Warning: include_once(x_include/xzz-include-einstellungen.php) [function.include-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /homepages/29/d69818482/htdocs/schoenstatt/news2007/11/7t1171en-sch-south-africa-sonnenau.php on line 10

Warning: include_once() [function.include]: Failed opening 'x_include/xzz-include-einstellungen.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php5') in /homepages/29/d69818482/htdocs/schoenstatt/news2007/11/7t1171en-sch-south-africa-sonnenau.php on line 10
Pilgrimage from South Africa in Schoenstatt
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2007-11-09

Just being here is a blessing

Pilgrimage from South Africa in Schoenstatt

 

Wallfahrt der Schönstatt-Mütter aus Kapstadt, Südafrika, nach Schönstatt

Peregrinación de la Rama de Madres de Ciudad del Cabo, Sudafrica, a Schoenstatt

Pilgrimage of the Mothers’ League from Cape Town, South Africa, to Schoenstatt

Wallfahrt der Schönstatt-Mütter aus Kapstadt, Südafrika, nach Schönstatt

 

Die Mütter singen gerne und haben ein großes Repertoire eigener Lieder

Cantando una de sus canciones maravillosas

Singing one of their beautiful songs

Die Mütter singen gerne und haben ein großes Repertoire eigener Lieder

 
Die Künstlerinnen: Beverley, Liedermacherin, und Vanessa, Schauspielerin  

Las artistas del grupo: Beverley, cantautora, y Vanessa, actriz

The artists of the group: Beverley, singer-songwriter, and Vanesa, actress

Die Künstlerinnen: Beverley, Liedermacherin, und Vanessa, Schauspielerin

 
Bei der Aufzeichnung ihrer Lieder für schoenstatt.de  

Durante la grabación de las canciones para schoenstatt.de

During the recording of their songs for schoenstatt.de

Bei der Aufzeichnung ihrer Lieder für schoenstatt.de

 
Alle hatten Jacken mit dem MTA-Bild darauf  

Todas tuvieron chaquetas con la Mater

All had jackets with the MTA

Alle hatten Jacken mit dem MTA-Bild darauf

 
Bei der Lesung in der Pilgerkirche

Leyendo la lectura en la Misa de peregrinos

In the Pilgrims’ Church: Reading

Bei der Lesung in der Pilgerkirche

Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007

Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

 
   

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "Coming to Schoenstatt was like entering a new world of peace and love. The experience that I felt in Schoenstatt awakened in me the need to be more prayerful and to live my faith deeply, and trust in Divine Providence." One of the eleven Schoenstatt Mothers from Cape Town who spent ten days in Schoenstatt from October 25th to November 4th summarizes what was an experience for all of them: being in Schoenstatt is an experience that exceeds all ideas, and it transforms you. For almost all of the mothers it was the first-time experience of Schoenstatt, and for all of them it was a huge effort to make the trip possible. "We saved a lot, we fought a lot, we cried a lot", Beverley said. "And it was worth- while."

Before coming to Schoenstatt, the group, accompanied by Sister Marian Dunn, visited the concentration camp at Dachau, where Father Kentenich had been imprisoned. "Dachau was a sad experience," one of the mothers said. "But also the faith and goodness of the people, especially Father Joseph Kentenich, gave me goose bumps. I will remember them when bad things come my way…" "I stand in reverence and awe of Father Kentenich after being in Dachau," Elaine Sylvester adds.

The group had prepared intensely for the pilgrimage to Schoenstatt; some had saved for years, sold cakes, worked extra hours, only to be able to come along. Each one had prepared a talk on special moments, places and persons related to the pilgrimage – a mutual enrichment that made for a atmosphere of seriousness and informality at the same time. The Original Shrine, the Adoration Church with Father Kentenich’s tomb, his rooms in the Sisters’ House of Formation, visits to the Jubilee Shrine of the Women’s Federation, to Mount Moriah, Mount Zion (with a Holy Mass in the Shrine of the Schoenstatt Fathers), to the Mario Hiriart exposition, to the tomb of Sister Emilie,... and a lot of free time made for a deep experience of Schoenstatt and family. Unforgettable night talks in the hall of House Sonnenau with coffee and hot chocolate, the sing-alongs, and the shopping tours to Vallendar and Boppard.

"Just being here is a blessing. My faith has been renewed," one of the mothers put it in a nutshell. Or, to say it with their favourite word: wunderbaar! Wonderful!

You can feel you are walking on holy ground

"You can feel you are walking on holy ground," said Vanessa Lee, a professional actress, who contributed a lot to the relaxed, joyful atmosphere. Her highlight?

"Feeling Father Kentenich’s presence in the Shrine at Canisiushof before leaving for Dachau. It moved me to tears. And then, standing in Father’s room looking out of the window like he used to. I felt him looking over my shoulder. Schoenstatt is heaven on earth. A wonderful experience."

One evening, the mothers were sitting together in House Sonnenau, singing, talking, and laughing. Are you ready for an interview, right now, to be recorded? The recording begins accompanied by laughter and jokes. What was your most impressive experience in Schoenstatt. "Entering the Original Shrine and feeling, feeling so welcome, so at home… You can imagine a lot, but this is more..." Tears in the eyes, trembling voice, and faces that seem to have a gleam of heaven…

"Standing at Father’s tomb and knowing, he is my Father… I am his child".

"Every day, every moment we experienced, from the time we arrived at Canisiushof, to our Dachau experience, our Father and Founder, the MTA in the Shrines – it was all a beautiful experience, wunderbaar", says Beverley. "I will take home with me the miracle of Schoenstatt. In this modern day busy world, there is God inviting us to rest in him at Schoenstatt."

Talking to him about all my troubles and being so calm afterwards

"Just being in the Adoration Church and at Father’s tomb and a feeling of being able to talk about all my troubles of fear and guilt and being so very calm afterwards," one of the mothers shares as her deepest moment of the pilgrimage. "Whenever I went to the tomb of Father Kentenich, I cannot [sic] keep a dry eye," admits Elaine. "The tears are of a joy which I cannot describe. Tears of gratitude and joy. His love for Our Lady and she being the perfect mother. We are sometimes called to mother others…"

"To touch the tomb of Father Kentenich," was the most impressive moment for Alma Snyders, and she does not hesitate a moment to say that she will be "taking Father Kentenich home with me!" "Sensing the love and acceptance of a loving Father, a coming home, knowing that I am loved just as I am," was Eliz Craig’s deepest and most beautiful experience. Nicola Rainnie, the youngest participant, felt that "there is a very special and holy atmosphere in the Adoration Church and especially in the Founder Chapel." Her deepest experience was "standing in front of the statue where Father Kentenich’s mother committed her little boy into Our Lady’s care. I feel inspired to pray more with my children, especially the rosary, and to create a home shrine."

On November 4, the group participated, as on All Saints, in the Pilgrims’ Mass, where a group from Merville, France, was also present – a special joy for the South African mothers to see that people from the place where Joseph Engling offered his life for Schoenstatt, now come to visit the place that had meant all to him… and to them.

Then a final visit to the Original Shrine, and off for the twenty-six hour flight back to Cape Town. What do they want to tell the Schoenstatt Family back home and all over the world? "You got to do whatever you can to come here!" And: "This is a life experience that I will treasure for ever."

 

 

Zurück/Back: [Seitenanfang / Top] [letzte Seite / last page] [Homepage]
Impressum © 2007 Schönstatt-Bewegung in Deutschland, PressOffice Schönstatt, all rights reserved, Mail: Editor /Webmaster
Last Update: 09.11.2007