A large Covenant celebration was joyfully celebrated in Marineo

On October 18^th, 50 missionaries sealed their Covenant of Love in Sicily

16 ott.: pellegrinaggio 16 de oct.: peregrinación Oct. 16: Pilgrimage 16. Oktober: Wallfahrt
16 ottobre al Santuario della Madonna della Dayna 16 de octubre, en el Santuario de la Virgen de Dayna October 16, in the Shrine of Our Lady of Dayna Am 16. Oktober im Heiligtum der Muttergottes von Dayna
Consegna delle medaglie Entrega de la medalla The medals are handed out Überreichung der Medaillen
P Pino riceve la medaglia dell'Alleanza P. Pino recibe la medalla de la Alianza Fr. Pino receiving the Covenant Medal Pfr. Pino erhält die Weihemedaille
Preghiera d'Alleanza Oración de Alianza Covenant Prayer Weihegebet
Bruciamo il Capitale di Grazia Quema del Capital de Gracias Burning of the Capital of Grace Das Feuer, symbolisches Anbieten der Beiträge zum Gnadenkapital Fotos: Tuzzolino © 2006 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

ITALY, Calogero Tuzzolino. October 18^th was a day of great celebration in Sicily when 50 missionaries sealed their Covenant of Love with our beloved Mother of Schoenstatt.

Once more, Marineo, a small town in Sicily, was transformed into a place from where the Blessed Mother gives her graces in abundance; it is a place where the MTA feels especially attached, it is a place that she herself has chosen. October 16^th-18^th were special days of intensive prayer and grace. It was a great celebration that has involved all the community and beyond.

A pilgrimage with the picture of the MTA and many Pilgrim MTA.s

The celebration developed during three days:

On Monday, the 16^th, a Marian Vigil was organized with a pilgrimage from the parish to the shrine of the Blessed Mother of Dayna. A picture of the MTA was taken in procession, preceded by the new banner of the Schoenstatt Movement; each missionary carried their own Pilgrim MTA accompanied by a candle. The Holy Rosary was prayed along the way. The vigil ended with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Rector of the Shrine, Father Giuseppe Messineo, and concelebrated by Father Ludovico Tedeschi, a Schoenstatt Father. Although it was a work day, the initiative generated a large participation. The church was full and everything evolved in an atmosphere of profound prayer.

Tuesday, the 17^th: A catequesis about the subject "How Mary interceded for the family in Cana", was presented in the mother church by Father Massimiliano Purpura, pastor of Cefalá Diana, who with his wonderful words touched them with the greatness of Mary’s hands and her love for us. It was an especially intense time of formation..

A Teacher of pure love

Wednesday, the 18^th , the great celebration of the Covenant finally arrived

They met at the parish at 4:30 p.m. to organize the final details and to welcome the many people who came from other parishes. The church was splendidly decorated by the missionaries: the new banner that was made for this occasion and the jug with the hand painted faces of Jesus and Mary were at the entrance; the MTA picture enveloped by splendid silk which was sewn by hand by the missionaries was in the middle of the church, surrounded with many flowers and a very beautiful candle holder was in the middle. The many Pilgrim MTA,s, that travel through our diocese, were surrounded by blue and white handkerchiefs; the Schoenstatt flag was over the ambo and there were many, many flowers. Everything was done with so much love and that was what was felt as one entered the church: so much love for the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt.

The rosary that we pray every 18^th before the Mass, was organized and animated for this occasion by about 50 catechism children, who added a special touch to the journey as only children can do.

The Covenant of Love was sealed for the first time in Sicily

The Mass, presided by Father Ludovico Tedeschi and concelebrated by our pastor Father Salvatore La Sala, two other pastors, Fathers Massimiliano Purpura and Pino Saptaro, and Father Giuseppe Messineo, began with the procession of those who would seal the Covenant of Love followed by the priests…

After the beautiful homily by Father Ludovico, the first Covenant of Love ceremony in Sicily took place. Fifty missionaries, from four different parishes of the Diocese of Palermo, consecrated themselves to our beloved Mother, and then, Father Pino Spataro, pastor of the St. John, the Apostle, from Palermo sealed the Covenant of Love.

While the parish choir sang Mary of the Covenant, the missionaries approached the altar and lighted their candles; Father Ludovic blessed the medals and after the reading of the Covenant prayer each one received their own medal. Many people were touched and many felt the presence of the Blessed Mother…it was a beautiful momentwhen Father Pino Spataro received the medal and embraced Father Ludovico. Before the blessing all the missionaries renewed their commitment for another year and after Mass the Capital of Grace was burned.

The celebration ended with desserts and drinks prepared by the missionaries from Marineo, and in this way, they all shared in a fraternal encounter and they greeted those who came from other places.

All of this was possible thanks to the many missionaries who worked with love, but above all, thanks to the Blessed Mother, the "Nothing without you, Nothing without us", which is the foundation of Covenant of Love, was accomplished.

Original: Italian. Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA / Barbara Brennan, Lincoln, NE, USA