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Covenant of Love in New York
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2008-01-08

Mary’s Favorite Son

Through the Grace of Mary came the Covenant of Love of Fr. Gerry

 

Pfr. Gerry Del Prado schließt im Heiligtum des Lichtes in New York sein Liebesbündnis

Alianza de Amor del P. Gerry del Prado en el Santuario de la Luz, New York

Fr. Gerry Del Prado sealing his Covenant of Love in the Shrine of Light in New York

Pfr. Gerry Del Prado schließt im Heiligtum des Lichtes in New York sein Liebesbündnis

 

Bündnisritus

Rito de la Alianza de Amor

Covenant Rite

Bündnisritus

 
Unterschrift im Bündnisbuch  

Firmando el libro de la Alianza

Signing the Covenant Book

Unterschrift im Bündnisbuch

Fotos: Sr. Iraida Guerra © 2008

 
   

USA, Sr. Irraida Guerra. On the Eve of the Solemnity of the Holy Family, Father Gerry Del Prado sealed his Covenant of Love thanking Mary for embracing his vocation and inviting him into an intimate relationship with her. Now, the priest vows whole-heartedly to promote the Schoenstatt Movement within his New York diocese.

Father Gerry Del Prado took a sabbatical year after serving the Church in his native land, the Philippines, and came to the United States to work in the parish "Our Lady Help of Christians" on Staten Island in New York.

This past summer, Father Gerry was invited to join a pilgrimage to Milwaukee with a Schoenstatt Filipino group under the direction of Sr. M. Erlinda. It was in this place that he was introduced to Father Joseph Kentenich’s concepts and the Schoenstatt Movement, which sparked his interest in the spirituality of Schoenstatt. He began to visit the Shrine of Light in New York frequently and started reading a great deal about Schoenstatt and Father Kentenich. Later on, he found in his heart the desire to seal his Covenant of Love.

Within the walls of the Shrine of Light, Mary called her beloved son to the Covenant of Love.

On December 29, 2007, the priest spent some reflection time in the Shrine before making his Covenant of Love as a member of the Priest League. Afterwards, he stated to the congregation that he is Mary’s favorite son. He explained that in the Philippines, he always served in parishes named after the Blessed Mother except for one, which was St. Michael’s. Mary led him to the Schoenstatt Movement, and for that act of grace, he sincerely thanked Our Lady in his Covenant prayer:

Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt,

Today, on the Eve of the Feast of the Holy Family, I, Rev. Gerardo M. Del Prado, wish to make my Covenant of Love through which I express my desire to become a member of the Schoenstatt Family and your faithful servant.

I give thanks to my Lord and God because He has called me to the ministry of His people. I give thanks that He has allowed you, dearest Mother and Queen, to embrace my vocation, my formation and my priesthood under your guidance, protection and solicitude. I give thanks for the gift of devotion that constantly draws me to remember and celebrate your maternal inspiration.

Today, I thank you for leading me to the Schoenstatt Family. I pray for the grace that you granted our dear Father Joseph Kentenich, the same grace with which he made the first Covenant, the same grace that sustained him in his love for God, for you, and for the Church.

Today I consecrate myself to you, and dedicate my life to your example. Like you, may I sincerely say Fiat Voluntas Tua. In everything, may the Lord’s will be done. Therefore, I promise to live by those words. Your FIAT defined your life. May it inspire mine as well. May I live by the four pillars of your FIAT:

F – Freedom to be faithful, to be fruitful
I – Intimacy with God and with others in the spirit of Schoenstatt solidarity
A – Apostolic zeal in my priestly ministry
T – Total surrender to God and your intercession

Look kindly, then dear Mother, on my humble pledge and offering. May my every priestly act – every Mass, every absolution, every blessing, every sacrament, every teaching – become a moment of promotion of the significance of Schoenstatt and the spirituality of the Covenant of Love. I now promise to make every celebration of the Eucharist, every recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, every act of personal devotion and priestly ministry, and offering pleasing to the Father towards the promotion of the cause of Father Joseph Kentenich, the building of shrines in my parish and community, and the propagation of the gift of Schoenstatt in every heart.

May God, without whom we are nothing, bless this Covenant of Love, through which everything may be fulfilled. Amen.

 

 

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