On September 12 and 13, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary of the Nazareth Province and more than 5,000 people celebrated the 100th anniversary of their community’s founding in the shadow of the National Shrine and the Church of God the Father in Nuevo Schoenstatt, Florencio Varela, Argentina.
September 12, 2026—the day when fiery hearts drove away the cold
The tree buds and flower buds are about to bloom, but winter still refuses to give way.
The weather forecast for the weekend of September 12–13 in the Buenos Aires area was not very encouraging, with possible rain, strong southerly winds, and low temperatures.
And so it was: the opening of the 100th-anniversary jubilee on September 12, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, on a day of intense cold, yet one completely permeated by a profound warmth felt by all.
On the esplanade of the Church of God the Father, on that freezing Saturday morning, the wind blew, mingling with groups of pilgrims arriving from the retreat house or the street, wearing their colorful badges and beaming. The laughter, hugs, and exclamations of surprise at these encounters made everyone forget the cold, and hearts burned with joy.
From Uruguay, from Paraguay, from every corner of Argentina, faces began to appear as the inaugural procession began, opening this long-awaited jubilee.
The flags led the march as they made their way down the street toward the historic gate through which, years earlier, the car carrying Father Joseph Kentenich had entered to bless the Shrine. At that iconic spot, we wished to open the doors to the new centennial, leaving behind a rich and unique history that forever shaped Schoenstatt’s destiny.
A few steps further on, a group of Sisters sang “Let us walk like you through life…,” and their voices joined those of the pilgrims as they praised the one who ultimately received all the honors: the Mother Thrice Admirable.
The procession continued toward the Shrine, ending in the church auditorium, where the dances and opening remarks for these days of grace were already underway.
Not so much to be celebrated, but to celebrate together with all those who are part of our history
“Our desire was to celebrate with those who always accompany us—not so much to be celebrated, but to share the celebration rooted in who we are as the Province of Nazareth,” Sister M. Jimena Persia, one of the sisters on the event’s organizing team, told us.
That is why, over the course of the two days, there were permanent exhibition spaces to explore, listen, and contemplate, as well as experiences from Nazareth and alternative programs in which participants shared in various activities with the sisters: baking cookies, prayer and songs in the Shrine, making bracelets, testimonies from members of the Schoenstatt Movement, including young people recovering from addiction who have sealed their covenant in the Shrine, videos, traces of history on the grounds, recipes for homemade bread, songs, games, visits to the church and the Father’s House, and testimonies from various sisters working in the fields of health and education, as well as in outlying areas such as Tartagal—a town near the Bolivian border where sporadic missions are carried out to provide healthcare to those without any medical assistance.
“For me, all of this has felt like a spiritual retreat,” remarked one participant, beaming.
At 6:00 pm., we gathered at the Church of God the Father for the celebration of Holy Mass. On the church grounds, images of the Blessed Virgin under her principal titles from the countries comprising the Province of Nazareth were already on display: “Our Lady of the 33” from Uruguay, “Our Lady of Caacupé” from Paraguay, and “Our Lady of Luján” from Argentina. Before the Mass began, Sister Cecilia María Flecha Cosp, the provincial superior, welcomed us. In her message, she provided context for the celebration and told us, among other things:
“What does it really mean to be a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary? It means being a presence of Mary. We want our lives to be an offering so that She may continue to walk with us in our time: we offer Her our feet to journey alongside every person and community entrusted to us. We offer Her our hands to continue building a culture with the face of a family. We offer Her our hearts so that no one may live out in the open and everyone may find shelter and a sense of belonging.”
In a very humble setting, we see this property where everything is different, everything is beautiful—just as the Blessed Mother is
Monsignor Carlos José Tissera was the principal celebrant of the Holy Mass, accompanied by many priests from the Schoenstatt Institute and the Schoenstatt Federation, as well as from the diocesan clergy and the Movement of the Word.
In his homily, he told us: “Our Diocese of Quilmes—the poorest and most humble part of the province of Buenos Aires—is a place of grace where people come from so many towns and countries. In such humble surroundings, we see this site, where everything is different and beautiful, just like the Blessed Mother, who turned a grotto into a home filled with tenderness.”
The Offertory brought a gesture that touched the hearts of the faithful: the parents of the sisters who were present, together with their daughters, brought forth the offerings. This moment was accompanied by heartfelt words highlighting the importance of the family in every vocation, their generosity and dedication, in harmony with their daughters’.
The beautiful celebration, accompanied by songs from the sisters and local couples, culminated in another deeply meaningful gesture. Sister Cecilia María lit a candle from the torch beside the image of Mary in the church and offered its flame to the sisters’ candles, then to the entire assembly. In this way, the motto that has marked the community this year, “Mary, Light of Our Hope,” was expressed. This sea of light flowed toward the Shrine, where we greeted our Queen, adorned for this feast with multicolored flowers and white lilies.
The day culminated in Eucharistic adoration at the church, accompanied by songs from the group “Bienaventurados,” composed of young people from various movements and parishes within the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires.
On Sunday, September 13, a powerful sun filled the sky, warming the air and giving us a warm, welcoming day.
This time, Holy Mass was presided over by Monsignor Alejandro Giorgi, auxiliary bishop of the city of Buenos Aires, and Monsignor Jorge González, auxiliary bishop of La Plata, with several priests from the Schoenstatt Movement in attendance.
Those who are aware of seismic activity seek out safe places—essential places
In a church filled to capacity with participants, with the flags of all the countries where the Sisters of Mary work on display, Monsignor Giorgi’s words resonated: “World War I gave rise to a work that can be described as an outpouring of love on God’s part. And how can one pour out so much love without the Mother?… And these Sisters want to be Mary in and for the world, to show the world the characteristics of a Church—as Pope Francis taught us—which are closeness, compassion, and tenderness. A joyful and missionary Family!”
“We are the men and women living at the end of an era that resembles an earthquake, with everything in motion. Those who live in earthquake-prone areas know what to do when tremors approach; they know how to seek out safe places, the essential places. We are the guardians of those essential places.”
During the Offertory, the Shrine’s ministers brought a bouquet of lilies to the altar as a gesture of gratitude to the Sisters and, through them, to the Blessed Mother.
At the end of the celebration, Sister Cecilia María took the flowers and placed them at Mary’s feet in the Shrine. The crowd followed her out, and we surrounded the Shrine to honor our Mother. The entire community of sisters present joined in a heartfelt prayer to the Blessed Mother, giving thanks for all the gifts she had interceded for and asking to be pilgrims “on the move”—a living presence of her radiant face and selfless love. Then it was time to sing “Happy Birthday” once more and cut the cake. But balloons were a must, and with a countdown, 100 colorful balloons were released, disappearing into a flawless blue sky.
The crowd gathered in the dining courtyard for lunch. A bountiful barbecue and food stands were available to everyone. Spontaneous circles formed for sharing, accompanied by folk songs and rhythms that invited those who joined in to dance the chamamé, the escondido, and the chacarera.
The sunny, peaceful afternoon invited everyone to linger and savor all they had experienced.
Memories return to another memorable celebration in Schoenstatt’s history: Father Kentenich’s 25th anniversary of his priesthood. On that occasion, he said:
“My dear Schoenstatt Family, allow me to direct the songs of gratitude you have sung to you. And may I do so gratefully, joyfully… I also want to thank those who will come. For what will become of Schoenstatt if future generations are not filled and set ablaze by this same spirit that animates us?… From a deep and simple love for the Blessed Mother, everything our eyes behold today came into being…. Am I not right, then, in asking that we not forget the One to whom we owe special thanks today?”
We are convinced that today we are the ones “who will come.” Those who came before us, those of us here now, and those who will come after us will continue to remember the One to whom we owe a special debt of gratitude: Mary, the light of our hope.
