A Movement revolves around the Shrine

First Meeting at National Level on the Pastoral Work of the Schoenstatt Shrines in Brazil

Conferencia Conference Konferenz
La Campaña y el Santuario The Campaign and the Shrine Kampagne der Pilgernden Gottesmutter und Heiligtum
Santa Misa en el Santuario Holy Mass in the Shrine Heilige Messe im Heiligtum
P. Alexandre Awi de Mello, P. Matheus Bernardes, Hna Cacilda Becker Fr. Alexandre Awi de Mello, Fr. Matheus Bernardes, Sr. Cacilda Becker P. Alexandre Awi de Mello, P. Matheus Bernardes, Sr. Cacilda Becker Fotos: www.maeperegrina.com.br © 2007

BRAZIL; Sr. M. Nilza P. da Silva: From 1 to 3 June representatives from all of the Schoenstatt Shrines in Brazil met in Jaraguá/São Paulo for the for the First Meeting at National Level on the Pastoral Work of the Schoenstatt Shrines in Brazil. The Meeting sought to examine the realities emanating from our Shrines and to understand what exactly is meant by the "Pastoral Work of the Shrines".

After Fr. Pedro Cabello, National Director for Assessors, had welcomed everyone, the participants went on a spiritual pilgrimage of each Brazil’s Shrines by watching a slideshow that showed the various activities in the shadow of each of these Shrines.

Fr. Alexandre Awi then spoke about "The Shrine and its Pastoral Work". Various elements were discussed, among them the ecclesial importance of the pastoral work of the Shrines and the development of a Marian Apostolate from the Schoenstatt Shrines, given that Mary is the Educator of the new man in the new society.

The Pilgrim Mother Campaign and the Shrines

The relationship between the Pilgrim Mother Campaign and the pastoral work of the Schoenstatt Shrines ensued in form of a discussion forum. Sr. Rosequiel presented the history of the Pilgrim Mother Campaign, where it started in the shadow of the Tabor Shrine in Santa Maria. She also made reference to our Father and Founder’s pastoral work that grew from this Shrine and the chapels that were created in the Fifth Italian Colony, in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, as a result of this. In addition to this, she also pointed out the importance that our Father and Founder gave to the Covenant celebrations on the 18th of each month.

Sr. Gláucia, who is reponsible for pilgrimages to the Tabor Shrine of the Permanent Presence of the Father in Atibaia, São Paulo, gave the second presentation of the meeting. This Shrine currently receives more visitors than any other Shrine in Brasil, where each weekend many pilgrims are drawn to repay the monthly visit that the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother makes to their homes. She spoke about the pastoral work that is done with these pilgrims. The third presentation, given by Fr. Antonio Bacht, showed the relationship between João Luiz Pozzobon and the pastoral work of the Shrines.

Human Beings are pilgrims by nature

During the second forum, Fr. Romeu Colling presented the outcomes of the Latin-American Meeting on the Pastoral Work of the Shrines, which took place in Tupãrendá last year. Thereafter, Sr. Rosequiel presented Fr. Guillermo Carmona’s speech: human beings are pilgrims (homo viator) by nature and go out to meet with God; God also makes himself a pilgrim and goes out to meet with human beings. Their meeting place becomes a Shrine (and in the case of the Schoenstatt Shrines, this meeting takes place with Mary as the intermediary). The main aim of all the pastoral work of the Shrines is to makes this encounter as fruitful as possible. To conclude the forum, Fr. Romeu Colling presented the consensus document of the Meeting.

It was then time to work in groups to define the Mission Statement for the Pastoral Work of the Schoenstatt Shrines in Brazil, its areas of activity, the characteristics that distinguish the Schonestatt Shrine from other Shrines and to determine concrete goals for the following year.

Mission Statement for the Pastoral Work of the Schoenstatt Shrines

To welcome the pilgrim and to give him/her a deep experience of God in the Shrine through our MTA, as Educator, calling him/her to live out the Covenant of Love.

Characteristics of the Schoenstatt Shrines

• Covenant of Love with the MTA (Schoenstatt Mystery)
• Capital of Grace (The Shrine becomes a source of grace by means of human collaboration in daily life)
• Mary as Educator
• Inner miracles (God’s ordinary action; practical faith in Divine Providence)
• The three graces emerging from the Shrine (a spiritual home, inner transformation and apostolic mission)
• A Movement revolves around the Shrine
• Belonging to a network of Shrines (Original Shrine, daughter Shrines, parish Shrines, Home Shrines, Work Shrines, Heart Shrines, etc.)

Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, South Africa