October 18, 2008 – This is the day the Lord has made!

In gratitude: Cor Unum in Patre Shrine Dedication, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Mons. Gomez Archbishop Gomez Erzbischof Gomez
Ofrenda Offering Gabengang
Flores para la Mater Flowers for the Blessed Mother Blumen für Maria
La MTA entra… The MTA entering the Shrine Die MTA kommt ins Heiligtum
Interior del nuevo Santuario  Interior of the Shrine with image of our Mother Thrice Admirable installed on the altar.  Das neue Heiligtum… Fotos: Huerta © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

USA, Julian and Pilar Huerta. We rejoice and give thanks! Heaven has touched earth and our Mother and Queen has taken possession of her new Cor Unum in Patre Shrine! Our Heavenly Father provided a beautiful day in the Texas Hill Country for the Dedication Mass, which was attended by approximately 1,700 of our Schoenstatt Family, friends, and the local community. A festive atmosphere with flags, blue, yellow, and white banners, beautiful flowers, and yellow bows on the trees of the wooded area greeted the guests.

The rosary was recited before Mass. Joining in the celebration of this great day were representatives from several U. S. states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The Knights of Columbus served as the Honor Guard for the entrance procession. The Most Reverend Archbishop Jose Gomez officiated at the Mass and Rite of Dedication. Six Schoenstatt Fathers from the United States, two Schoenstatt Fathers from Mexico, and one pastor from the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas concelebrated the Mass with three deacons assisting. Many boys from the Youth Branch also assisted at the Mass as altar servers. Filled with joy, the Schoenstatt Sisters from the Confidentia Shrine in Lamar participated in the dedication of the second Shrine in Texas. The Cor Unum in Patre Shrine is a gift in thanksgiving to our Mother on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the Confidentia Shrine.

Francisco Gonzalez, the architect for the Shrine, symbolically presented the Shrine’s key to the Archbishop with moving words of what it meant for him to offer his work for Mary, the Mother of God, whom he greatly loves.

Archbishop Gomez gave a very inspiring homily. In closing he said: "We give thanks to God for giving us this Shrine."

A gift from two integrally influential saints for Schoenstatt

Two first-class relics were presented for deposition in the base of the altar. It was a very marvelous blessing for all in receiving a relic of St. Vincent Pallotti and one of St. Therese of Lisieux for the Cor Unum in Patre Shrine.

Incense permeated the Shrine from the table censer on the altar for censing by the Archbishop. Anointing the walls and the altar with chrism oil were the next solemn acts in the rite of dedication.

A magnificent expression of love for our Mother was witnessed in the tears of joy, the wide smiles, and by the waving of a thousand white handkerchiefs to and fro amid shouts of "Hail our Queen" and "Viva nuestra Reina" as the picture of grace, our Mother Thrice Admirable, was carried in procession. Girls from the Girls’ Youth Branch carried the beautiful flower arrangements for the Shrine. An honor guard of thirty members from the various Branches carried long-stem, yellow roses forming an arch as two of the leaders carried the picture forward. Upon receiving the image at the outdoor altar, Archbishop Gomez kissed it and walked with the procession inside the Shrine, where he once again kissed the image before it was installed on the light frame of the altar. Presenting the beautiful crown offered to our Mother when she was crowned Queen of Unity in 1973 were the two of the Movement’s Sisters of Mary, Sr. Corelia Bechold and Sr. Daniela Rensing. The crowning in 1973 was in petition for the realization of a daughter shrine in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

The Proclamation for Confidentia’s Jubilee Year

A very special moment of grace occurred with the transfer of the Blessed Sacrament to the tabernacle. After the final blessing, Archbishop Gomez was presented with gifts from the San Antonio Schoenstatt Family. The master of ceremonies, Carlos Cantu, read the Proclamation for the Opening of the Confidentia Shrine’s Jubilee Year. We were sent forth with our family hymn, Protect Us with Your Mantle, which was sung with much fervor. The Archbishop shook hands with people as he made his way to the priests’ area, stopping once to give a blessing to a handicapped child in a wheelchair.

The people immediately made their way for their first visit in the new Shrine. A mariachi group serenaded our Mother at the door of the Shrine, and the reception was held after Mass in a large banquet tent in addition to the landscaped grounds surrounding the gazebo. Guests had an opportunity to view exhibits in the Center on the history of the Movement in San Antonio.

What a glorious day of grace, and what a beautiful celebration as one Family of our Father and Founder—one in the heart of the Father!