On September 5, 1974, our community of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary was established in the Dominican Republic, marking the beginning of a mission that we celebrate today with deep gratitude. For this reason, on Sunday, November 17, 2024, we celebrated with great joy the 50th jubilee of the presence and mission of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in our country.

The celebration took place at the Victoria Patris Schoenstatt Shrine, where a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated. Archbishop Francisco Ozoria Acosta, Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo and Primate of America, presided over the Mass. Bishop José Amable Durán Tineo, Auxiliary Bishop and Territorial Episcopal Vicar of the Northern Vicariate of Santo Domingo, was also present.

A Celebration Full of Gratitude

It was an honor to welcome Father Bernd Biberger, General Director of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, who came from Germany to accompany us on this special day. Father José Luis Hernández and several deacons were also present and actively collaborated in the Eucharistic celebration.

We were privileged to have Sr. M. Emily Kenkel, Provincial Superior of the North American Province, and Sr. M. Lucía Rodríguez, Assistant for the Delegation in the Dominican Republic, present with us.

The central moment of this significant commemoration was the holy Mass, in which we thanked God for the five decades of fruitfulness of the Mother Thrice Admirable from her shrine, through the sisters, at the service of the Church and the community. Before the Eucharistic celebration began, Sr. M. Francisca Rodríguez read a historical review narrating the events experienced since our beginnings in the country.

Serving the Church

After the Eucharistic greeting, Sr. M. Emily welcomed us with words full of gratitude and recognition. Addressing the bishops in particular, she said: “It is a great honor for us as a community to serve this Archdiocesan Church and to be able to count on your support.”

She also emphasized that the mission carried out in these 50 years has been possible thanks to the constant support of the Church’s pastors, for which she reiterated her gratitude and willingness to serve as a sign of appreciation and commitment.

Presence of Mary in the world

Father Biberger shared a profound reflection on the Sisters’ mission during the sermon. In his words, he highlighted: “The Sisters of Mary want to make the Blessed Virgin present through her person and her life. Those who encounter them should experience something of the Mother of God.”

He also expressed firmly: “Wherever a sister of Mary goes, the Mother of God goes too.”

These words resonated deeply with all present, reminding us of the purpose and mission of the Sisters of Mary, who seek to be a living reflection of the Blessed Virgin in today’s world.

In addition, Archbishop Ozoria emphasized in his words that God acts through small instruments and that his works never end but endure over time. These words invited us to recognize the lasting impact of the Sisters’ work in the country and their ability to follow Our Lady’s example and continue to be God’s instruments to attract souls to Christ.

The fruits of 50 years of mission

During the offertory, not only the first vocations that emerged in the country were offered, but also some young women who are now interested in becoming Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.

The different branches of the Schoenstatt Movement, the fruit of the Sisters’ work, were also presented. Among them were the Mothers’ Branch, the Couples, the Schoenstatt Youth, the Apostles of Mary, a representation of the children from the Child Jesus Nutrition Center, and youth and personnel from the John Paul II Polytechnical School.

Each person who participated in the offertory carried a candle, representing the light received by coming into contact with Schoenstatt through the Sisters’ work. This light manifests how Schoenstatt has illuminated their lives, guiding them on a path of faith and hope.

The Pope’s apostolic blessing

A special gift for all of us in this celebration was the presence of Sr. M. Georgina Ramírez, who was the first to arrive and the instrument chosen by the Blessed Virgin and our father so that the Sisters of Mary could establish themselves in the country. She was the first, along with other sisters who were present from the beginning, so that our community could take its first steps.

Liturgical songs accompanied the Mass, creating an atmosphere of prayer, recollection, and joy. The community’s active participation testified to its appreciation and admiration for the Sisters and the entire Schoenstatt Work.

Before the end of the holy Mass, Auxiliary Bishop Amable shared with those present a moment of great joy and emotion when he read a parchment sent from Rome. In it, His Holiness Pope Francis expressed that he granted and implored the apostolic blessing to the Schoenstatt Secular Institute, Sisters of Mary, as an act of thanksgiving to the Lord for the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of their presence in the Dominican Republic. This gesture filled the Sisters and all those present with joy and gratitude for this significant recognition.

Acknowledgments and Highlights

After the holy Mass, there was a time of encounter and fellowship, in which the different branches and works of the Schoenstatt Family could make some presentations of gratitude to the sisters. Among these presentations were acrostics with the words “Thank You” and “Congratulations,” which were a testimony of admiration and appreciation for the Sisters’ mission. Some also expressed their gratitude through songs, which was very meaningful, and other groups presented each Sister with a lily, symbolizing that, like the Blessed Virgin, they have given themselves to God’s plans in a life of virginity.

The celebration concluded with songs and words of thanks from the different commissions present, who renewed their commitment to continue supporting the mission that the Sisters carry out in our country and our society.

This jubilee invites us to look with gratitude at the road we have traveled and also fills us with hope for the years to come. May this anniversary continue to inspire all those who participate in Schoenstatt’s mission, and may the Blessed Mother, from her Victoria Patris Shrine, continue to guide our steps.

Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías