Let’s Go to the Shrine...

Around the Original Shrine: Pilgrimage from Russia, Rosary, journeys…and great gratitude to Brother Richard, who was the sacristan at the Original Shrine for more than 40 years

Peregrinos de San Petersburgo, Rusia, en Schoenstatt Pilgrims from Saint Petersburg, Russia, in Schoenstatt Pilger aus St. Petersburg, Russland, in Schönstatt
Santa Misa de la peregrinación de Rusia Holy Mass of the Russian Pilgrimage Heilige Messe der russischen Pilger
El Padre Krzysztof POZARSKI y dos monaguillos, Roman y Anrei Fr. Krzysztof POZARSKI and two Mass servers, Roman and Anrei Pfarrer Krzysztof POZARSKI und zwei Messdiener, Roman und Anrei.
Los peregrinos rusos en la tumba del Padre The Russian pilgrims at the tomb of Fr. Kentenich Die russischen Pilger am Grab Pater Kentenichs Foto: Sr. Damiana Czogala © 2008
Rosario en castellano, sabado 11 de octubre Rosary in Spanish, Saturday, October 11 Rosenkranz in Spanisch am Samstag, 11. Oktober

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. The month of October has begun, month of the Covenant, with the colors that only autumn can show. It is a pleasure to see the yellow, red leaves…it is a pleasure for the pilgrims from Russia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Ecuador and Germany who arrived during these weeks.

On October 8th, 47 pilgrims from Saint Petersburg, Russia were here. They traveled by train from Saint Petersburg to Poland and there they took a bus to continue on their pilgrimage to Lourdes. They are from two parishes and they were accompanied by Father Pozarski. All of them wanted to visit the Original Shrine, since they had learned about Schoenstatt through the Sisters of Mary who work in Saint Petersburg. The parish of Saint Stansislaus has a Schoenstatt altar and the Pilgrim MTA visits several families. One of the ladies held her Pilgrim MTA in her arms the entire time; she was filled with emotion! And during the Mass celebrated at the Original Shrine, the pastor recalled Father Kentenich’s desire to have a Shrine in Moscow someday. They also prayed at the tomb of Father Kentenich before continuing their trip.

Praying together

On Saturday some young girls who are "Spending Time at Schoenstatt, an exchange student from Chile, some mothers from Argentina and Sisters of Mary from Chile, Argentina and Ecuador gathered at the Original Shrine to pray the rosary in Spanish. Every time there is more of a connection with all the Family. As always they prayed for the activities around the Shrines and they recalled the 10th Anniversary of Father Esteban Uriburu’s death; they prayed for the eternal repose of Father Enrique Schaefer, and for all the preparations for October 18th.

A day before a young couple from Costa Rica arrived at Schoenstatt. The woman, who had been at the Original Shrine some years ago, now wanted to show the Shrine to her husband. They belong to one of the newest groups of the Family work in Costa Rica. They enthusiastically gathered material for the "One million children", to distribute in Costa Rica.

Thank you very much, Brother Richard!

On Sunday October 12th – while 600 pilgrims from the Diocese of Aachen filled the place –there was another historic event. After 40 years of loyal service Brother Richard, a Pallotine left Brother Helmut in charge as sacristan of the Original Shrine. During the Mass celebrated in the Church of the Pallotines and at the reception afterwards Schoenstatt and Pallotine representatives paid tribute to the person who was an "institution" for generations of pilgrims. At least he will stay in Schoenstatt and will continue to work at the Shrine! A Sister of Mary from South America writes: "How often I have thought about Brother Richard and the exquiste taste with which he decorated the Original Shrine"! And how many people , like me, have anonmously expressed appreciation for his important service. He was always the one that made the Original Shrine so welcoming…Surely the Blessed Mother will reward him for being her instrument to make thousands of people happy, who come here or visited the Shrine spiritually through schoenstatt.de.."

On October 14th a group of pilgrims of the Schoenstatt Family from Ecuador arrived to Schoenstatt and they were happy to be here…

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA

• Audio of the Rosary (Spanish)