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Congress of the Mothers' Federation: Southern Schoenstatt Hospitality: Argentinean Style
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2007-10-16

One with the Heart of the Father: Making all things new

Southern Schoenstatt Hospitality: Argentinean Style

 

Teilnehmerinnen des 2. Internationalen Kongresses des Mütterbundes in Nuevo Schoenstatt

Participantes del 2° Congreso Internacional de la Federación de Madres en Nuevo Schoenstatt

Participants of the 2nd International Congreso of the Mothers’ Federation in Nuevo Schoenstatt

Teilnehmerinnen des 2. Internationalen Kongresses des Mütterbundes in Nuevo Schoenstatt

Foto: Podestá © 2007

 

Der Austausch klappt auch über die Sprachbarrieren hinweg

Intercambio alegre

A joyful sharing

Der Austausch klappt auch über die Sprachbarrieren hinweg

 
In Erwartung...  

Esperando...

Waiting...

In Erwartung...

 
Sr. Luciane, Sr. Regina und Ehepaar Vallendor  

La Hna Luciane, la Hna Regina, el matrimonio Vallendor

Sr. Luciane, Sr. Regina, Odette and Alfredo Vallendor

Sr. Luciane, Sr. Regina und Ehepaar Vallendor

Fotos: Hemetzberger © 2007

 

 

 

ARGENTINA, M. Luciane Machens. There was much joy along with tearful farewells at the end of the Congress of the Mothers’ Federation in New Schoenstatt. Nothing will be the same anymore, as we returned to our countries changed profoundly and enriched by the experiences we had, and grateful for the experience of living the Cor unum in Patre. But, the German delegation had not bid farewell to New Schoenstatt just yet. We wanted to know more about some of Father Kentenich’s footsteps in Argentina, and we also wanted to have some encounters with the Federation Mothers beyond the Congress.

Our stay and participation in these three extended conferences in Argentina exceeded our expectations. We were profoundly touched by the cordiality and the affectionate hospitality of the Mothers’ Federation and that of the Sisters from Argentina. They didn’t mind traveling long distances and spending time with us.

On the first morning, Monday, October 1st, the wonderful spring like weather gave way to storms and heavy rains – two mothers were waiting for us in Buenos Aires to take us to the port and to accompany the delegations from Germany and Texas to Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay, to visit the first daughter Shrine. Their worry over the bad weather, which they felt might make us seasick when we crossed the La Plata River, was unjustified. The river was calm, and we interpreted the rain as a special blessing from heaven. That’s how we began a magnificent day.

We had no idea how long the trip by car would take. Each step, each trip by car, including lunch in a country home, to the return trip through La Plata River that night, and the trip to New Schoenstatt by taxi – where we again encountered the MTA – was very well planned and organized.

New Helvecia: we were welcomed by honor guards

What a big surprise! When we arrived at the MTA School in Nueva Helvecia, the children of the school waved little Uruguayan flags and they, along with their teachers, formed an honor guard on the steps for us. This gesture transmitted a sublime and rare feeling in us. We felt that through our visit these children and teachers expected to receive the graces from Original Schoenstatt. This was an obligation on our part.

At the entrance of the school they sang a Schoenstatt song and greeted our group with short poem in German and English since the Texas delegation had joined our pilgrimage to the first daughter Shrine. We could not hide our surprise and our joy. The children were also happy because they had prepared this surprise.

After this greeting, the children continued with their school activities, and we could resume following in the footsteps of our Founding Father at this place.

We expressed our gratitude to the Sisters and the mothers for the time they spent with us on this day.

We encountered Father in New Schoenstatt

If we tried to recount each detail it would make this report too long. In New Schoenstatt we encountered Father, here we were submerged in a family atmosphere. Argentina is no longer a distant place for us; the memory of the country is in our hearts.

During the next two days, we also experienced the cordiality of the mothers. Since we were in Argentina, we wanted to visit Buenos Aires, the large capital city. This was also carefully planned. For example, we took a three hour tour with a very competent guide. The great desire of our hearts that all of us have had from our experience is the youth project to transform Argentina, through the strength of the Covenant of Love, into a clean Argentina will be a great success. (At this time an article about the Young Spring 2007: "Clean Argentina, clean our attitude" had appeared on the schoenstatt.de web site)

We hope that the Schoenstatt Youth from La Plata will persevere in their project, and we will pray that many committed people will join them and help them to fulfill their dream for a new Argentina. Youth, you have our support!

Villa Ballester: the highlight of Argentinean hospitality

The highlight of hospitality that we experienced in this country was close to the Villa Ballester Shrine. The sky also co-operated since the sunshine returned when we arrived at the Shrine that morning.

Here, in a German community, a group of Argentinean Mothers’ Federation came to spend the day with us. The couple, Odette and Alfredo Vallendor, from the Family Work, and the Sisters who work in this Shrine, and the German community were also present.

Each one of us was welcomed in the Shrine with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. We prayed together for this joyous encounter, and we prayed for blessings for our communities.

After the greeting in the Shrine, it took us an hour and a half to arrive by car, they invited us to coffee and tarts, and by this time we were no longer timid. We talked mutually about our communities, our courses, our course ideals, etc. It was truly unfortunate that we, Germans, didn’t totally understand Spanish, but the language of the heart was universal, on both sides, so words weren’t necessary.

Then we listened attentively to everything that they told us about the time of our Founding Father’s visits. We heard about the difficulties and the concerns related to the building of a new, simple Movement house, and again we were impressed by the loyalty and victorious confidence of the members of the Schoenstatt Movement who always remained loyal to our Founding Father and Shrine during those difficult times. This family gathering ended with a lunch that was truly a feast. They had prepared a wonderful sampling of Argentinean food: tasty pies, barbeque, salads, and drinks of all kinds and exquisite desserts. Then we toured the house.

After some time we gathered again in a family meeting in the park. To our great surprised they then served us espresso coffee and a cake. The housewives in our group perceived the great care and the great joy with which this gathering was prepared. We were very, very impressed with this hospitality which was so natural. Here the women were not strangers; rather, we were sisters in the Covenant of Love, although we had never seen each other, and perhaps we would never see each other again.

Mate, balloons and decorations which were heavenly

And finally we had to have the mate ceremony (mate is an herbal tea). This ceremony concluded the gathering. But there was still something more: each one of us received a balloon with a picture of the MTA. Symbolically, we extended our mutual good wishes and our desire for the canonization of our Founding Father, to whom we owe this wonderful International Schoenstatt Family, by releasing the balloons to heaven.

We prayed an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Consecration Prayer together while the balloons floated to the heights, until we lost sight of them.

Since the cars taking us back to New Schoenstatt were waiting for us, it was time for a cordial farewell, a last good-bye, until the mothers disappeared from our view.

Home again

We’re home again in Germany and a heart filled with experiences and enormous gratitude for our vocation in the Mothers’ Federation.

Thank you to everyone who helped us with the translations, to everyone who provided lodging in New Schoenstatt, thank you to all the Mothers’ Federation in Argentina for the great and small expressions of sharing and of joy. We extend many thanks to María Erice de Posestá, the leader of the Mothers’ Federation in Argentina.

Original: German

Translation (from Spanish): Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj

 

 

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