On earth as it is in Heaven

Jubilee for the 40^th anniversary of the Villa Warcalde Shrine in Córdoba, Argentina

A punto de renovar la Alianza de Amor Moments before the renewal of the Covenant of Love Kurz vor der Erneuerung des Liebesbündnisses
ELLA y su HIJO reciben al Peregrino She and her Son welcoming the Pilgrims Sie und ihr Sohn begrüßen die Pilger am Eingang
¡Siempre listos para la MADRE DE DIOS! Always ready for the Mother of God! Immer bereit zum Dienst für die Mutter des Herrn!
El coro del Centro Padre Kentenich con sus emotivas canciones The choir of the Father Kentenich Center with their beautiful songs Der Chor des pater-Kentenich-Zentrums mit seinen
La ermita donde todo comenz ó The wayside shrine where it all began Der Bildstock, an dem alles angefangen hat
Los globos volarán hacia el cielo The balloons will soon fly higher... Die Luftballons steigen gleich in den Himmel … Fotos: Juan Barbosa © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

ARGENTINA, Juan Barbosa. The Shrine of Solidarity in Villa Warcalde celebrated its first 40 years of life and the Family said, Present! It was a day in which the sun shined in all corners of the property, a "gift" after a copious rain the night before.

The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary offered their usual care, the Family contributed with enormous effort, and as a "final touch," She completely cleaned the trees and gardens in order to welcome her children from Córdoba to their meticulously decorated home. In this way they shared a true feast for the Church.

They provided the water…..and they tasted the wine!

Half-way through 2007, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary - custodians of the Villa Warcalde Shrine - at all meetings of the Family Council, began inviting everyone to work toward the 40^th anniversary with various activities, but especially, with many contributions to the Treasury of Grace. A clever system for counting the different contributions (Adoration, Rosaries, visits to the Shrine, etc…..) made it possible to keep track of things and the aim was to gather 40 million contributions to the Treasury of Grace as a gift to the Shrine. At the time of the offertory procession, these contributions from the Family were brought to the altar totaling…..80 million contributions from the Family! This was exactly double of what had been aimed for.

A Family who arrives, a Family that awaits

Córdoba vibrated to the rhythm of the (impeccable) work of the Commission for the 40^th Anniversary. Actually, this had begun sometime back. At first, it was a tranquil beginning, and as the anniversary approached – it was full-steam ahead! – the Family worked hard so that by the 18^th of October, everything would be ready. Many people were expected and the gift for the Queen of Heaven would be to have the property completely renovated, absolutely breath-taking and full of life.

Emails went back and forth assigning tasks and announcing news (some good and some needing help). They were more and more frequent, as were the visits to the Shine and bringing things and taking things and slowly "La Villa" became more and more beautiful. Hearts sensed that the natural smile of the Blessed Mother widen more and more, as an expression of how she felt…..on earth as it is in Heaven.

The great day arrived and from the Shrine of Life and Hope ( Córdoba’s other Shrine and a "child" of Villa Warcalde) a great caravan was started. With loud speakers and prayers, they invited anyone who wanted to listen to the great festival in Villa Warcalde.

A great number of people were awaiting the caravan at Villa Warcalde. This is how the Family is: it awaits the pilgrim, but also goes out to meet him/her.

The arrival of the Great Pilgrim MTA which headed the caravan was initially greeted with cheers, songs and applause and then, with the ringing of the bell from the Shrine…..absolute silence…..What a moment!

In his words of greeting, Fr. Guillermo Carmona invited everyone present to imitate the strength of "the pioneers," to take the baton and to go forth "to the newest shores."

A day dreamed of….. time and….. climate

The weather was the best one could expect for such a festive day: sunny and warm. It was beyond expectations! While walking through the gardens, it was common to hear phrases like: Hello, it’s been a long time! Did you see so and so? Isn’t the Villa beautiful? Did you notice the tiles on the Shrine? Did you see all of the beautiful planters? Did you see the entrance arcade? It was also common to see the hundreds of people with the "yellow handkerchiefs with the motto for the 40^th anniversary" going back and forth either bringing something or taking something. Several had walkie-talkies and the General Coordinator, Javier Mansilla who did a great job, talked to this one and that one and in silence solved whatever problem came up. From the microphone, people were motivated and the "CPK Choir" (which every Sunday at 8 PM delights everyone with joyful hymns for the Mass of the families) delighted everyone during the afternoon with the generous singing. A group of Schoenstatt youths also delighted everyone with a theatrical presentation…..very moving and very natural! There was a true family atmosphere for the Family.

The Archbishop of Córdoba with Schoenstatt

The crowning moment of the celebration was the Holy Mass presided by Bishop Carlos José Nañez, Archbishop of Córdoba. He was received with a great deal of joy by the more than 3,500 attendees.

The entrance procession was headed by the Great Pilgrim MTA who was carried on the shoulders of "the Pioneers." She was accompanied by Marian hymns intoned by the choir which Gabriela Sarría de Urrets Zavalía had been rehearsing with for two months prior. The faithful could not hide their emotion upon seeing their Pastor in his Villa Warcalde Shrine. The missionaries lived a heavenly moment when meeting Bishop Nañez!

In his homily, the Bishop invited everyone from the Shrine to continue widening the family bonds and continue in the evangelization of the world with the Church. From the interior of their hearts, the Family responded: Count on us!

The ceremony, concelebrated by Fathers: Guillermo Carmona, Marcelo Gallardo, Andrés Rodríguez, and Fr. Daniel from Tucumán was coming to an end and no one wanted that…..

Bishop Nañez accepted the renewal of the Covenant from the assistants in a very moving moment. The candles they held in their hands had been lit earlier and they truly formed an ocean of lights ready to light up the rest!

Religious objects to be blessed were raised up and it was then when hundreds of triptychs came forth with the images of the MTA and the Unity Cross which could only be seen when the Shrine, whose picture was on the back side, opened up It was a very moving moment!

Unfortunately, the end came…..

Spontaneously, from among the multitude, a great applause arose greeting Bishop Carlos José Nañez as he passed by. He is a Bishop who is dearly loved by his Diocese and is very close to everyone because of his well-known task for the Church of Córdoba and the world.

More applause followed. It was the product of the expression of a joyful heart, of renown fruitfulness from the Shrine. It was in honor of the evangelization power of the Family and it was also in gratitude for the organization of the festival which without a doubt will remain etched forever in the memories of those who had the good fortune of attending.

Great choirs closed the encounter while innumerable birds which live at "La Villa" greeted the twilight. The Shrine of Solidarity on the background of a very rejuvenated "Road to Mary," illuminated like never seen before, seemed to say: Thank you! ….. I await you….. as always!

Translation: Carlos Cantú Schoenstatt Family Federation La Feria, TX USA 102808