The definitive permit to continue the work in Belmonte arrived

Beautiful news and many encounters in the shadow of the Shrine Matri Ecclesiae, Rome

Juventud de Schoenstatt de Alemania en acción Schoenstatt Youth from Germany in action Schönstattjugend aus Deutschland in Aktion
Jornada de la Campaña del Rosario Retreat of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign Treffen der Kampagne
Bendición de madres Blessing for mothers Muttersegen
Peregrinación en moto Bikers’ Pilgrimage Motorradwallfahrer
Despedida de los misioneros de Argentina y Paraguay Farewell to the missionaries from Argentina and Paraguay Abschied der Missionare aus Argentinien und Paraguay Fotos: Nuño © 2008

ROME, Francisco Nuño. Rome, July 25^th, 2008. At dawn on this warm Friday in this Roman summer, I placed on the altar of our Matri Ecclesiae Shine, the definitive permit for construction. This is the version which our Diocesan Priests requested more than two and a half years ago from the corresponding authorities of the city of Rome. The permit is dated July 23, 2008.

The priests sent me the copy by email. When I showed it to our Mother and Queen in Belmonte, I thought of the many persons from our Family who have made many contributions to the Treasury of Grace as they awaited this moment. I especially thanked the MTA for Msgr. Peter Wolf. As General Superior of the Diocesan Priests, he has given us the example of "patience without limits." Soon will begin the work on the Via di S. Gemma which will finalize the first phase of the project and thus make possible that the Casa dell’ Alleanza becomes the definite home for those of us who work at this International Center of the Schoenstatt Family in Rome. Hopefully, they will also obtain the necessary financial means for the construction of the residence and the house for meetings – Domus Padre Kentenich – and in this way, the pilgrims who come to Rome in 2014 can meet in "their home" to celebrate our Father and Founder in this Center of the International Schoenstatt Family.

Many are the pilgrims who already seek the Shrine of the "Madonna di Schoenstatt"

Many are the pilgrims who already today seek the Shrine of the Madonna di Schoenstatt on Via Santa Gemma, # 759 Via di Boccea. In the last few months, we have been visited by groups from the Family from different countries. In March, a large group from the Austrian "Familienakademie" had some formation meetings in the Casa dell’ Alleanza. They encouraged us to engrave on the jar of the Shrine the words of the Evangelist St. John "They are out of wine!" (Jn 2:3) and thus follow the custom of other Shrines. We did it.

In addition to families and small groups from different countries, in the last few weeks, Belmonte has welcomed two groups from Brazil and others from Germany (one of them on motorcycles!). The Schoenstatt Youth from Germany – both masculine and feminine – have discovered the Casa dell’ Alleanza as a place to meet and rest on their pilgrimages to Rome and staying overnight in the house with their sleeping bags. Various groups of boys’ youth have also made good use of the time helping in the house and its surroundings. Lastly, some German parish groups have given witness to their love for Mary by coming to Belmonte and celebrating the Eucharist in the Shrine. We notice with satisfaction that the importance and international attachment to this place grows.

The attachment of the nearby parishes and dioceses to our Shrine is worth mentioning. For our parish, it is the preferred place to begin or end some of the great celebrations of the liturgical year. I recall those of Holy Week, the Corpus Domini procession, the beginning and the conclusion of the course/pastoral year with the sending out of the catechists and other pastoral workers. During this year, also begun here was the celebration of the feast of the patron saint of the diocese and of the parish, the holy Roman martyrs Rufina and Seconda. Many faithful were present as were members of different parishes and religious communities from the area. It was a memorable encounter.

A beautiful place

Motivated by the "prophecy" from the old Sta. Gemma pastor – that some day in Belmonte, the movements, prayer groups, and apostolic groups would gather to pray together – some lay people proposed to begin already this year with a prayer meeting in the Shrine in response to that wish. On Saturday, May 31^st, with the motto "In festa con María Madre della Chiesa" (Rejoicing with Mary, Mother of the Church), members of diverse groups and movements gathered at the Shrine to pray the Rosary and to celebrate the Eucharist. At the conclusion of the Holy Mass, Father Ludovico blessed a series of future mothers who wanted to offer their children on the day of the Visitation – their unborn children – to the Mother and Queen of Heaven. The group which organized the event wants to repeat the experience in the future, that is, each 31^st of May hereafter.

I also want to mention the presence in the Shrine and in the Casa some of the groups from the parish that the Schoenstatt Fathers have in the area of Trastevere in the center of Rome. They arrive in the morning. They have their meetings and have lunch in the Casa. Before going home, they celebrate the Eucharist in the Shrine. Belmonte is a beautiful and enjoyable place, especially for those who live in the center of the city. The beauty of the Shrine and of the MTA offer another incentive for these parish encounters.

Today, the volume of pilgrims and groups coming to the Shrine is limited to those who come from Germany or other countries during summer vacation time. The Italians from Rome slowly "disappear" from Rome. They go to the mountains or to the beaches to flee the high temperatures which we enjoy here during the months of July and August. In the meantime, Belmonte prepares for the great September encounter: pilgrims from all of Italy will come as they do every year to celebrate the anniversary of the Shrine. This year it will be on the 7^th of September. Father Ludovico and Sister Fernanda have the pastoral responsibility for this event. Unforseen circumstances will impede – for the first time – that the Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Gino Reali, presides at the Eucharist on this day in the shadow of the Shrine. It is precisely on the day he returns from Lourdes with a diocesan pilgrimage.

The missionaries from Argentina and Paraguay return to their countries…..

During these days, Santiago Luti returns to Argentina along with the other two missionaries who gave their time to the foundation of the Italian Schoenstatt. Their help and childlike love, their concern for the Shrine and for the Casa dell’ Alleanza have been admirable. The host family is left an "orphan" without him. Nevertheless, we thank God because for us it has been a personal and very rich experience. It has been a gift from Divine Providence. A gathering of the small group in the Casa and with a Eucharist in the Shrine, the Schoenstatt Fathers bid farewell to the three youths before they returned to their countries. Thank you, Santi, may God continue guiding your way!

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 080708