Movements of grace join the growing Tsunami of the Schoenstatt Centennial

At Ave María and the 6^th Aerial Brigade of the Tandil region of Buenos Aires

Rito de la Alianza de Amor en “Ave María”, Tandil. Madres y misioneras de la Campaña Covenant celebration at “Ave Maria”, mothers and missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign Liebesbündnisfeier in Haus Ave Maria in Tandil; Mütter und Missionare der Pilgernden Gottesmutte
Bendición de la ermita en la VIª Brigada Aérea. Personal de la Aeronáutica rezando la pequeña consagración. Blessing of the wayside shrine; Air Force soldiers praying the Little Consecration Segnung des Bildstocks; Soldaten der Luftwaffe beten die Kleine Weihe
El mejor lugar: los brazos de papá. El día anterior los padres de Morita sellaron la Alianza de Amor en Rauch Best place: in father’s arms. The day before, Morita’s parents had sealed their Covenant of Love in Rauch Der beste Platz ist doch in Vaters Arm! Am Tag zuvor hatten Moritas Eltern in Rauch ihr Liebesbündnis geschlossen.
Bendición de la ermita. Una integrandte de la Fuerza Aérea toma fotos para la historia del lugar... Blessing of the wayside shrine. A member of the Air Force taking pictures for the “history of the place” Segnung des Bildstocks: eine junge Soldatin macht Fotos “für die Geschichte des Ortes”
Presencia de la Mater en la VIª Brigada Aérea de Tandil The MTA is now present at the VIth  Brigade’s Air Base Die MTA ist nun anwesend auf dem Luftwaffenstützpunkt der VI. Brigade Fotos: hma © 2007 Album de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

ARGENTINA, After the large Covenant celebration in Rauch, at Heaven’s Land, the wave of grace moved on south 70 kms., to Tandil, a beautiful hilly city.

On Saturday morning, September 29^th, Father Benjamín Pereira presented a retreat on the topic of joy to many members of Tandil’s Schoenstatt Family. It was held at a heavenly place, an old ranch, that had been transformed into an inn called Ave María, because among the hundreds of trees within the park on more than 2,471 acres there are several images of the different avocations dedicated to Mary, each one a good distance from another, literally allowing one to make a pilgrimage. The retreat ended at noon with the celebration of Holy Mass in which nine mothers and missionaries of the Rosary Campaign sealed their Covenant of Love. There was a joyful gathering to celebrate this event and to welcome a new Mothers’ Group into the Branch.

A Wayside Shrine for the Blessed Mother in the 6^th Aerial Brigade

At 4:30 p.m. people, who will participate in the blessing of the Blessed Mother’s Wayside Shrine, began to arrive at the 6^th Aerial Brigade located about 15 kms. from Tandil, one of the most important Argentine Air Force bases. The public airport is also located there. The base about 3,705 acres in size consists of several buildings where many tasks are carried out. Since the aviation school in Córdoba, where the Blessed Mother and the Rosary Campaign are well known, there are many people who work at the airbase are already familiar with both. The idea to build a Wayside Shrine emerged through a providential encounter with the leader’s spouse of the Mothers’ Branch. The Campaign had donated a beautiful picture made of majolica tiles and a good carpenter from the Brigade built the wooden Wayside Shrine. It’s in front of the administration building very close to the chapel and the weapons square. That is to say, it’s surrounded by very old trees and ideally located.

Many people from the Air Force as well as from the Tandil Schoenstatt Family and Rauch participated in the blessing that was performed with great solemnity by Father Benjamin.

How very moving to pray for our nation with the words of our bishops:

Photos to record the history of this place

While the ceremony was taking place, a young member of the Air Force was taking pictures, "to record the history of this place." A group of good guitar players and singers, invited by the Brigade’s personnel, sang songs in homage of Mary. Then several of those present spoke about how they knew the Blessed Mother because they had found Her in different places of the country. Even in the Bolivian Achumani Shrine, where the current leader and his family were at the Argentinean Embassy until a year ago. What a joy to see how many people know and love Her! To our greater joy, there are two Campaign missionaries whose husbands also work here, and Pedro sealed his Covenant at Rauch along with couples from his group. He is also a member of the Air Force. The Blessed Mother flies very high.

After the blessing, everyone was invited to the pavilion – a comfortable building with windows all around that allowed us to admire the beautiful park – to drink tea or coffee, enjoy a delicious cake, and small Creole pies made of quince jelly, sponsored by the leader of the Brigade and his spouse! The very cordial atmosphere dominated making it difficult to leave. All the Schoenstatters were surprised by the very kind and generous welcome. Furthermore, the leader’s spouse announced that anyone who wanted to pray at the Wayside Shrine could do so by simply phoning ahead before coming to visit, since this is military zone.

The Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Tandil, along with the Mothers’ Branch have the desire that there will be many Wayside Shrine for the Blessed Mother in the city; since She is the great Missionary, and She will have to attract the instruments so that there will truly be a change in society.

It seems the wave is growing throughout the world…The Rauch and Tandil Schoenstatt Family is convinced of having experienced part of the wave. They’re very happy and grateful for the many gifts of grace.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj