Walking through Vallendar, knapsacks on their shoulders and rosaries in hand

More than six hundred pilgrims from the Diocese of Fulda opened the 2007 Diocesan Pilgrimage Season to Schoenstatt, "Vallendar, here we come!"

Pasando por las casas lindas de Vallendar Walking past the beautiful houses of Vallendar Vorbei geht es an den schönen Fachwerkhäusern in Vallendar
Prédica: P. Gerhard Stanke, Fulda Sermon: Fr. Gerhard Stanke, Fulda Predigt: Domvikar Dr. Gerhard Stanke, Fulda
Bodas de Caná: María le habla a Jesús Cana: Mary speaks to Jesus Hochzeit zu Kana: Maria spricht mit Jesus
Envío en el Santuario Original Covenant of Love at the Original Shrine Liebesbündnis und Aussendung am Urheiligtum
La vie en rose: Banda de vientos de los bomberos voluntarios de Dirlos La Vie en Rose: Brass band of the Volunteer Fire Fighters of Dirlos La Vie en Rose: Blaskapelle der Freiwilligen Feuerwehr Dirlos Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. 9:00 a.m. on April 29th. Vallendar awakens. A tempting aroma of recently baked bread flows out of Café Kreyes. Two joggers make their way through Hellenstrasse, as a mother and her child walk behind them. "Look, mother!" The mother and the joggers look, at 600 people coming with flags, knapsacks, rosaries and pictures of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt. They also hear the sound of the wind band of the volunteer firemen from Dirlos. The marchers departed in the early morning from the city of Fulda and the Rhone. First Communicants, families, youths and also adults come to initiate their annual pilgrimage to Schoenstatt, which starts each year near the shores of the Rhine and crosses through Vallendar towards the Original Shrine.

"Vallendar, here we come!" the happy pilgrims from Fulda seem to say as they left the bus and went up the steps of the pedestrian bridge of highway B42 to cross to the other side. Flags waved, a young man proudly carried a Pilgrim MTA, the wind band positioned itself on the parking lot, while one bus after another arrived.

Vallendar is radiant with bright sunshine as the line of people march through Hellenstasse towards the city square, passing by Wildburg House and crossing the main street - stopping traffic for about 15 minutes -before parading through Gilgenborn Street towards Schoenstatt.

Songs and the prayers of the rosary are heard. They are 600 testimonies of the joy found in God. Windows are opened, with children and youth look curiously at this long line of happy people singing and praying. An older man taps to the beat of the music with his finger from a window ledge.

"All the pilgrimages should pass through Vallendar and, of course, with a wind band like this one!" commented an enthusiastic Argentinean who was almost "fanatical" watching the videos of this pilgrimage through the city. (VIDEO).

Love without limits

After visiting the Original Shrine - Schoenstatt's center and original source of grace, the pilgrims participated in the Holy Mass celebrated by the Chapter Vicar, Father Dr. Gerhard Stanke, who explained the motto of the pilgrimage, "Return to the source", with great biblical depth: (Homily in German).

"Why didn't Jesus come down from the cross since he had already suffered so much?" asked Father Stanke. Because if he had God would have loved us to a certain limit, and no one would be completely convinced of being truly loved by Him. But Jesus loved us to the extreme, and each one of us can be certain the he always loves us in every situation. Jesus' infinite love is the source from which the current of life and redemption flows to us, without limits and forever."

During the offertory, the pilgrims offer the jars they had brought to the altar so, like at the Wedding of Cana, the water of daily life would be transformed into a wine of grace and source of life.

At the end of the Mass, the loud sound of the wind band from Dirlos that masterfully accompanied the Eucharistic celebration, intoned the Hymn to Saint Boniface:

"Messenger sent by God to announce the salvation or our native land. Father of faith, Good Shepherd, loyal and constant witness… Accompany us with your help and make us loyal in the faith, Oh Saint Boniface".

Spring concert, wedding, wine and roses

During the early afternoon, the wind band of the volunteer firemen transformed the Schoenstatt Pilgrims' Square into an auditorium, offering a spring concert that attracted some neighbors from Vallendar and many others in addition to the pilgrims. "The friend of mine who searched for me in Internet how to reach Schoenstatt, he told me: Eladia, this Sunday there is a great celebration!", said Eladia Gutiérrez, who is from the Dominican Republic, but has lived in Italy since she was 15 years old. She joyfully joined this pilgrimage from Fulda along with her sister from Santo Domingo. "It is truly a celebration. It was worth while to stay here one more day". Both of them irradiated joy at the sound of "La vie en rose"…(VIDEO)

During the afternoon, there were several activities for the pilgrims, including encounters with Sister M. Emilie and Mario Hiriart, a visit to Father Kentenich's tomb, prayer in the Original Shrine, a guided visit through the valley, a visit to Father Kentenich House, and some simply chose to sit in the sun, listening to music, drinking coffe. The children were divided into groups and they ran after the Sisters of Mary to ask for their signature, and since there were several pilgrims from Brazil and Chile, they went after them since each group was supposed to gather three signatures from people outside of Germany as well as three from the Sisters.

Later, during a Marian hymn, the First Communion children were the center of attention. They presented the biblical scene of the Wedding of Cana, where the wine ran out and water was transformed into a better wine. "In the same way, sometimes happiness escapes us", said Father Schafer emphasizing the theme. Then it is good to know that Mary will tell her Son: Jesus, Maximillian and Vanessa are having a hard time. And we can be sure that Jesus will do something."

The pilgrimage ended with another visit to the Original Shrine, where each First Communion child presented a rose to Jesus and Mary as a sign of their gratitude for having received the Eucharistic Jesus for the first time. Then everyone renewed their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother, and they received the blessing. Father Schafer, Dicoesan Director of the Movement, invited everyone to come on pilgrimage again with friends and relatives to the Schoenstatt Shrine in Dietershausen, their Diocesan Shrine, which will celebrate its Golden Anniversary on June 17th.

Then it was time to depart. To the tune of "Oh Heavenly Lady," everyone surrounded the pyre to burn the notes that were in the jar. Then they boarded the bus. The Sisters from the Pilgrims' Center and Father Bodo Erhard waved to the pilgrims as they departed.

The pilgrimage from Fulda opened the season of the large diocesan pilgrimages. It was a beautiful event, full of sunshine and joy. It was a colossal celebration!

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA / Judy Harlowe, Milwaukee, WI, USA

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