The International Presidium of the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement reports on the termination of the lease agreement for the sacristy of the Original Shrine.
The sacristy premises, located opposite the Shrine, were leased from the Pallottine Fathers. Please see the letter from the Presidium, signed by Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello:
Schoenstatt-Vallendar, February 13, 2026
Dear International Schoenstatt Family,
On May 22, 2013, we received a great gift from the Pallottines: the Original Shrine. A little time before, we had already begun to rent a space in St. Marien House (the “Old House”, in front of the Shrine), which, since then, served us as the sacristy of the Original Shrine.
In October last year, the Pallottines informed us that they needed this space for some of their projects and, unfortunately, had to terminate the contract with us, giving us the expected three-month notice period until March 31, 2026. Since then, in good dialogue with the Pallottines, we have clarified some details regarding the return and subsequent use of the spaces around the Shrine, and are working intensively on a temporary solution for the sacristy.
Although the decision of the Pallottines is not easy for us, we accept it and, in the light of the practical faith in Divine Providence, we recognize that this new situation can now give rise to something new.
For this to happen, we count very much on the spiritual and material support of the International Schoenstatt Family, so that the Original Shrine can continue to have an adequate sacristy to receive the numerous pilgrims from all over the world who come to this place of grace, the original source of our Family.
Spiritually united in the Original Shrine,
Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello, ISch
