On June 21, 2026, the Original Schoenstatt Shrine joyfully welcomed missionaries, families, and pilgrims living in Europe, as well as immigrants from Brazil, Portugal, Guinea, and Cape Verde, for an intense day of spiritual formation and renewal of the mission of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate. From early morning, participants arrived full of anticipation to experience a gathering marked by faith, prayer, and the living out of the Covenant of Love during the 14th Portuguese-language pilgrimage.
The gathering began with a welcome to the groups, followed by Holy Mass at the Pilgrims’ Church. In his homily, Fr. Celso Machado Lima reminded the congregation that the mission of a Pilgrim Mother missionary consists not only of bringing the image of the Mother of God to families but also of allowing Mary to transform our own lives. We are called to allow her to make each of us a living shrine and to help our families become true domestic shrines where God can dwell and act.
Inspired by the day’s Gospel, the celebrant highlighted Jesus’ invitation: “Do not be afraid!” That Word strengthened the hearts of all present, reminding them that Christ walks with us in all circumstances of life. Like the Venerable João Luiz Pozzobon, we are sent to evangelize wherever we are, beginning with the environments closest to us: our families, neighbors, communities, and workplaces.
Celebrating with the Sisters of Mary
A particularly moving moment occurred at the end of Holy Mass, after Communion. Amid deep gratitude, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary presented the pilgrims with the official hymn for their 100th-anniversary Jubilee, sharing the joy of this centennial and renewing their commitment to serve the Church and families in accordance with the charism of Father Joseph Kentenich.
Next, the missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate paid a simple yet meaningful tribute to the Sisters. On behalf of everyone present, missionary Ricardo Antonio Wanderley Neves Filho addressed them with words of deep gratitude, acknowledging a century of fidelity, silent dedication, and the generous “yes” that has transformed the lives of countless families worldwide. Special gratitude was expressed for the Sisters’ tireless work in teaching families to transform their homes into true domestic shrines and for their mission to form hearts in accordance with Schoenstatt’s Marian pedagogy.
As an expression of this recognition, about 20 altar servers presented each Sister with a rose. The rose, the queen of flowers, symbolized the beauty of their vocation, the purity of love, and the gratitude of all who, through the Sisters of Mary’s mission, experience the maternal care of the Mother Thrice Admirable.
Upon receiving the flowers, the Sisters were invited to take them to the Original Shrine and offer them to the Mother and Queen, along with the intentions, joys, concerns, and prayers of all the families present.
An Event Celebrated as a Family
After lunch and a joyful time of fellowship among the participants, the afternoon program offered a range of simultaneous activities. Many pilgrims joined guided tours of the Original Shrine and the Shrine of Families, deepening their understanding of Schoenstatt’s history and spirituality. Others took the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or to participate in the recitation of the Holy Rosary, recalling the mission and witness of João Pozzobon.
One of the highlights of the pilgrimage was the consecration of the children. Each child heard their parents call their name aloud, a concrete sign of entrusting them to the protection and care of the Mother of God. It was a deeply moving gesture that expressed the families’ trust in Mary as the educator and guide of their children.
Another highlight was the blessing of the house keys. This gesture reminded us to open the doors of our homes to Christ and Mary, allowing their graces to touch every aspect of our daily lives.
Renewing the Mission of Bringing Christ to Families
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Fr. Bernardo da Rocha, was a profound invitation to silence and trust. Before Jesus in the Eucharist, we were called to keep our gaze fixed on the Lord and to believe that He remains with us in all circumstances of life, especially the most difficult. It was a moment of deep contemplation, hope, and inner renewal.
The pilgrimage culminated in a solemn procession to the Original Shrine. There, participants offered their contributions to the Capital of Grace and symbolically burned their petitions and intentions, placing them in the hands of the Mother and Queen. At that moment, the sending forth of the missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate also took place, renewing the mission to bring Christ to families through the presence of the Mother of God.
At the end of this intense day, despite the heat that accompanied the entire program, everyone returned home deeply grateful for the countless blessings they had received. Strengthened by their experience at the Original Shrine, the 800 pilgrims set out with renewed hearts for their cities: Hamburg, Mainz, Frankfurt, Cologne, southern Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. They are aware that Mary continues to send her children as instruments of evangelization and hope.
