Pilgrimage to Schoenstatt in Gratitude for 25 Years of the Covenant of Love

Encounters at the Original Shrine

Caminando hacia el Santuario Original Walking towards the Original Shrine Auf dem Weg zum Urheiligtum
Abrazando el Santuario de Monte Moriah Embracing the Shrine at Mount Moriah Eine Umarmung für das Heiligtum auf Berg Moriah Fotos: Sr. Damiana Czogala © 2008
Jan y John Beebe, de Inglaterra: 25 años de Alianza de Amor Jan and John Beebe, from England: 25 years in the Covenant of Love Jan und John Beebe aus England: 25 Jahre Liebesbündnis Foto: Sr. Angela Macari © 2008
Rosario en el Santuario Original 12 de abril Rosary in the Original Shrine, April 12 Rosenkranz im Urheiligtum am 12. April
Elías Cisneros, Marilu Piedras, Georgina Salazar y la Hna Maria Julia, después del rosario Elías Cisneros, Marilu Piedras, Georgina Salazar and Sister Maria Julia, after the rosary Elías Cisneros, Marilu Piedras, Georgina Salazar und Schw. Maria Julia, nach dem Rosenkranz
Equipo de TV bajo la lluvia TV team in the rain Das Fernsehteam des SWR stand, wortwörtlich, im Regen Foto: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. The Pilgrim Virgin strongly attracts to her Shrine those whom she visits in their homes….. This was the case when an abounding group of young Polish families from Nuremberg – in south Germany – filled the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt with their joy and love on the weekend of April 12-13. Along with them during that week was a family from England who came on pilgrimage to Schoenstatt to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of their Covenant of Love. There were also pilgrims from Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil. Also present was a TV team filming a program on Schoenstatt.

Among the families from Nuremberg, there were several Polish coordinators of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign who were also in Schoenstatt during that weekend and they did not leave before receiving more Pilgrim MTA’s for new coordinators. On Saturday afternoon, they celebrated Holy Mass in the Adoration Church. While the participants of the "Forum of the Future" of the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany debated in the Father Kentenich House the future of Schoenstatt in the country of its origin, they visited the display in the same house and later all gathered at the statue of Father Kentenich. They also visited some of the other Shrines in Schoenstatt and prayed devoutly in the Original Shrine. The natural and joyful religiosity of the children was captivating. They really felt "at home" in the home of the MTA.

On the same Saturday, April 12^th, at 5:30 in the afternoon, once again the Rosary was prayed in Spanish in the Original Shrine – one decade was prayed in German since several German pilgrims were present. Georgina and Elías Cisneros from Mérida, México; Marilú Piedras from La Plata, Argentina and some Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary who were participating in an international seminar for their community, prayed the Rosary for all of the intentions which had arrived at the Press Office…..for all that had taken place this weekend at the Original Shrine and for the Shrines and Wayside Shrines throughout the world. For Elías Cisneros, it was an honor – at the end of the Rosary – to deposit the pages of intentions in the jar at the altar. One of the intentions was for Isabela, a twin baby girl who had serious health problems after her birth. What a joy it was to receive – a few days later – this note from the aunt of the twin girls: "Thank you for praying for Isi’s health (that is what I call her). The truth is that you made me cry…..I have to tell you that she is much better and almost weighs as much as her sister, Albertina. I hope to see them in May. I am going to save this for them so they can understand when they are older.

Schoenstatt on TV

On Monday, the sun and all of the pilgrims disappeared, leaving Schoenstatt somewhat empty, gray and wet when the TV team (SWR) arrived to film the program which will be broadcast on May 9^th, the Friday before Pentecost: a presentation on the place of Schoenstatt. Normally, this program presents entire towns or cities, but this time they decided to only focus on Schoenstatt. They filmed the goldsmith shop, the publishing house of the Sisters, the Father Kentenich House, the workshop of the Adoration Sisters and their chapel, the Press Office and – of course- the Original Shrine. Among others, they interviewed Father Angel Strada asking him about Father Kentenich and the canonization process; Ulrike Eichenberg on the Sign of Light Association which helps pregnant women; the Beebe family from England and youths from Mexico, Paraguay and Brazil on their experiences in Schoenstatt. They were very impressed with the great number of Shrines in Schoenstatt and the persons they met.

Gratitude for 25 years

One of the families they interviewed was John and Jan Beebe who had come to Schoenstatt to give thanks for the 25 years of their Covenant of Love and to renew this covenant at the place where they had sealed it, the Shrine of the families – at that time they were Methodists: 25 years ago, Father Franz Bruegger presided at the celebration on April 11^th. In 2004, they felt called to convert to the Catholic faith and they were received into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil. It was a fruit of their Covenant of Love. They say, "Schoenstatt is where we feel at home, it is our home, our family, the meaning of our life." "Is it the first time in 25 years that you return to Schoenstatt," asks the reporter. "No, we come every year." "And you make that long trip from England to visit this chapel?" The reporter cannot believe it. "Of course," responds John Beebe. "It is worth the effort. For us, it is the most important place and the holiest place in the whole world."

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 042308