Pilgrimage to the Blessed Mother’s wayside shrine to pray for rain
Family Missions in Argentina
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Misiones familiares en Viale, en 2005 Family Missions in Viale, in 2005 Familien-Misiones in Viale, im Jahr 2005 |
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La ermita de Viale, meta de las peregrinaciones de todo el pueblo The wayside shrine in Viale, goal of the pilgrimages of the people Der Bildstock in Viale, Ziel der Wallfahrten um Regen |
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Bendición de la ermita, el 31 de mayo de 2008 Blessing of the
wayside shrine,
Einweihung des Bildstocks am 31. Mai 2008 |
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Un lugar de esperanza A place of hope Ein Ort der Hoffnung |
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El P. Sergio Hayy, parroco de Viale Fr. Sergio Hayy, parish priest of Viale Pfr. Sergio Hayy von Viale Fotos: Ríos © 2009 |
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ARGENTINA, mkf. Desperate after months of drought, the neighbors from Viale – in the province of Entre Rios, Argentina – began to pray for rain. Every day since last Saturday they have been going and will continue until next Monday on pilgrimage to the wayside shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, which is located at the other end of town. The two wayside shrines in Viale are the fruit from the Family Missions that were held in the year 2005.
They make the pilgrimage to pray for rain that will revive the dry fields. The pilgrimage departs every night at 9:30 p.m. from the Saint Ann’s Parish, and it travels almost a kilometer to the wayside shrine. "Many people are participating, perhaps around 120, and more join the pilgrimage each day," Saint Ann’s pastor, Sergio Hayy, said during an interview. He blessed this wayside shrine on May 31st. They continue to go on pilgrimage; they continue praying, because the drought and the heat are destroying everything. In the midst of it all, it is good to know that this wayside exists, and that a place of grace exists at a time of so much hopelessness. Thanks to the Family Missions that were held in Viale, the first wayside shrine was erected in the year 2005, and the second one on May 31, 2008.
Family Missions will be held again in 2009
The Argentinean Marian Family Missions of La Plata’s Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement will be held from January 26th to February 1st in the areas of Caseros and Villa Clara (Entre Rios), Loberia (Buenos Aires), and La Paz (Mendoza). A couples group along with their children and other youth will go on mission "as a family for the families;" they are spending part of their vacation time for this apostolic task.
Their mission is to take the Word of Christ and the picture of the Blessed Mother to each one of the families in those areas; this task has been carried out for ten years. The leaders of the Movement from La Plata, Lilita and Carlos Ricciardi, recommend that those who do not go on the mission, pray the Holy Rosary for the families and the youth and attend daily Holy Mass. This year, just as the previous years, they are organizing a prayer chain for the success and fruitfulness of the Family Missions.
The leaders are asking for a prayer commitment on behalf of the missionaries sometime during the day; it can be the Rosary, participating in Holy Mass, or making an offering whatever each person decides. In turn, the missionaries will mention everyone, who has prayed for them, at the end of each day. "Within a framework of gratitude and spiritual unity," the leaders explained.
- Whoever wants to join this prayer chain for the Family Mission, can email their full name and the prayers they want to offer to the following address: misonesfamiliares@ciudad.com.ar
Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, TX, USA/amj