Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Punta Arenas (Agenzia Fides) - The press office of the Diocese of Punta Arenas (which belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Puerto Montt), sent a note to Fides on the visit of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Carmel. Young people, students, and many faithful warmly welcomed the image on the streets of Punta Arenas. The image was a gift from the Holy Father to the Church and the Chilean people.
After its visit to Puerto Natales and Porvenir, the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel came, together with the Gospel of Chile, to Punta Arenas where it was received in the chapel of Schoenstat and where a Mass was celebrated by Father Carlos Cox, coordinator of the pilgrimage .
There were many white handkerchiefs being waved, songs, and melodies of "cueca” (traditional Chilean music). This showed everyone the meaning of this visit. Later, accompanied by the band from Don Bosco High School, it was transported to the Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, where throughout the day it was visited by many pilgrims.
At 6pm, it head off towards the Cathedral, where Bishop Bernardo Bastres Florence, SDB, celebrated Mass. Bishop Bernardo Bastres also celebrated his fourth anniversary of episcopal ordination.
In his homily, the Bishop said: "Today, we have received in this Cathedral Church at the southernmost tip of Chile, along with the Gospel of Her Son, Her image, a gift of kindness, closeness and paternity from the Father of the Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, and this allows us to experience this ecclesial event with national and universal meaning."
When this pilgrimage started, the President of the Bishops' Conference said that the pilgrimage not only has meaning as a religious devotion that brings together many of the faithful, but it also seeks to awaken the country and bring it to a new phase in its life, "which aims to rebuild and renew history starting with the best of our values. Therefore, this is why the Blessed Virgin brings the Gospel, because it shows us the Word of Her Son. We must take advantage of this treasure, which is Jesus Christ, the greatest gift we have, and which as a Church we offer to the country," he said. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 26/04/2010)
