[covenant-greetings] Covenant Greetings - June 18, 2012

Mon Jun 18 20:02:13 CEST 2012

/Dear collaborators and friends of schoenstatt.org:/

//

We celebrate another 18th -851 days until October 18, 2014 -- united 
from Shrine to Shrine, from country to country, from pc to pc.In a few 
minutes the Mass will begin in the Original Shrine, transmitted live 
thanks to Schoenstatt-TV.We can virtually participate, at this moment or 
throughout the day, uniting ourselves from the places of our apostolate 
with the source of grace, with the living center of this large network 
of shrines that allows us to spread the graces of the Shrine to the ends 
of the earth, to our work places, to every place where we live.In the 
same way, we can participate in the life that is born from the strength 
of the covenant of love in so many places thanks to our web page and the 
efforts of so many, and we can allow ourselves to be inspired, enriched 
and motivated by so much life, so much giving of self, so much faith and 
so many deeds that show the Blessed Motherthat we truly love her and to 
the world that we are at the service of each one of our brothers and 
sisters, with the gifts we have received.

Last night, as I returned from Mass, I met a true pilgrimage of people 
of all ages, with flags, songs, the same t-shirts and much anticipation 
and joy on their faces -- everyone was walking toward a square where 
they were going to watch the European Cup on a large screen.Their joy 
was so contagious that it awakened the desire to go with them...When I 
arrived at my house, I could hear shouts of joy from all the houses of 
those who were in front of their televisión screen...And when the shout 
"goal" was heard from so many open windows, those walking in the street 
or who were in autos, spontaneously applauded...

This is what happens with our jubilee pilgrimage, this is what happens 
every 18th, this is what will happen, on a large scale, on October 18, 
2014.This is the strength of experiencing the same thing, from dfferent 
places at the same time.But there is a difference between the magic of a 
soccer game that is seen, suffered and celebrated by everyone at the 
same time, and our 18th, our pilgrimage toward 2014.We not only sing and 
celebrate united and attached in the squares (Shrines) or in front of 
the screens.

We go out to play on the team.

It is not enough to play well, we have to make a goal, a reporter said 
last night.In the same way,our goals are our apostolic projects, our 
missionary initiatives.Last night another 2014 Bulletin was released.It 
is full of this life and of these initiatives.

On our pilgrimage from Shrine to Shrine, on this 18th, it is the Shrine 
of Kearsley, England that invites us with open doors -- thank you Father 
David Musgrave!

Another Eighteenth of the month, another Covenant celebration, one of 
the same of hundreds perhaps thousands and yet totally unique.

From our one and only Shrine in England and one of two in the British 
Isles we send you warm Covenant greetings as we take yet another step 
forward towards our Centenary.

Once the grimy industrial heartbeat of industrial Britain, Manchester in 
the north west of England is experiencing a decades-long renaissance of 
development and is quickly starting to rival London as the "place to be" 
for national and internationals. And to think this was in part propelled 
by a devastating IRA bombing in the City Centre in 1996.

Among the very many unusual features of the City of Manchester is a 
church hidden away in the vey centre of what was once an industrial zone 
of decay. This church is fondly referred to as the Hidden Gem and now is 
faced by a small piazza and easily accessible from one of the major 
squares of the City centre.

But it is not the only hidden gem of Greater Manchester. The present 
Bishop of the diocese of Salford, which includes much of the City of 
Manchester, has designated the Schoenstatt Shrine in the suburb of 
Kearsley as a further Hidden Gem.

Somewhat hidden away off a busy suburban road, a short walk down a 
drive-way that revels nothing until you turn the corner... and you are 
confronted by a shrine in all its glory set on the brow of a hill amidst 
lush fields and a vista that stretches for miles in all directions 
showing villages and rolling countryside. Indeed a Hidden Gem.

And that is its great advantage: one has to discover it! And then be 
totally bowled-over. It also has another advantage: that being 'hidden' 
and safe enables it to remain open throughout the day for the 
inquisitive, the pilgrim and the rank and file of the local Schoenstatt 
members and parishioners.

But its location has one further major significance. Three of the local 
Christian churches (Catholic, Methodist and Anglican) all within 500 
metres of one another have comfortable formed an association referred to 
as The Churches on the Mount; an ecumenical gesture and project that is 
very active.

The Shrine at Kearsley and the small pastoral centre are frequently 
visited by very many people on a daily basis who are not Catholic or 
even associated with any faith but loved to enter the Shrine to sense 
the presence of prayer and the loving Mother and Child gazing out upon them

The Kearsley Shrine's motto is "Your Shrine our Home"; it fulfils more 
than ever was foreseen or expected.

In this Year of the Shrine we have taken the call of international 
awareness to a new level. Paralleling every Saturday's Holy Mass in the 
Original Shrine to identify with a different country, at our noonday 
Mass in the shrine we place a small flag of the respective nation on the 
altar to remind us in the coming week to pray for that country, its 
people, the Church there and for Schoenstatt's Marian apostleship as 
carried-out by the Pilgrim Mother. This week it is Taiwan. And then 
Divine Providence came to the fore and 'arranged' for us to host a visit 
of youngsters from mainland China. This means a further flag of China 
needs to be added: that of the People Republic of China. These 
youngsters of primary school age will be staying at our pastoral centre 
for a week.

Sadly we posses no Schoenstatt literature in any one of the Chinese 
languages be it in Mandarin, Cantonese or Hakka.

/Covenant Greetings, Fr. David Musgrave/

Happy 18th to everyone.Maria Elena is representing us today in the 
Original Shrine. Original.**

United in the covenant, I greet you on behalf of the editing team of 
schoenstatt.org-Carmen, Lissa, Juan, Maria Elena -- and Father Andrew,

*/Maria/***

Note: If someone is seeking a place to make a goal:we need (more) 
translators..

-- 
www.schoenstatt.org
info at schoenstatt.org

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