The building of the Shrine and centre in Rome has been one of the most long awaited projects in Schoenstatt's history. Fr Kentenich blessed the site at Belmonte on the 8th of Dec 1965. It took almost 4 decades of painstaking work and preparation before permission was finally given to go ahead with this new project.

After 39 years on the 8th of September 2004, 35 Scottish pilgrims joined with 3000 other pilgrims from all over the world to celebrate Schoenstatt establishing it's own place at the heart of the Church.

"The building of an international Schoenstatt centre in Rome reveals and deepens the attachment of your movement to the successor of Peter and to our Holy Mother the Church. Your movement is growing in it's responsiblity for society and permeates social conditions out of the spirit of Christianity.
Schoenstatt's endeavours are particularly directed to the family as the fundamental cell of the Church of culture and society. Following your founder's advise you give the cross and the picture of Mary a place of honour in your homes so that they become homeshrines of the Church where Mary works as Mother and educator."
(Pope John Paul II address to the Schoenstatt Movement 9th Sept 2004)

---

Impressions (Mary Fyvie)

The three day celebrations included a vigil and candle lit procession in the vatican gardens on the Tuesday evening which culminated in a gathering in St Peter's square. Somehow all the pilgrims manged with the aid of the organisers to create a a candle lit shape of the shrine before St Peter's basilica. The events of these three days will remain with me forever, The weather on the afternoon of the blessing was so different from tbe day the Scottish Shrine was blessed. Scotland Sept 1989 was cold and wet while Rome 2004 was dry and gloriously warm. The pilgrims arrived in a steady flow during the course of the afternoon and the atmosphere began to build into one of great expectation and excitement. Something very special was about to take place you could definitely feel it in the air.

With so many nations represented there was a feeling that we did belong to an international family. Did it matter that we couldn't understand all the languages? No, we had something that united us that went beyond language we had the same mother and we were all there to celebrate her birthay in a most wonderful and special way.

After the blessing of the shrine and the official celebrations the shrine was open for us all to make a private visit. With so many people there as you might imagine there was a bit of queuing to be done. While I was waiting my turn a young girl caught my eye. She was a teenager and she certainly didn't want to queue. Her eyes were fixed on the open door trying to lookinig beyojnd the crowd into the shrine. She ran and tried to edge her way forward in obvious haste. She had such a look of hope on her face as she tried to get close. This certainly made me think, Faith is alive and we can have hope for the future. It put the rest of the week into perspective.

---

Audience with the Holy Father (Eileen and John Shalloo)

The next day we went to Castel Gandolfo for an audience with the Holy Father. This was a wonderful experience not least because Robert and Michael Hartley from our group were among those presented to the Pope. Afterwards we went down to the Focolare centre where all 3000 pilgrims celebrated Holy Mass. At the sign of peace we were invited to exchange our security tag with one of our neighbours preferably someone we didn't know. At the end of mass everyone took off their pilgrims' scarves and tied them together to form a net, a solidarity of nations from all continents.

Afterwards we stopped to look over the volcanic lake at Castelgandolfo to have a group photograph taken, enlisting the assistance of a German couple who just happened to be there. While walking walking back we met them again and got into a conversation. Another piece of heather and tartan sash exchanged hands. They were not involved with Schoenstatt but had heard about it. Who know perhaps we will meet them again one day at a Schoenstatt event.We had a wonderful week and experienced a tremendous sense of belonging to the International Schoenstatt family. It was great privilege to be part of this event.

[back]