70 years since the first Schoenstatt Shrine in Argentina, and the Pope did not want to miss it!

The year 2022 is a jubilee year for Schoenstatt Argentina, because it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the day Father Kentenich blessed its national Shrine in Florencio Varela, on January 20, 1952.

Throughout the year there have been celebrations and manifestations of faith for this jubilee. For the celebrations being held around October 18th, when the founding of the Schoenstatt Movement is commemorated and the first Covenant of Love is renewed in a special way, to celebrate this “sign of faith, of unity, of struggle and of victory”, as Father Kentenich expressed it, the Schoenstatt Family of Argentina has decided to hold several days of festivities under the motto: “Mother, descend, remain with us“.

Ribbon of handkerchiefs to embrace the Shrine

From the National Schoenstatt Shrine, each Argentinean Shrine will be represented by a meaningful ribbon of handkerchiefs that will be tied together to embrace the Jubilee Shrine. This gesture will take place on October 18th in New Schoenstatt, in Florencio Varela.

The pilgrims will also be able to prepare their handkerchiefs, writing their petitions on them, as the following link illustrates: https://youtu.be/9f8oQpMawhM

Mary travels through the neighborhood with her pilgrims and a batucada

As is traditional in New Schoenstatt, on Sunday, October 9th, at the beginning of Covenant Week, the image of the Mother Thrice Admirable will go out in procession, taking a tour through the streets of the neighborhood, preparing the hearts of the hundreds of pilgrims and neighbors who participate in it.

This festive neighborhood pilgrimage is preceded by the batucada of the Center for Human Development La Nazarena, an integral social project for children, adolescents and adults that is located in the neighborhood of the Schoenstatt Shrine and is managed by the Sisters of Mary. The group is called “Abriendo caminos” and is composed of about 15 young people who, with the percussion of their bass drums and snare drums together with their cheerfulness and enthusiasm, shake the foundations of the neighborhood indicating that the Blessed Mother and Jesus have arrived with their blessings, inviting everyone to receive the graces that they bestow in their Shrine.

Sunday 9th: two bishops, a band and the Father’s Pathway

The Bishop of Quilmes, Monsignor Carlos Tissera, and the Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata, Monsignor Jorge Gonzalez, will accompany the pilgrims on this day. The image of the Virgin Mary will be received by the local police band, who will play the Argentinean National Anthem asking the Blessed Mother to descend upon our homeland and remain with us to protect and take care of us.

“The Father’s Pathway” will also be inaugurated, an exhibit located on the casuarinas road that will recount the milestones of Father Kentenich’s life, so that the pilgrims can get to know him better and better understand the spirit of the Shrine.

Throughout the week, those who are Mary’s allies will have the opportunity to renew their Covenant of Love in the National Shrine, while the new allies will seal their Covenant of Love on October 18th, the date on which the first Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother is celebrated.

Tuesday, October 18: key day

The closing of the Covenant Week will take place on October 18th. There will be folkloric dances at 5 p.m. At 6:00 p.m. the image of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt will make her entrance with all the patron saints of the parishes and chapels that she has visited. This “entrance of the saints” reflects Mary as mother, educator, and forger of saints. Under her protection, we learn to be strong and free personalities, capable of transforming the society in which we live.

After Mass, which will be presided by the National Director of the Movement, Father Pablo Perez, the traditional pilgrimage of the image of Mary to the Shrine will take place, so that she can descend again in New Schoenstatt. The pilgrimage will conclude with the embrace of the Shrine where the handkerchiefs of all the pilgrims will form a ribbon as an expression of the petition to unite as Argentineans forming a Nation which is a Family.

Pope Francis is present

Pope Francis is also present on this feast of the Blessed Mother. For this reason, he sent a letter from the Vatican to make himself present at the celebration for this new anniversary of the Father’s Shrine. In this letter he says: “I ask you to pray in my name to the Blessed Mother for peace in the world”. He also expressed his desire that “this celebration be an opportunity to renew our faith and gratitude to God for the many graces showered on us during these 70 years and, at the same time, help us to continue to carry out with enthusiasm the mission we have received”.

Pope Francis also wanted to participate in the ceremony of the handkerchiefs by sending one signed by himself a few days ago at the Vatican. Here we can see the moment of the signing: https://youtu.be/T_W4eLQBO2c

 

Full program of the festivities

We invite all those who wish to participate.

– Sunday, October 9: Feast of the Shrine.

10 a.m. Holy Mass: Father Bishop Carlos Tissera will join us.

6 p.m. Holy Mass: Father Bishop Jorge González will join us.

– Monday, October 10: Holy Mass at 6 p.m. for the youth and children.

– Tuesday, October 11: Holy Mass at 6:00 p.m. for Argentina

– Wednesday, October 12: Holy Mass 6:00 p.m. for a suitable job.

– Thursday, October 13: Holy Mass 6:00 p.m. for the sick

– Friday, October 14: Holy Mass 6:00 p.m. for the deceased

– Saturday, October 15: Concert 4 p.m. Holy Mass 6 p.m. for peace

– Sunday, October 16: Holy Mass 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. for mothers

– Monday, October 17: Holy Mass 6 p.m. for families

– Tuesday, October 18: 5 p.m. folkloric dances. Covenant Holy Mass at 6:00 p.m., entrance of the saints of the parishes and chapels of the area. The National Director of the Movement, Father Pablo Pérez, will preside.

The celebration will be transmitted throughout the day through the YouTube channel of the Shrine of New Schoenstatt: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lA5Iq39evAC5Bn3XcupRg