The Land of Hope Shrine in Chaco is the new place chosen by the Blessed Mother. On August 24, she settled there forever.
This is the first Schoenstatt daughter Shrine inaugurated in the province of Chaco and the 24th in Argentina. It is located in the city of Resistencia, capital of the province.
History and identity of the Chaco family
This story begins almost 30 years ago in the Chaco region, in northern Argentina. Around the year 2000, something began to take shape slowly and quietly. That first offering, that generous love, the work and prayer, started to shape a dream, and God’s promise became clear: the Shrine in Chaco.
She, the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victorious of Schoenstatt, the MTA, was always behind it all. With gentleness and tenderness, she won the hearts of so many brothers and sisters in Chaco.
They say that the road was long and there were many hardships. Our brothers and sisters in northern Argentina are simple yet strong, and they possess a resilience that enables them to overcome adversity. Thus, they went forward for years, guided by the fire of the Covenant, walking and building their family. The testimony of many attests to the immense contributions to the capital of grace and to the proven trust that led them to this moment of grace in which Mary decided to remain among them forever.
The hymn they have sung for years is a symbol of that sustained promise, with effort, perseverance, and certainty of ultimate victory:
“Raise your scepter, my Queen, let victory arise, raise a Shrine in my Chaco, let it rise like the sun, from the power of love, like a bridge to heaven, to my God.”
This family was forged through overcoming difficulties, thereby experiencing the importance of building a Covenant with God. There are many testimonies, and it is beautiful to read about their experiences and learn about so many stories. But how many witnessed or heard about what happened there the day before the Blessing? Without a doubt, it is something that cannot remain untold, as it speaks to the heart of all this.
The Triduum of Blessing and the pilgrims
The arrival and preparation for the BIG MOMENT were planned as a Triduum. The theme of the first day was the Father and founder: “Father, your Covenant, our mission”; the second day was dedicated to the Blessed Mother: “Mary, Queen of the family”; and the third day was dedicated to the Shrine: “Land of Hope.”
Each day was carefully organized, thoughtfully planned, and thoroughly prayed for, culminating in the Eucharistic celebration. Many thousands of pilgrims attended: a total of 12,000 people made the pilgrimage during the Triduum. Neighbors, young people, families, diocesan priests, consecrated women, Sisters of Mary, Schoenstatt Fathers, branch moderators, civil authorities, and people from all over the country and beyond: a large contingent from Paraguay, as the history of Chaco is closely linked to Schoenstatt in Paraguay.
Everything was going according to plan and on schedule for the Blessing.
The first day ended with a beautiful Mass presided over by Father Pablo Pol, president of the National Presidency. The sky and the weather were radiant. After a day of hard work and long journeys, everyone went to rest.
What happened during the early morning hours was what disrupted the plans once again. It rained and rained, and the entire area was flooded. Everything that had been prepared —the chairs, the stage —was covered in mud. It seemed impossible to imagine that anything planned for that day could be done there.
That Saturday afternoon, the image of the MTA arrived at the site to be enthroned the following day.
“Whoever has a mission must fulfill it, even if one death leap follows another”
Father Joseph Kentenich
At 6 a.m., the first volunteers began to gather. Wearing rubber boots or barefoot, they set to work without pause to remove the water from the site. The family from Chaco rolled up their sleeves once again to show that Mary’s victory depends on the generosity and radical dedication of her own.
Everyone to work! Plowing the land, digging wells, removing water, and bringing in truckloads of sand. Hundreds of chairs were moved, cleaned, and rearranged. Capital of Grace was being offered until the very end; this is how the Family prepared to receive the Queen.
As the work was done, the property was once again ready, and excitement began to show. This had been a new test that, once again, the united family overcame.
That Saturday truly symbolized what the entire journey had been up to that point. “A plan is made, it gets watered down, it fills with water, and that water has to be removed,” showing that it is the Blessed Mother who is in charge, not us. And one thing is sure: even in circumstances that implied that “everything was falling apart” or becoming extremely complicated, she is faithful to the Covenant of Love. She only needs us to become instruments in her hands to work the miracle.
Of course, everything fell into place, and that same afternoon, the second Mass of the triduum was celebrated, presided over by Father Santiago Ferrero, the Movement Director.
Thus came the big day and the crowning moment of such a great effort, with the triumphal entrance of the Blessed Mother making her way through the streets of Resistencia, until she was enthroned in the small chapel of grace. At the final Holy Mass, presided over by Monsignor Ramón Dus, Archbishop of Resistencia, more than 5,500 people were counted. From then on, there has been a constant pilgrimage of faithful who visit and get to know the Schoenstatt Shrine.
It was a true celebration of faith, love, and family!
*Text by María Belén Ferrero and Julia Deharbe
Translation: Maribel Acaron
