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| Bendición de una ermita en Austin, TX, USA Blessing of a wayside shrine in Austin, TX, USA Segnung eines Bildstocks in Austin, TX, USA |
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Sacerdotes presentes Priests Priester |
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Representantes de la Juventud Femenina con la MTA Representatives of the Girls’ Youth with the MTA picture Vertreterinnen der Mädchenjugend bringen das MTA-Bild |
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Ermita Wayside shrine Bildstock Fotos: Ruben Montez/Daniel Serdio © 2007 |
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USA, Ruben Montez. It was truly a blessed evening on the 31st of May 2007 at the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin's home on Addie Roy Road. The Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt made her home in the Wayside Shrine where in joyful anticipation they continue their hope and striving for a daughter Shrine, the Bethlehem Cradle of Sanctity, to be one day on this very same place.
In Schoenstatt, the Wayside Shrine plays an important role making the Blessed Mother present in a special way in not-so-typical outdoor locations for prayer and reflection. This particular Wayside Shrine began its life in Northeast Austin in the year 2000 where it was first erected by pioneer members of the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin. The Wayside shrine had been taken down and safeguarded by a local Schoenstatt family when the Schoenstatt Austin center was moved to its present location. Plans to re-erect and dedicate the same Wayside Shrine at its present location developed in a Leadership Circle meeting a few months ago with the goal to bridge the pioneer Schoenstatt Austin history with the present. The builder of this Wayside Shrine, Victor Alegria was able to restore the original Wayside Shrine and prepare it for re-erection and dedication.
Members of the Austin area Schoenstatt Family- Boys Youth, Girls Youth, Mothers groups, Couples groups, Rosary Campaign, the Annunciation Family Academy (an educational initiative), and friends gathered at 7pm at the Wayside Shrine site, which is outlined by large stones in the shape of the original shrine. They were also joined by Andrea Musalem a member of the Insitute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt from Santiago, Chile. The evening began with a welcome at the Shrine dedication site by Mrs. Sally Robb, where she beautifully spoke of the Capital of Grace and its significance in relationship with the Blessed Mother and her son Jesus.
A festive celebration
Holy Mass then followed, celebrated by Fr. Christian Christensen, with Fr. Jonathan Niehaus, Fr. Jesus Ferras, Fr. Johnson Nellissery visiting from India (all of the Schoenstatt Fathers' community), Fr. Ed Koharchik CSP of the University Catholic Center at the University of Texas and Msgr. W. Michael Mulvey, Vicar General of the Diocese of Austin concelebrating. Following the homily, members from all the branches formed a procession, ringing bells, with little girls dropping rose petals along the way. Representatives of the Girls Youth carried the image of the MTA to her new home at the top of the hill overlooking the distant hills of Austin. Fr. Christian officiated the dedication of the Wayside Shrine and erection of the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen of Schoenstatt picture on the Shrine. Through out Holy Mass we were serenaded by Schoenstatt traditional songs and those of the boy's youth from Chile who are presently studying in Austin.
Fr. Christian explained how the picture had traveled throughout the Austin area, spending time in the homes of many Schoenstatt families in North and South Austin so She could visit them in a personal way. Many sacrifices were made during her travels and stories were heard of many small gifts of her graces. The image also traveled for a weekend to the Condfidentia Schoenstatt daughter Shrine in Lamar, Texas with the "Operation Mario Missionaries" (Boys' Youth) from Chile and with Victor and Olga Alegria. How fitting it was that this dedication occurred on the Feast Day of the Visitation, Fr. Christian reminded the audience in his homily. The Holy Mass concluded with the offering of sacrifices and petitions written on small heart shaped pieces of paper that were offered up during Holy Mass. The "hearts" were then offered up and burned in a small fire bowl as a sign of love for our Lady of Schoenstatt. The evening continued with a pot luck supper and fellowship filling the guest house to overflowing.
Following a morning of heavy rain all thanked God the Father for the beautiful weather that evening and the not-so-many mosquitos! For those who stayed late into the evening we realized it was a grace filled evening marked by a rare "blue moon" night.
In closing, a prayer by Schoenstatt's Founder, Fr. Josef Kentenich, was called to mind: "Nos cum prole pia benedicat virgo Maria. Bless us all, every single member and every single child of our family. Also bless the entire Schoenstatt family so that our little shrine may become, in every respect, like the stable of Bethlehem, so that representatives of all peoples and nations will come as pilgrims to this cradle of sanctity and a stream of grace will flow into our modern world, bringing the whole world back to Christ, the little king in the manger." (Fr. Kentenich 1928)