The southernmost point of the American continent – land of the Blessed Mother

The Blessed Mother was enthroned at Cape Froward by the family of Punta Arena

Llegando Arriving Ankunft
Despues de 8 horas de navegación... After 8 hours on boat... Nach acht Stunden Fahrt mit dem Schiff...
Por las aguas del Estrecho Magellan Through the waters of the Magullan Strait Durch die Magellan-Straße
La Mater llegó The MTA is there! Angekommen!
Gracias, Mater Thanks you, dear Blessed Mother Danke, Gottesmutter! Fotos: Octavio Galarce/Vinculo © 2007

CHILE, Susy Jacob Abu-Gosch. The family from Punta Arena took the Blessed Mother and enthroned her on Cruz de los Mares on a pilgrimage that lasted 8 hours navigating on a ship and 3 hours trekking to Cape Froward.

Many times in life words cannot express the moments we have experienced. This is one of those cases. Everything that the Family of Punta Arenas experienced on the pilgrimage to Cruz de los Mares on Cape Froward, the southern most point of the American continent, will be and unforgettable memory in our lives and which we hope to transmit with the same excitement that we experienced.

A brilliant idea

This year Chile is celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of the John Paul II’s visit. In Magallanes, they wanted to stress the anniversary of the Cruz de los Mares or Cruz de Froward, that Pope John Paul blessed from heaven when he passed through southern most region.

This is why the Armada, along with the episcopate, organized a pilgrimage of 400 people to the place that took 4 hours of navigation in 7 ships to Cape Froward, to then ascend by trekking to a rock of 400 meters to reach the Cruz de los Mares.

The Schoenstatt Family gladly accepted the invitation, joining in the great idea of taking the picture of the Blessed Mother to enthrone her at the foot of the cross. An in an internal way, it was decided to carry out this pilgrimage as Capital of Grace to conquer our own land where a shrine could be built in the future.

Through the Strait of Magellan

On Saturday we met at Prat Pier at 5:50 a.m. All of us eagerly rose at dawn since this was a very unique opportunity. The Family was represented by 14 members, belonging to the branches of couples, Mothers, Allies and Pioneers.

Everyone dressed in very warm and trekking clothing, it looked like we were wearing costumes, but from the beginning the joy was the main characteristic of this adventure.

We embarked on the ship, Sibbald, where Commander Durán and Captain Diaz who were in charge of the navigation gave us special treatment that made the trip very pleasant and enjoyable.

We navigated for 4 hours through the waters of the Strait of Magellan, from east to west, passing by Fort Bunes and the San Isidro Lighthouse, to approach Cape Froward, the southern most point of the continent.

With mud up to the knees

We disembarked from the ship in zodiacs with visible orange life vests. The truth is that it was a little scary. At the edge of the beach and with the Schoenstatt flag on high, we began to walk.

The ascent was through a beautiful steep slope. But everyone looked at the cross on top of the Rock and we did not imagine how we would reach the very top.

The path was marked by a Via and at certain meters the personnel of the Armada helped the pilgrims.

Halfway up the road, the mud was the main characteristic of the land, since there were so many pilgrims and a light rain began to fall, sometimes we were in mud up to our knees.

But the weariness did not weaken us. And here I want to make special mention of Nelly Saavedra, a member of the Mothers’ Branch. The truth is that many of us thought that this pilgrimage was not for her, but her love of the Blessed Mother, and her joy and vitality gave us an indescribable example, well, when she reached the peak we were so excited to see her and we could not believe it. The 14 of us were there, on Cruz de los Mares, with a wonderful picture of the Blessed Mother that would be enthroned.

An unforgettable ceremony

After the ceremony was carried out by the Church and naval authorities, the pilgrims spread out through the place and we, the Schoenstatters, accompanied by Bishop Bernardo Bastres and the Commander in Charge of the III Naval Zone, Rear-Admiral Edmundo González, held a simple ceremony of enthronement.

Bishop Bernardo blessed the picture of the MTA and he invited us to kiss it. Then, Alejandro González, coordinator of the Movement read a prayer.

Finally the picture of our beloved Blessed Mother Thrice Admirable was tied with copper wires, while the participants sang the Hymn of the Family with emotion.

After a couple of hours of descent and waiting we returned to the ships. The 4 hours of navigation of the return trip to Punta Arenas was marked by the emotion that we had experienced this day. We did something big for love the Blessed Mother and Schoenstatt, which will always remain in the deepest part of our hearts.

Today our Blessed Mother is at the southern most point of the continent, guiding the steps of the navigators of the icy waters of the Strait. From there, we are sure that many will say "She is the great missionary, She will work miracles".

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA