May all Receive Special Gifts of Confidence

2009 Pilgrimage to the Confidentia Shrine

Santa Misa Holy Mass Bei der heiligen Messe
Coronación Crowning Krönung Fotos: Carlos Cantú © 2009

USA, Carlos Cantú. During the early morning hours, here was loud thunder and sporadic rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful day for a pilgrimage to the Confidentia Shrine in Rockport/Lamar, Texas. For many years now, the Schoenstatt Movement of the Brownsville Diocese in Texas sponsors a pilgrimage during the month of May. At minimum, it is a three hour trip from the Rio Grande Valley to Rockport/Lamar, Texas. The number of pilgrims varies from year to year, 400 to 800. This year there were approximately 500 pilgrims in attendance.

Everyone comes to visit Blessed Mother for different reasons. Some come to give thanks for answered prayers, some come with petitions to Blessed Mother, and some come just to show their love and respect for Her. For many it is a deep faith experience which helps them on their life’s journey from year to year, from pilgrimage to pilgrimage. This year is really special because it is the Golden Jubilee Year of the Confidentia Shrine. The special celebration will be held in October and all the activities and celebrations at the Schoenstatt Center, as well at the other places throughout Texas where there is Schoenstatt, are centered on the theme of thanksgiving for the 50 yeas of the presence of the MTA in her Confidentia Shrine. It is important to note that the Confidentia Shrine was offered for the liberation of the Father and Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, from his exile. Thanksgiving was offered in advance. The Confidentia Shrine also dons the Father Eye Symbol which was offered for the Shrine by Father Kentenich himself.

A pleasant balance of hymns, readings, prayers, and homily in both English and Spanish

The program for the day is as follows: all gather at the Shrine at 10 AM to greet Blessed Mother and serenade Her in both English and Spanish; at 10:30 AM, all are invited to hear a talk in either English or Spanish, thanks to our Schoenstatt Fathers, Frs.Héctor Vega and Christian Christensen; at 11:30 AM, Holy Mass begins and it is bilingual, so there is a pleasant balance of hymns, readings, prayers, and homily in both English and Spanish; after the homily, there is a beautiful procession where the crown for Blessed Mther is brought up…..a crowning prayer is said in both languages and then with shouts of joy and clapping, our Blessed Mother receives her crown from her children from the Brownsville Diocese in Texas; after lunch there is the recommissioning and commissioning of coordinators for the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign; this is followed by recitation of the Holy Rosary and Benediction; the conclusion comes with the blessing of religious articles, a memento gift for everyone, and expressions of joy, good-will, and hopes of being back next year.

Painting the Shrine!

As a gift for the Golden Jubilee, the Schoenstatt Family of the Brownsville Diocese is offering the funds for the entire painting of the Confidentia Shrine. They are especially grateful to all who have made contributions in this regard. They are also very grateful to all those who work so hard each year to make the pilgrimage a blessed experience for everyone. Following is the prayer with which we proclaimed our Blessed Mother as

QUEEN OF VICTORIOUS CONFIDENCE.

Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, In this great Jubilee Year, your children from the Brownsville Diocese come to thank you for your presence of 50 years among us in your Confidentia Shrine. This is our Home. Here you dispense your many graces of UNLIMITED, CHILDLIKE, VICTORIOUS CONFIDENCE. We are living in difficult times…..times of uncertainty, economic turmoil, unemployment, illnesses and difficulties. Many are afflicted with worry, anxiety and concern. Dear Mother, we bring to You all that is in our hearts and on our minds. We know that you can work miracles. May all who visit the Shrine of Confidence during this Golden Jubilee Year receive special gifts of confidence in order to continue on life’s journey. Bless our families, our country and our homes. May we find comfort, joy and peace. With our Father and Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, may we proclaim the cross and your image to all as a sign of redemption. May Father Kentenich soon receive the honors of the altar. Through his fatherly hands, we crown you Queen of Victorious Confidence