"Thank you Father Jorge, you have been a blessing to us"

55 years of priestly life: Father Jorge Falch

Santa Misa en la Iglesia del Espiritu Santo, Bellavista Holy Mass in the Holy Spirit Church , Bellavista Dankgottesdienst in der Heilig-Geist-Kirche in Bellavista
Oración en el Santuario Prayer at the Shrine Gebet am Heiligtum
Encuentro familiar Encounter Mitfreude der Familie Fotos: Torres © 2008

CHILE, Father Adrián González Ibarra. "What has come about, through me, through, you, has come about through our dear Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt," (E. Monnerjahn, Joseph Kentenich A Life for the Church, p. 126) Father Joseph Kentenich said in 1935, during the celebration of the 25^th Anniversary of his priestly ordination. On the eve of July 17^th, the small family of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests in Chile had the joy of celebrating the fifty-five years of Father Jorge Falch’s priestly life. Representatives of the enitre Schoenstatt Family in Chile were invited to participate in the celebration of this occasion.

During the Eucharist that was celebrated at the Holy Spirit Church close to the Cenacle Shrine, in Bellavista (Santiago de Chile), gratitude was expressed to God for the life and priestly service of Father Jorge Falch. In the homily, Father Raúl Hasbún stressed Father Jorge’s docility in allowing himself to be led by the Lord’s will, with humility and generosity, which have made his priestly service a source of many blessings for the Schoenstatt Family and for the entire Church in Chile: "Thank you, Father Jorge. You have been a blessing to us," were the words that he used to summarize the feelings of everyone present.

What would have become of us without Schoenstatt!

After the Eucharist, Father Jorge went to the Shrine, but first he paused for a moment of prayer in front of the picture of the Father and Founder. During this moment of silence, the words that Father Kentenich said on the occasion of the 25^th Anniversary of his priestly life could almost be heard:

"I also know that many men owe the total transformation of their lives to the encounter with Schoenstatt. I know how many priests confess once and again: what would have become of us without Schoenstatt!"

Then he arrived at the door of the Shrine, and looking at the Blessed Mother, he said the following prayer that he had prepared:

"Beloved Mother, Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt: upon celebrating 55 years since your Son, Jesus Christ, united me to his Priesthood as an instrument of salvation for many, and in view of my smallness and my limitation; you took me by the hand as Indvisa Christ (the one who totally belongs to Christ), and you united me to the Father and Prophet of the Schoenstatt Family.

As a priest of Mary, the ‘Patrona Franconiae’ (the patroness of the German region of Franken), you sent me through our Father to the Shrine of the third milestone in the history of his life and the history of his Family to make the mission of Bellavista fruitful among diocesan priests, seminarians and future vocations.

Before such an overwhelmingly great mission and conscious of my insignificance, I want to offer the crown again: Be the Queen and Sovereign of my heart, of my priestly life, and of all whom you have entrusted to me: of the priests and seminarians, of the members of the Schoenstatt Family and of your children, the dawn-breakers.

Take the scepter in your hands, and I completely trust that everything will be for the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen"

After receiving the blessing from his hands, all those who attended gathered around the door of the Shrine; they sang Happy Birthday, and after a burst of warm applause, they went to the adjoining hall to celebrate this beautiful day.

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