In Schoenstatt, on Pentecost, and with our husbands!

Encounters around the Original Shrine on Pentecost: Mother’s Day, Pilgrimage of Polish families, silver anniversaries, a dawnbreaker from Los Pinos and "holy husbands of the Mothers’ Federation"

Santa Misa en la capilla de la casa de Monte Moriah Holy Mass in the chapel of Mount Moriah Heilige Messe in der Hauskapelle auf Berg Moriah Fotos: Czogala © 2008
Renovación de la Alianza de Amor en vísperas de Pentecostés, en el Santuario de las Familias: Juan Pablo y Cristina Roux, del grupo Zarza ardiente de la Obra Familiar de Corrientes, Argentina Renewal of the Covenant of Love at the eve of Pentecost, in the Shrine of the Families: Juan Pablo and Cristina Roux, of the Family Movement of Corrientes, Argentina Liebesbündniserneuerung am Vorabend von Pfingsten im Heiligtum der Familien: Juan Pablo und Cristina Roux aus der Gruppe “Brennender Dornbusch” der Familienbewegung von Corrientes, Argentinien Foto: POS Fischer © 2008
Día de la Madre: liturg ía en la Iglesia de la Adoración Mother’s Day: liturgy in the Adoration Church Muttertag: Feier in der Anbetungskirche
Encuentro cordobés antes de la Misa de Pentecostés en la capilla de Sonnenau Cordoba Meeting before the Pentecost Mass in the chapel of House Sonnenau “Cordoba trifft sich” vor der Pfingstmesse in der Hauskapelle der Sonnenau
René Segura, Madrugador de Viña del Mar, Chile René Segura, dawn-breaker from Viña del Mar, Chile René Segura, Madrgador aus Viña del Mar, Chile
Encuentro de la Federación de Madres: Hna Luciane, Maria Ester Mas, Anita Olmos, Nelly Depetris (de izq.) Encounter of the Mothers’ Federation: Sr. Luciane, Maria Ester Mas, Anita Olmos, Nelly Depetrins (from left) Begegnung des Mütterbundes: Schw. Luciane, Maria Ester Mas, Anita Olmos, Nelly Depetrins (von links) Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf, "In Schoenstatt, on Pentecost, on Mother’s Day, and with our husbands – is simply like a miracle…" counselor of the Mothers’ Federation from Argentina and Paraguay Maria Ester Más could not stop expressing her emotion and joy of being in Schoenstatt on May 11^th and 12^th with her course sisters from the first course of the Mothers’ Federation in Cordoba: Nelly Depetris and Anita Lena Olmos with their husbands. They are very good friends and much more than a "mutual help group". "They have always helped us in everything related to the apostolate," says Nelly Depetris, "in the Campaign, in the Federation, and now they are a part of Schoenstatt!"

Besides the visit of Saint Theresa’s reliquary (another article) during the Pentecost weekend, there were many pilgrims to Schoenstatt from several parts of Germany, Chile, and from Argentina.

Youth from the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth from Germany met to prepare for the Night at the Shrine which will take place this August 22^nd to 24^th, a group of Girls’ Youth from a diocese in northern Germany had a retreat in Schoenstatt, at House Marienland there was a retreat for separated and divorced women, and many came on pilgrimage to spend a few hours at the Shrine to be at the Cenacle and to implore the Holy Spirit. About eighty Polish people who live in Karlsruhe, Rastatt, Pforzheim and Baden-Baden, Germany were at Schoenstatt on Saturday, May 10^th. Seven Pilgrim MTA’s visited the families belonging to the Polish Mission of Karlsruhe. During the afternoon, they processed between the Shrines of Mount Sion and Mount Moriah accompanied with songs and prayers, and concluding with a Holy Mass celebrated at the chapel of Mount Moriah by their pastor, Father Casimires Kosicki.

Expressing gratitude for 25 years of marriage

Juan Pablo and Cristina Roux of the Family Work from Corrientes, Argentina celebrated their Silver Anniversary with a "visit to Schoenstatt, Father Kentenich’s beautiful land." Long ago they had planned the greatly desired trip through Europe with a visit to Schoenstatt on May 8^th and 9^th; they brought photos of their family, and their group to place on Father’s tomb and at the Original Shrine, along with letters, photos, and petitions from many people in Corrientes. They prayed especially for a family man belonging to the Family Work who was in an accident and his life is in danger. They were able to visit almost all the Shrines in Schoenstatt –first by walking until they became tired, then by auto to the ones that were left: Tabor Shrine with a spectacular view of Mount Schoenstatt, The Sion Shrine, and the Moriah Shrine. On the afternoon of May 9^th, after the Holy Mass at the Shrine of Families, they renewed their Covenant of Love with great emotion. "We prepared ourselves very seriously for several months," they commented. Renewing the Covenant of Love as a couple in Schoenstatt was one of the most important things for us." They prayed to the MTA for the Shrine of Corrientes, and the miracle that we desire so much that only the Blessed Mother can work." One more thing needed to be done: to renew their marriage vows…after the Pentecost Novena of that day, they asked Father Egon Zillekens for this favor. It was an impromptu renewal, it was spontaneous and touching, and it was in the Original Shrine! It was also a joy to meet briefly with Father Ángel Strada, and with two representatives of the Family Work, with Heinrich Brehm, and after the Renewal of the Covenant –with Bernhard Neiser, Super General of the Institute of Schoenstatt Families.

Mother’s Day

Maybe because it fell on Pentecost or because of lack of publicity, there were only a small number of participants in the programs offered by the Sisters of Mary on May 11^th for Mother’s Day. However, those who were at the Adoration Church for prayer enjoyed it very much. The mothers were congratulated with poems and songs – it was also a great joy for the three Argentineans of the Mothers’ Federation from Cordoba, who celebrated Mother’s day for the second time, since they had celebrated this occasion on May 4^th in Madrid. The third time will be on October 19^th in Argentina! During the course of the celebration they implored the Holy Spirit for its gifts and the Blessed Mother was honored with flowers, and at the end everyone was invited to visit Father Kentenich’s tomb and to take a card with one of his inspirational phrases.

Then, there were games for the children, coffee, cake, and music for the adults around the Pilgrims’ House in the valley.

A little piece of heaven

René Segura, a dawnbreaker from Viña del Mar, Chile, brought two companions to Schoenstatt. "They do not belong to the Movement," he said, but "Schoenstatt cannot be missed when one is in Germany." With immense joy, he presented the Press Office with the Dawnbreakers’ manual from Los Pinos, "so that it will be in Schoenstatt, in case someone is interested to know about this stream of life."

For Nelly Depetris, Anita Olmos, and Maria Ester Mas, the time at Schoenstatt simply went by too fast. "I could not sleep because of so much emotion," said Maria Ester. "What we had seen so many times on postcards, and in videos, and what we read about on schoenstatt.de is now before our eyes; it is like a dream come true, and at the same time like returning home…" Father’s tomb, the Original Shrine, Mount Schoenstatt, Mount Sion, the Mass in Spanish on Pentecost with Father Ángel, and afterwards the rich exchange with Sister Luciane, the area leader of the Mothers’ Federation in Germany, about the congress of the Schoenstatt Federations in August of 2009 (the 90^th Anniversary of Apostolic Federation) – all of this was a "little piece of heaven, it was like experiencing heaven." Maria Ester: "It was so important not only to see the building or to be in the Shrines; the MTA needs human instruments so that these places can speak to us about Father, of Schoenstatt. That is why we very much appreciate the time that Father Ángel, Sister Luciana, and others gave us, so that we could enjoy these days minute by minute." Nelly Depetris: "I don’t know if you know how much schoenstatt.de means and what the greetings from the Press Office signify. For us it is a new way to experience Schoenstatt, of living with the family, of feeling a part of the wonderful work of Father Kentenich. We must express our gratitude to those who invented the Internet for the quality new connection that they have given us."

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