Together We Can

First Echoes of the Celebrations in Chile Honoring the 40^th Anniversary of the Death of Father Kentenich

Procesión de entrada Entrance procession Einzug
La catedral repleta The cathedral was packed Die Kathedrale war voll besetzt
Mons. Camilo Vial saludando a la gente Bishop Camilo Vial greeting the people Bischof Camilo Vial begrüßt die Teilnehmer
Mons. Camilo Vial saludando a la gente Bishop Camilo Vial greeting the people Bischof Camilo Vial begrüßt die Teilnehmer
La Mater presente... The MTA present... Die MTA ist dabei… Fotos: Gustavo Eduardo Barrios Saavedra © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum (Temuco)

CHILE, Sr. M. Ivonne/mkf. "Today, 40 years ago on the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows, heaven touched earth….. 40 years ago, the mantle of our Mother and Queen touched our holy Schoenstatt land in order to eternally submerge into the heart of the Eternal Father, the holy life of our Father and Founder, Joseph Kentenich. Father, come to our country. Come to celebrate with your children from North to South, from mountain range to sea and in every corner where there is a heart that loves you….." Letters with this text in the mailboxes is how the 15^th of September began in Chile. This news was in the national media and in the Schoenstatt media. It was the theme for sermons and commentaries: the 15^th of September – in all of the cathedrals in Chile (there were bishops present in 17 of them) – the 40^th anniversary of the death of Father Kentenich was remembered.

"I just experienced something so moving!" writes Kiki Tagle from the founding generation of Schoenstatt in Chile after returning from the Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago: "The Cathedral was completely full….. there was a beautiful image of the Blessed Mother on the altar…..the picture of Father Kentenich…..there was great enthusiasm…..many familiar faces…..Sisters…..families…..ladies/mothers…..youths. Seminarians were present, Priests…..all were vibrating with love for the Founder. Our monks sang vespers and then our seminarians sang the Mass from Heavenwards. There was a loving greeting from Father Francisco Javier Errázuriz who was not present and an excellent homily by Bishop Fernando Chomalí. There was much happiness everywhere and everyone had a knot in the throat in thanksgiving for what we were experiencing."

We could all sing without seeing the words

What has taken place in Chile on the 15^th of September has far surpassed all expectations of any ambitious pretension. Father manifested himself in all his grandeur and was present with his children from North to South who were celebrating the 40^th anniversary of his going Home to the Father.

I have received comments from some of the cities and in each one of them the cathedral was full, full of people…..members of the Movement, pilgrims and invitees. Each place outdid itself which a special liturgy and through it, giving a great ecclesial witness to our pastors who expressed themselves about our Father with beautiful words and great acknowledgement of Schoenstatt and its pastoral service in all dioceses according to the charism of our Founder.

Echoes like: "we were one great family, united in one heart with the Father." "We have experienced the Cor Unum in Patre." "Singing the Heavenwards Mass gave us unity. We could all sing without seeing the words because it belongs to us."

There was a great deal of thought about those who brought the seed of Schoenstatt to Chile…..the Pallottines, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, the first members of the Movement. All the difficult beginnings of a foundation could be seen crowned with the beautiful fruits of unity and the great growth of the Schoenstatt Work in Chile which is widely recognized by the Church.

And the general comment: what a joy it will be when we see our Father receive the honors of the altar!

This beautiful experience of love and faith gives us new impetus to continue working even harder with greater care for the soon canonization of Father,"because we have proven that we can do it together." And if from today onward we strive to hasten our surrender, especially by giving witness to the fruitfulness of our Covenant of Love in daily life and united in our Shrines throughout our country, we will storm heaven to bring forth his mercy and we will be given the so-longed-for miracle which we need in Father’s process.

The Bishop was not at the Cathedral of Osorno; Fr. Bernardo Werth celebrated the Mass with three deacons. Father Bernardo (a German) was recently in Schoenstatt and returned very enthused about Father Kentenich. The Eucharist was very beautiful because there were many people, especially with people who receive the visit of the Pilgrim Virgin and many other Schoenstatters. Afterward they saw a film on Father Kentenich which Fr. Bernardo brought and they had coffee and cookies.

The greatest surprise was that Carlita, a girl from the girls’ youth announced that she would be entering the community of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Santiago along with another girl from Valdivia. Two new vocations! This is in addition to two others coming from Spain. What a gift in these times!.....

Not only in the cathedrals…..

In a small town near Linares – in the seventh region – the people could not go to the cathedral in the closest city because of distance, time and the difficult economic situation for traveling. They decided to unite with the national celebration by inviting the priest of the place to celebrate Mass in the Home Shrine of one of the coordinators of the Pilgrim Virgin. The priest accepted happily and offered the Mass for the canonization of Father Kentenich. About fifty persons attended and after the Eucharistic celebration, they enjoyed a delicious turnover pastry in preview of the future national festivities.

Cases like this were probably repeated in many places in Chile.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 092508