On Sunday October 19th over 500 people gathered at Mount Schoenstatt, Mulgoa (Australia) for the Schoenstatt Foundation Day Family Festival. The day began at 10.15am with a pre-program in the Family Hall as many people began to arrive. This was led by Thorie Tembo a Schoenstatt Young Woman and Bernard Toutounji a member of the Schoenstatt Family Branch and comprised a mix of information about Schoenstatt’s spirituality, videos, testimonies and prayer. During the pre-program Fr. Pawel Barszczewski OP and Fr. Piotr Kruk OP made themselves available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which was gratefully received by many pilgrims.

Before Holy Mass began everyone was invited to write down their gifts of love on a slip of paper which the volunteers then collected. These contributions to the capital of grace were placed into the jar.

A mission for our current times

Holy Mass began at 11.00am with many international flags leading the procession into the Family Hall. Fr. Pawel OP celebrated holy Mass and was assisted by Deacon Jerome D’Rozario. Many Schoenstatt members were present and active during the liturgy as ministers at the altar, doing the readings, participating in the choir and in the offertory procession.

In his homily Fr. Pawel OP highlighted the importance of the Covenant of Love and how everything we do in our daily life can be offered as a gift to our Mother Thrice Admirable. She in turn takes these gifts and transforms them into the many graces which flow from the Schoenstatt Shrine. He emphasised that Schoenstatt’s foundation day is not just about an historical event but a mission for our current times that we are all called to participate in.

Pilgrims of Hope

At the conclusion of holy Mass there was a procession to the Schoenstatt Shrine which again was led by the international flags as well as the capital of grace jar and covenant book. Along the way a decade of the rosary was prayed for Pope Leo’s intention for peace and for all the intentions that were placed in the jar and entrusted to the blessed Mother in the Shrine.

Upon arrival at the Shrine, we presented our gratitude to the blessed Mother for transforming this place into a place of grace and renewed the Covenant of Love. At the conclusion Fr. Pawel OP blessed and sent everyone out from the Shrine as Pilgrims of Hope and then grace was prayed, and the food was blessed which opened the afternoon program.

“In the shadow” of the Shrine

There was a BBQ, many international food stalls, desserts and various other stalls available for everyone to enjoy. The little ones very much appreciated the snow cone machine, jumping castle and face painting while the adults took the opportunity to visit the market, information and plant stalls. The raffle tickets were also a very big attraction. The day was surrounded by such a family atmosphere and everywhere you turned there were smiling faces.

At 1:45pm the Shrine bell was rung inviting everyone to the Shrine for a prayer devotion and Benediction. Many people gathered in and around the Shrine as well as in any shade they could find as it was a hot day. A marquee and altar were set up outside the Shrine where Fr. Pawel OP led the prayers and Sr. M. Elizabeth Foley accompanied the hymns on the keyboard under the tree.

Under the motto “United in the Covenant – Pilgrim of Hope!” together we presented our praise and thanks to our Lord Jesus present in the monstrance. We then turned our gaze to our Mother Thrice Admirable and in gratitude we recognized all the wondrous things she has done over the many years, through the international Schoenstatt Movement, but also in our own personal lives. We also prayed in thanksgiving for our founder Fr. Joseph Kentenich and implored that his process for canonization may soon proceed with a positive end. After benediction Fr. Pawel OP went around with holy water and blessed all the religious items that had been purchased during the day.

A family gathering

Sr. M. Rita Baysari concluded the day with some word of thanks. This year’s foundation day celebrations truly had a family festival character, and the Covenant of Love and the Schoenstatt Shrine were in the centre of the whole day. What was really amazing was that there was a wide variety of people from different cultures and ages, as well as varying Schoenstatt knowledge or commitment. Some people who were in attendance have been part of the Schoenstatt Movement for over fifty years while others recently just visited the Shrine. Everyone who attended had a blessed and joyful time.