Many years have passed since God called the child Peter Joseph Kentenich to life in Gymnich, Germany. On that day, November 16, 1885, his mother and family surely could not have imagined the path that this child would follow.
Today, as we look back on his history, we see how many lives he has transformed and how his legacy continues to impact the world. Through the founding of Schoenstatt, Father Joseph Kentenich offered the Church and society a new charism that awakens in people on all continents a deeper love for Christ, for Mary, and for an authentic life of holiness.
On this anniversary, we are invited to rediscover the relevance of his charism and to perceive how it continues to inspire and transform hearts throughout the world.
The importance of Schoenstatt in my life
I am Burundian, my name is Fidèle Barinakandi, and I am a member of a parish in Mutumba, in the Archdiocese of Bujumbura. I am 59 years old and was born into a Christian family of eight siblings: four boys and four girls. I am the second boy and the second child.
I discovered Schoenstatt thanks to my mother when I was four years old. Every Saturday, I went with her to morning Mass at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Mutumba. At the age of nine, I started attending the shrine regularly. Over time, I became an altar boy and joined the Schoenstatt Boys’ Youth group.
Throughout my school years, I frequently served as a group leader and was also a member of the Schoenstatt national committee.
As a married man, I want to say that my wife is a gift from the Blessed Mother from the Shrine of Trust. I recall an instance when my son made a mistake in the family. Wanting to punish him, I searched the whole house for him. Finally, I found him kneeling in our home shrine. That moved me deeply.
In short, Schoenstatt has played and continues to play a significant role in shaping who I am today and in everything I have become.
The Covenant of Love is a mission for this time
My name is Jane Toutounji and along with my husband and our five children have been involved in the Schoenstatt Family Branch in Sydney, Australia for ten years. Schoenstatt is important to me because it encourages me to deepen my self-knowledge and to consciously form myself into the person God created me to be. Through my covenant of love, I experience a daily partnership with Mary — she accompanies me, educates me and draws me closer to Christ in the ordinary moments of life. Schoenstatt gives me concrete ways to strive each day toward holiness, not alone, but in community — especially with my family — as we journey together towards our mission and God’s call for us.
Father Kentenich in my life
I am Dr. Rina Daline T., from Bangalore, India. The Schoenstatt Shrine has become a cherished and comforting place for me, primarily due to the presence of our Blessed Mother Mary and Father Kentenich. My connection deepened significantly after learning about the founder of Schoenstatt and his unwavering intercession to Mother Mary, which inspired me to begin praying to him.
Whenever I visit the shrine, after offering my prayers to Mother Mary, I invariably proceed to Father Kentenich’s statue, embracing his widely open, welcoming arms. In these moments, I confide in him, sharing both my joys and the challenges I face in life. After these heartfelt conversations, I find a profound sense of peace, trusting that Father Kentenich will intercede on my behalf with Mother Mary, and that all will subsequently be well. He has truly become a trusted friend and a benevolent confidant with whom I can share everything, alongside Mother Mary.
Through Father Joseph Kentenich’s persistent intercession, I have been blessed with numerous graces in my life. In January 2023, I experienced what I consider to be the first of his graces. My marriage had been repeatedly postponed for various reasons, and one proposal even fell through at the last minute. This left me feeling shattered and utterly bewildered about my marital prospects. Subsequently, I discovered the nine-day novena titled “Courage of Faith,” offered with Father Kentenich and began to observe it faithfully. To my surprise, I met my life partner even before the novena concluded. This profound blessing, received through his tireless intercession, has forged an even stronger bond between us.
I am delighted to share another remarkable experience. As a Ph.D. scholar, I am required to publish two articles in a SCOPUS-indexed journal. For the past two and a half years, I encountered significant challenges in publishing even a single article in such journals. However, through the intercession of Fr. Kentenich, I successfully published six articles in the year 2024, all of which are now indexed in Scopus.
I began sharing these miraculous experiences with my friends and family. I profoundly believe that, through Father Kentenich, many have been able to draw closer to Mother Mary. He also inspires us to cultivate selflessness and to pray for others.
Happy birthday, Father!
On this feast day, we give thanks to God for the life and legacy of our founder. As the Schoenstatt Family, we can give him a special gift: to pray for his beatification process. Happy birthday, Father!
