the "no"; rather a yes that is a concrete call to action: Yes to life from the moment of conception to a natural death, yes to the commitment of solidarity with the poor, yes to the family, yes to creation, defending nature and the environment, yes to economic equality, yes to peace (there is already talk about a joint action for Lebanon), yes to the political and social responsibility. This yes, said Father Zillekens, should serve as an impetus to go our of the comfort zone and to go forth into missionary activity. "I liked what Father Zillekens said very much about the YES that we should give. I had not thought about what would follow the V Conference.

This made it very clear. We have to go out of the comfort zone, as Father Zillekens said and launch a missionary action. We have to transform the culture, as Archbishop Karlik said in the retreat at the beginning of the Conference, writes, Maria Gabriela Kyling, from Osorno, Chile.

Renewing the Covenant of Love

After the Covenant Mass, everyone went to the Original Shrine, where they joined some groups who had not participated in the Mass, which included a very diverse group of people surrounding the Original Shrine: novices of the Fathers, novices and candidates of the Sisters from various countries, pilgrims from Chile and Peru accompanied by Sister Consuelo, Schoenstatt mothers on retreat (obviously they broke the silence…), Polish families from Berlin…and many other representatives from Hungry, India, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa…In different languages – German, Spanish, English and Polish- everyone was invited to make a moment of silence to prepare themselves for the most important event of this day, of all this celebration: the renewal of the Covenant of Love. Afterwards, everyone prayed: My Queen, my Mother in their proper language.

While almost all the people went to the fire to burn the Capital of Grace, Father Felipe, a priest from Mexico, sealed his Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine. Congratulations!

We also congratulate the Campaign in the city of Rafaela, Argentina: "Today, May 18^th was the 10^th Anniversary of the arrival of the first Pilgrim MTA to Rafaela. They prayed the One Thousand Hail Marys, they attended a Mass in the cathedral and the next day the youth made a pilgrimage to the Wayside Shrine, related Maria Rosa, a missionary of the Campaign. Some beautiful news for Elsa Bertrero, from Mar del Plata: I was touched to know that there is Wayside Shrine in Rafaela (Province of Santa Fe) where I lived my first 9 years of married life. (We will happily celebrated our Golden Anniversary last December 22nd). I was also enthused about the modification of negative attitudes that overcome us. It is something that bothers me and I was trying to collaborate in some way concerning this subject and I was able to say a Yes that speaks for itself...

For us in Colombia it is wonderful to be members of a marvellous and large family. We unite to this mission of being disciples and missionaries so that the people will have life in Him. This is the same thing that the Founder wanted, for us to be a voice for the Church, that is how we understand our mission and we are determined to do it under the protection and care of the Mother Thrice Admirable. Here, a crowning current is taking place and we plan to crown the Blessed Mother on May 31st with a wonderful celebration. We want the Blessed Mother to intercede for peace for Colombia and that she will grant us a little place. Since She cannot be outdone in generosity we believe that we will be telling her soon where we have enthroned her. Furthermore, we believe that we will close the month of May which is dedicated to Mary with crowning glory." writes Maria Riaño from Bogota. There will also be a crowning in Lima, Peru on May 31st.

Congratulations are also extended to Houston Texas, USA, where a couple’s group was recently formed and this day for the first time there was a Covenant Mass. Furthermore, it was the first time that a Covenant Mass was held in Houston!

The words of Monsignor Karlik, Archbishop Emeritus from Paraná, that were part of his speech at the beginning of the V Conference, can serve as a call for all of us. "To be disciples of Jesus means receiving the grace of continuing his work, his mission, to be a disciple and to be a missionary…In this way we are the Father’s messengers, moved by the Spirit to steal the heart of the people. We want to steal the people’s heart by loving them first, like Jesus loves them, to be sacraments of this first love of Jesus for each one of them, for all peoples, to transform the culture, to make the way to heaven on earth, to make the present time an initiation, a beginning of eternal life".

In the Covenant of Love, the MTA has stolen our heart, ours and that of many more people…to give them to her Son, Jesus!

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA /amj~