"Father, look with mercy on our family and for its sake reveal your wondrous love"

Archdiocesan Conference for Representatives of the Pilgrim MTA’s Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca

Santuario de la Jornada Retreat Shrine Tagungs-Heiligtum
Grupos durante la reflexión Discussion groups Gesprächskreise
Compartiendo el almuerzo en un descanso Noon meal Beim Mittagessen Fotos: Carlos Zunini © 2008

ARGENTINA, Diana Zunini. On May 25^th – Argentina’s national holiday – the Archdiocesan Conference of the Pilgrim MTA’s Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign took place. Coordinators and missionaries from Monte Hermoso, El Perdido, Pigué, Bahía Blanca and Punta Alta were received by the hosts at the San José School. The central theme was "The leader of the Campaign" and his/her attachment to the Shrine of the Mother and Queen of el Pueblo.

How are we as leaders attached to this Shrine in particular? It is a special Shrine with a unique history – a humble chapel in the countryside built by an unassuming community. It is a chapel which Father Kentenich visited. Father himself donated the picture of the MTA for the chapel and he spoke to the "simple people of the pueblo." Perhaps that is the reason for the strong Campaign current in this diocese. The Campaign is rooted in the foundation of this Shrine. Historically speaking, Father blessed it in 1952 – on the way to his exile – and precisely when Joao Pozzobon decides to offer himself completely for the Campaign. At the beginning of the conference, the Shrine took form with prayer and meditation from HEAVENWARDS: "Father, look upon our family as we place at the feet of our Mother all those who have been entrusted to us: "Father, look with mercy on our family and for its sake reveal your wondrous love." The Shrine for the conference was built on a poncho with the colors of the flag: light blue and white. The poncho is a typical dress of the "gauchos." The Prayer for the Country which was composed by the Bishops of Argentina some time ago, was read. The prayer with the flag of Argentina was on a card for each participant: "Jesus Christ, Lord of History, we need You." After a presentation, they reflected on the gifts which the Lord had planted into their hearts and on how to develop these gifts. They were called to discover the personal message which the Lord had given to each one. Someone said that there is a quiet musical note in each person; when someone discovers it, he/she discovers his/her mission. Don Joao discovered that musical note which was in his heart. He made it sound loudly, and many who follow him, discover their "musical note" as missionaries.

I will be the Shrine of adobe and clay among the simple ones

After sharing some mates (tea), they returned to the conference room and aided by a slide transparency they "felt as if they were in our Shrine" of the Mother and Queen of the Pueblo which is the Shrine blessed by Father. With background music, they continued seeing the slides and the verses: "…..I must become dust…..I must know myself/ I am a Shrine/ and as my Shrine is, I am adobe and clay/ educating my clay and knowing my adobe/ I can be a Shrine for others/ I have to go into myself/ I need to know my weaknesses and strengths/ I will then be a special image of my Shrine/ I will then be the adobe and clay Shrine which goes forth/ journeying among the simple people….." They speak of adobe and clay, the most simple construction materials. This is how the Shrine is built and it is blessed by Father on his way to exile.

These dynamics really impressed the participants; there was a great deal of meditation, native music, soft lighting and a slide program about this rural Shrine. It was all very moving.

So they may encounter the Mother and Queen of the harvest in the Shrine/ as I know myself, I will begin to build it/ my rocks may become the stones/ my branches which keep me away may become shelter and shade for others/ my strong wood may become warmth and support when fatigued/ only then as thistle will I be beautiful and be sustenance/ then as a fence I will be strong, I will establish limits and I will open men/ as straw I will grow freely without form/ only then whoever comes to me and abides in me will be able to say how good it is here…..

The cardo is a beautiful rose-colored flower whose leaves have thorns and a part of it is edible: it is beautiful but rustic and grows in these countrysides. The paja vizcachera (type of straw) is a strong and sturdy grass which resists the winds and the inclement weather of la pampa (prairie).

They also felt close to Don Joao, the heroic man who walks with us; the Shrine of others, our Shrine. He is there with them and they listen to his words when the pilgrims from Argentina went to Santa María seeking the 25 images: "Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt: I am here kneeling with these pilgrims who have come from the Shrine of the Mother and Queen of el Pueblo. We could see each one of them as a living Shrine; maintain them with this spirit, may each one of them be your reflection, as living Shrines who journey taking You and your message and are at your service….."

Jesus the good Shepherd

As they continued, they shared their thoughts on the talk given on the leader of the Campaign…..they reviewed the most important points using the image which Father Kentenich used as the model for a good leader: the image of Jesus the good Shepherd. Fr. Kentenich himself used this personal image for leading his Schoenstatt children. A missionary is also a leader since he/she has received from the Lord and the Blessed Mother the task of taking the pilgrim image to families, children, persons who are ill, etc. He/she is a leader because he/she has a task and is responsible for 15 families: he/she has a pastoral task for these families, that is, he/she has to attend to them…..nourish them…..communicate with them, etc. Within those tasks, he/she must grow. His/her work is to be a missionary. Being a missionary is no simple matter; he/she must be a missionary according to the way Don Joao was a missionary. The leader is like Christ: he knows and loves his own, he/she is aware of his/her mission, he/she depends totally on the Father and is his reflection. He/she transmits and engenders life and shares responsibilities.

The leader is the one who leads others, but it is not enough to know the way or the goal. It is necessary to know the ways and the tools to succeed.

Queen of the New Evangelization and Queen of the Campaign

Father Carmona proposes some coordinated steadfast constants which must be taken into consideration in order to lead. He called these rules "stars" : To lead by personal contact; to lead by means of leaders; to lead through service; to lead by means of life currents. What can be added is: to lead by means of the Star of the New Evangelization, Mary, crowned as "Queen of the New Evangelization" in the Shrine of Paso Mayor on April 7, 1987 and as "Queen of the Campaign" on September 12, 2004.

In the common discussion, the participants commented: "What need is there to go to other shrines and to other Marian advocations if right here in our midst we have this treasure, this source of graces which strengthens and nourishes?" "We want to commit ourselves to collaborate with more contributions to the Treasury of Grace and with more financial contributions to provide more services to the pilgrims who come here." They also spoke of the commitment to continue reading the life of Don Joao and of appreciating the strength of the Spirit which kept him going." After Mass, one of the coordinators said: "Today I feel a great strength which others have given to me. We would need to meet more often." Two Franciscan Sisters also participated in the conference. One of them – of German origin – commented: "I also worked as a teacher. I am no longer in teaching, but I admired Father Kentenich; he was a great teacher and I made use of his books; I did not keep them. Surely, I must have given them to a younger Sister."

The promise of a Father on the way

After the Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Juan D’Amico in the chapel of the school, the moment of farewell arrived; in all present, the words of the morning meditation were resounding: "My self-educated heart will be my answer to the promise of a father on the way…..the most special name which embodies my Shrine and the most delicate way in which God in me educates others…..Schoenstatt will be in me like the waft of an aroma in an open field, and in my area, I will be this Shrine for which I was destined….."

After Mass, they all received a small loaf of bread with a card wrapped using a blue and white ribbon which read: "Feed them" as a commitment to serve your most needy brethren both spiritually and materially.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 061008