Many have filled the Shrine with songs and prayers

Encounters around the Shrine of Belmonte

Juventud de Schoenstatt de Roma  en Belmonte Schoenstatt Youth from Rome in Belmonte Schönstattjugend aus Rom in Belmonte
El tractor de la Mater The tractor of the MTA Der Traktor unserer Lieben Frau
A la sombra del Santuario: Santi de Córdoba In the shadow of the Shrine: Santi from Córdoba Im Schatten des Heiligtums: Santi aus Córdoba
Listo el camino a la Casa Done! The access to the Covenant House is finally ready Endlich fertig: die Zufahrt zum Haus
Monaguillos de Alemania Mass Servers from Germany Messdiener(innen) aus Deutschland Fotos: Nuño © 2007

ROME, Francisco Nuño. The pilgrim cane – brought by foot from Schoenstatt to Rome in several stages, during four and one half years –arrived at the Shrine of Belmonte on the last day of October. It was a beautiful closing of a very blessed month and one full of "adventures" around the Shrine for all of us."

Francisco Nuño and his wife Anneliese, members of the Schoenstatt Institute of Families, have been the custodians of the Shrine of Belmonte for one year, and they tell a little about the life there is around the Shrine.

The Matri Ecclesiae Shrine of Rome is situated on the highest part of a small hill on Via di Boccea. The west wind blows hard sometimes, especially at the end of summer. A few days ago an immense old tree fell on the roof of an old building that is on the grounds of Belmonte. Thank God there were no major consequences, but we are worried about how to remove it without causing more damage (and so that it will not be so expensive!). This is just an example of the small daily challenges for the family caring for the Shrine, the house, and the grounds. Gradually the responsibilities of the construction company and the care of the grounds are being transferred to the administrative personnel.

A tractor for the MTA

In September three young missionaries from Argentina and Paraguay arrived in Rome. They are dedicating one year of their lives to help found the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth in Italy. One of them, Santiago Luti (Santi to his friends) an Argentinean, is helping us with the tasks at Belmonte for a few hours each week. The Diocesan Priests authorized the purchase of necessary equipment, including a small tractor/mower for maintaining the large grounds surrounding the Shrine. The delivery of the tractor was a minor event: Anneliese did not want to miss it, so the three of us, Santi, Anneliese, and I, offered it to the Mater Ecclesiae at the door of her Shrine.

Altar boys from Germany

During this time, the Italian Family hasn’t been the only contributor to the life at the Shrine. There have also been several German groups and others from America who have filled the Shrine and the walls of the International Center of our Family in Rome with songs and prayers. Some have rested and enjoyed a pizza in the hall of the house, others including (the youngest) have brought their sleeping bags and spent several nights at Belmonte. With special affection we remember the stay of a group of altar boys and their pastor and pastoral assistant from the parish of Diaspora in Germany. We prayed together and celebrated Holy Mass in the Shrine for several days. Then at night, we invited them for pizza and gelato. Before going to bed (or sleeping bags!) I told them some crocodile stories that were lost among the construction material and debris from the work in Belmonte. On the day of departure they surprised us with several gifts and songs. Among the gifts, there was also (can you guess?) a small crocodile. These little boys experienced some unforgettable days during their stay in Rome. Their cordiality and that of the parish team also captured our hearts.

Thinking about the German altar boys reminds me of two parish events that have taken place during the last weeks which directly or indirectly have something to do with our Shrine.

Parish events

Our parish, Santa Gemma Church, began the new pastoral year and the sending forth of the catechists and other pastoral agents on the first Sunday of October with a solemn Holy Mass. This liturgy is usually celebrated in front of our Shrine. This year bad weather prevented the planned celebration although it stopped raining just in time to finish the Eucharist celebrated in the parish church, and then process to our Shrine to make an offering to the MTA and officially send forth the catechists and other parish groups.

The October 18^th celebration at our Shrine had a Mexican touch. Father Marcel Mouras and six couples from Monterrey, Mexico arrived in Rome to organize the first Schoenstatt Marriage Strengthening in Italy; they were with us at the evening Holy Mass, and they renewed the Covenant of Love along with the Italian Family before returning to the retreat house where a very important event for the founding of the Family Work in Italy was organized.

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