Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement

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Mother: you must lead our Family

Mother: you must lead our Family

Schoenstatt media community crowns Mary in the Original Shrine

December 17, 2020 - M. Nilza P. da Silva
Webcam Original Shrine - Schoenstatt International

“We say to Mary: you must lead our Family, each and every member, every son and daughter of the Family. We give you this right, you must be the Queen! This is how Father Joseph Kentenich prayed in a moment of great difficulty for Schoenstatt and for the entire world at the coronation of Mary in the Original Shrine on December 10, 1939. The history of the International Schoenstatt Movement and its personal life history prove how seriously the Blessed Mother took the coronation.

“Here we are full of gratitude, to give you responsibility and rights, choosing you as the Queen of Schoenstatt Communication. Last December 10th, about 60 communicators from eight countries joined a prayer from the Original Shrine via online. 

Almost all of them are volunteers, enthusiasts, called and chosen by God to take the Schoenstatt charisma, Father Kentenich’s mission to the Church and the entire world. “We want to thank them for all the support and kindness that we, as Schoenstatt International, have experienced. 

We are grateful for the commitment of each one, especially in the translations to the different languages and in the critical revision. Thank you very much for the quick, honest and spontaneous responses you have expressed to us. Blessed Mother, we want to thank you for so many small miracles,” expressed Hemma Strutz, from Austria, in her prayer.

Zoom meeting communication team - Schoenstatt International

The proposal for the crowning in the Original Shrine originated from the communicators of Brazil and through Sister M. Cacilda Becker, from the International Coordination, it quickly inflamed the hearts of Germany, the USA, France, Austria, Ecuador, Venezuela and Chile. The diversity of languages is not a problem when the hearts speak the same language. We want to act together with all decision makers in this historic hour and contribute so that future generations can narrate the victorious achievements of our Queen.

In Brazil it was a whole day of crowning. The communicators who could not meet with the others because of their work, received the coronation prayer the day before and they connected to the Original Shrine by webcam early in the morning. An international group met at 8:30 p.m. from Germany and the last group met two hours later at 8:30 p.m. from Brazil. We believe that the Original Shrine has never received so many Schoenstatt communicators together. At the altar, the Virgin contemplated the name of each one, on printed sheets in which each person also wrote their personal intentions for the coronation.

A coronation that connects

During the coronation, in the Original Shrine, the communicators from Araraquara, in the State of Sao Paulo, also crowned a small image of the Virgin of Schoenstatt, gathered in their local shrine. It will travel to the residence of the members of the Communication Team, always reaffirming their confidence in the Queen.

In Poços de Caldas, in the State of Minas Gerais, the coronation also took place in the Shrine. It counted with the participation of many others through the social networks. Monique Vaz, from Mairiporã/SP, joins a small crown with the logo of the communicators of Brazil, making clear to the Queen her mission.

Webcam Original Shrine - Schoenstatt International

A coronation that inspires and transmits

Enthusiasm for the mission is coupled with responsibility for the consequences of what is communicated. For this reason, among the petitions that are entrusted to the Queen of Communication, all pray with Father Joseph Kentenich: all resistance may be overcome which obstructs our fruitfulness and prevents others from seeing the Father’s plan in faith. Help it to spread throughout the world and go victoriously through all the nations that soon there be one flock and one shepherd leading all peoples to the Trinity. Amen. (Heavenwards, 527-528)

All renew the Covenant of Love with the Queen and undertake a mission, remaining connected by the Queen’s heart, as instruments committed to setting the world on fire. As brothers in the Covenant they experience that in unity there is strength, and it is in sharing that all are enriched.

“In the heart of Mary we are united,” wrote Ana Christina Melquiades of the Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, at the end of the day of the coronation. “Everything for our Queen and for the mission of communication,” adds Caroline Moraes de Freitas, from Pocos de Caldas.

Source: Schoenstatt Brasil

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Corona Mater, an initiative that marked Schoenstatt worldwide

Corona Mater, an initiative that marked Schoenstatt worldwide

Schoenstatt has just closed a stage in which it lived the greatest experience of unity at the international level, after the 2014 jubilee, for the 100 years of the Movement. It is about the initiative Corona Mater. 150,000 people from all over the world participated in the international crowning, which took place on April 15, 2020, from the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt, and from each home shrine that participated throughout the world, crowning Mary as Queen of our Physical and Spiritual Health.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the question arose, what can we do to pray as an international community, and to unite ourselves in the same spirit. The answer was to prepare our hearts with sacrifices and prayers, to tell Mary: You are our Mother and Queen, we trust in your intercessory power to take care of our health and that of the whole world, physically and spiritually.

Thousands of people sent their photos as a family, from their home shrine, to Schoenstatt International, so that each family would be represented with their intentions in the Original Shrine.

The International Schoenstatt team, which has as one of its objectives to channel and motivate life on an international level, did not see the option of stopping, in view of the vitality that emerged from the coronation, and proposed that the initiative continue with three key points.

These are: 

– Spiritual contributions to the capital of grace, through the May Flowers, as Joseph Engling did. Today we can see with joy that the Blessed Mother has received 325,461 sacrifices and prayers to date, which are transformed into thousands of graces for as many thousands of people.

– Contributions in solidarity with our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, through so many Schoenstatt projects throughout the world, such as children’s homes, educational centers, etc. This is intimately connected with the new social order that we are called to build, inspired by the vision of a new world in Christ and Mary that our father shows us, in accordance with the social doctrine of the Church. We can still offer our contribution through www.schoenstatt-int.com. A small contribution can mean food on the table for a whole family that is hungry in times of pandemic. Projects from Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, India, Burundi, Chile, Spain, Colombia and the Dominican Republic participated. Whoever wishes to join this initiative, which will remain open in the future through the International Schoenstatt website, www.schoenstatt.com, can request information at socialmedia@schoenstatt.com.

– And the international concert, in which more 42 countries participated, with their music, showed the unity of hearts in the covenant of love in the diversity of cultures. It can be accessed through this link: www.schoenstatt-int.com/music. 

On August 15th, the day of the Assumption of Mary to heaven, Schoenstatt worldwide gave our Mother a wonderful closing of the #CoronaMater initiative with the participation of young members of the Movement in different countries of the world. It can be accessed through the following link: www.bit.ly/ConclusionCoronayt.  

We share here some of the messages received on the networks related to the closing of CoronaMater. José Ramón García says: “At my almost 70 years of age to see so many young people from different countries who love Mary united in such a way, makes me feel much younger.” For her part, Geockia shares: “CoronaMater, an abundant harvest of blessings, healing, and happiness! Thank you very much MTA! Loads of gratitude!”, and  Pieapple Style expressed: “What a joy to have been part of this stream of #CoronaMater.”

The initiative has been closed, but the spirit of the crowning, of the spiritual contributions, of the songs, of the contributions in solidarity undoubtedly continues, with the nostalgia in the heart that leaves us with so much love of Mary and of our brothers, as well as in the concrete commitment to give our contribution for a world with social justice, in Christ and Mary.

Links to the activities of the international initiative #CoronaMater

CoronaMater Initiative: www.schoenstatt-int.com  

Video review of the coronation, 15 April 2020: www.bit.ly/intcoronac  

TV Canção Nova, video about the coronation: www.bit.ly/coronacCancaoNova  

International video concert (ES, EN, DE, PT), 27 May 2020: www.schoenstatt-int.com/music 

Worldwide Schoenstatt Solidarity Initiative: www.bit.ly/schsolidar 

Conclusion #CoronaMater with international song, August 15, 2020: www.bit.ly/ConclusionCorona 

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The Shrine of São Paulo Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

The Shrine of São Paulo Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

A "luminous lantern" in the largest metropolis of the Americas

Luisa Monteiro

The Tabor Shrine of Victorious Confidence in the Father, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, commemorated 50 years of existence on July 8, 2020. The activities around this jubilee included three days of preparatory triduum, more than two million prayers gathered for opening day,  holy Masses of Commemoration – one of which was presided by Cardinal Don Odilo Scherer -, and one day of sharing shrine experiences. The agenda followed the theme “Anchored to the Father, with the Queen of the Covenant, to turn the shrine into a hidden pearl, a luminous lantern for São Paulo”.  This celebration is the apex of three years of preparation, which involved all the branches, communities, and apostolates of the Schoenstatt Work. The shrine, located in the neighborhood of Villa Mariana, was the fourth to be founded in Brazil and the second in the city of São Paulo. 

The first event on the jubilee agenda took place twenty days before the anniversary of the inauguration of the shrine. On July 18, the Schoenstatt Family of Villa Mariana, including those devoted to the Pilgrim Mother and the connected dioceses, proposed to pray one million prayers of Confidence for the Mother of God – a goal that was successfully achieved and which resulted in the presentation of 2,345,605 Prayers of Confidence as a gift to the Mother and Queen.

The Blessed Mother goes out to meet her children

The sunny morning of July 5 coincided with the festivities of Jubilee Sunday. With the current pandemic, people were unable to visit the shrine. However, they did not stop greeting the Queen. The picture of the MTA was removed and placed on the road in front of the shrine to bless the community. Many people passed in front of her, in cars and on foot – many came on their knees- and carried flowers and gifts of their offerings to the capital of grace. 

For the festivities, a small group composed of the members of the Council of the Schoenstatt Family gathered in the shrine. Those who could not attend because of health measures were fully represented as a table full of gifts, sent by the members of the Movement, was placed next to the shrine. Around the garden, dozens of signs highlighted the name of each branch and diocese. The families were also called to spiritually witness the event, and during the experience day, a scroll with more than seven thousand names of families, sent by the community during the week before the jubilee, was presented to the Blessed Mother. 

A new crowning 

The  Golden Jubilee Holy Mass, presided over by Cardinal Don Odilo Scherer, was witnessed by many from afar. It was a celebration that commemorated the history of a small  shrine, whose presence, in the words of the Cardinal “became significant in our city and for many people who found there well-being, joy, and blessing, a refuge for their encounter with God and Our Lady, Mother and Queen of us all. 

Don Odilo’s wish is that “the celebration of this 50th Anniversary, may mean a renewal, a deepening of the mission that the shrine and the Movement assume here in São Paulo. So that, in this time of new evangelization, of missionary renewal, we can radiate this presence of grace, of mercy, of the goodness of God throughout our city.

The celebration ended with a new crowning of Mother Thrice Admirable in the shrine, Tabor Shrine of Victorious Confidence in the Father, by Don Odilo. Around the shrine participants raised their pictures of the Blessed Mother, and were joined by spectators and pilgrims from their houses, in their home shrines. The day referred to by many internet users as a “day of heaven on earth”, concluded with the crowning prayer and the beautiful Schoenstatt tradition of consecration of hearts, once again, to the Blessed Mother. 

Posted by Santuário de Schoenstatt da Vila Mariana on Sunday, July 5, 2020

Posted by Santuário de Schoenstatt da Vila Mariana on Sunday, July 5, 2020

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With you, life is more, Mary – 100 years of the Woman in Schoenstatt.

With you, life is more, Mary – 100 years of the Woman in Schoenstatt.

The international community of Schoenstatt women carried out the Jubilee for the 100 years since their first participation in the Movement. From the Original Shrine, they dedicated a week of activities, formation events, apostolates and educative talks, which culminated with the Coronation of the Mother Thrice Admirable, of Schoenstatt transmitted live to more than 20 countries.

Since 1920, women have actively participated in the Schoenstatt Movement in every corner of the world. Contributing their talents and gifts to the building of new Shrines and the expansion of the movement in each continent. 

100 years have passed since this heroic journey of women gave their YES in freedom, to continue with the apostolic work from each Shrine and their permanent contribution to the capital of grace. More than 50 members of the Schoenstatt women’s group decided to participate in this international celebration from the Original Shrine in Vallendar. Women from the Movement from Germany, Poland, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Czech Republic, Spain, Mexico, among many others.

Ula Cyganik a young professional expressed how important is to take action and be present in this times:

“Taking part in the jubilee was for me a very special time (I hope that next year it will be possible to meet on international level as was plean for the Jubilee). Our Celebration started 9 months ago when we’ve invited women from Women League from all around the world to grow together as a union and pray Novena together. This Novena and also preparation to the coronation build an invisible connection – a Network between all of us. This weekend was a culmination of this growing process.  That time as well as this weekend was a stream of grace given to us by Our Lady for all these years of sacrifices to the Capital of Grace.” 

“A month ago we were not sure if we could even make this Jubilee happen – due to COVID-19, but we managed to unite women from all around the world to celebrate with us during the weekend.  And as our gift to Our Lady to thank her for all these years, we  crowned Our Lady as a Queen of women all around the world and our task is to be her reflection in the world. My private highlight of the weekend was when P. Antonio put our signatures into the Tabernacle – symbolically he put us just next to the Holy Sacrament. And from this moment our journey as King’s children re-began”

The international community was present with their participation in the talks, Masses and ceremonies by streaming through the webcam. Under successful coordination done by the women’s team and Sister Marion and Sister Rita,  the contents of the activities and events were shared among the virtual participants in spanish, portugues, German and English. 

Finally, under the theme: “ With you, life is more, Mary” the coronation ceremony for the Queen of Schoenstatt was held in gratitude for these first 100 years.

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IN THE PANDEMIC PERIOD

IN THE PANDEMIC PERIOD

By: Schwester M. Liliane Dias

MANY PILGRIMS VISIT THE SHRINE

Since March 22, 2020, the gates to the Schoenstatt Shrine “Tabor of the Everlasting Presence of the Father” in Atibaia / State of São Paulo – Brazil have been closed due to the “Covid-19” pandemic. This prompted a ‘fire in the embers’ in the sisters to “go out from the shrine” in order to “go” in a virtual way into the houses of the families who would otherwise come to the shrine of the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt on the occasion of their diocesan pilgrimages.

For us, who live in Atibaia, it is almost inconceivable that day after day no pilgrimage buses come with the many pilgrims, who otherwise enter our shrine with a yearning heart and greet our dear “Pilgrim Mother”.

We had to cancel the holy Mass with the renewal of the covenant of love on March 18. In addition, one, two, three, four, five, six and finally many diocesan pilgrimages could not take place, sometimes with five thousand pilgrims. This prompted us to draw up a plan for the shrine to use social media, especially Facebook and YouTube, to make the shrine with its graces accessible to thousands of families and pilgrims.

WE GO AND PILGRIMAGE FOR YOU

If the pilgrims cannot come to the shrine, we will pilgrimage in their place, with them, on their behalf. They cannot come, but we bring the shrine to their homes, cities, and dioceses. Inspired by this desire, inspired by the boundless love for our Mother and Queen and the children who love our Mother and Schoenstatt Queen who is three times wonderful and her shrine of grace, we planned daily programs to enable the Schoenstatt Family and pilgrims to participate online.

MANY HOURS A DAY – ONLINE PRESENCE IN THE SHRINE

We begin every day at 9:30 am with the transmission of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which continues and is broadcast on YouTube until 12 noon ending with the prayer of the “Angel of the Lord”. In this way, a personal encounter with Jesus and the Blessed Mother is possible for everyone. At 3 p.m. we have holy Mass in the shrine with the online participation of hundreds of people. We conclude the day with praying the rosary in praise of the Queen and a request for physical and mental health around the world. Every mystery of the rosary is prayed by a person or group.

On March 23, after our diocese and city council ordered our gates to be closed, we began our spiritual pilgrimages. We accompanied the dioceses who had entered their annual pilgrimage on that day to the shrine each Sunday, as provided for in the program.

It was impressive to see the participation of every diocese who signed up, who joined us on the Internet for a spiritual pilgrimage at 9:00 a.m. Everything happened as if they were really here: with a welcome, with songs, prayers and much applause and applause for our heavenly Mother and Queen – on the other side of the cell phone: Such happy hearts, united with the Blessed Mother in the shrine to receive the graces and blessings of their pilgrimage to the shrine.

The joy of the spiritual pilgrimage of the dioceses, the spiritual presence of the pilgrims in the daily worship, the online participation in the celebration of the holy Mass and the rosary prayer in May gave us great joy. In this month of May in the pandemic, we wanted to bring our May flowers to our dear Schoenstatt Queen instead of all the pilgrims. Because they couldn’t physically come to their shrine, we wanted to prove our love.

MAY QUEEN, MY LOVE KNOWS NO LIMITS

The topic: “May Queen, my love knows no borders” stimulated the program planning. May 1st gave us a very nice sunny day with a blue sky. So nature invited us to praise in our Schoenstatt Tabor Shrine, SHE who is the most beautiful flower of all creation. In the morning, many took part in the praise of St. Joseph, the worker and concerned father for Mary and the baby Jesus. With Saint Joseph we made a pilgrimage to the shrine and united with all the workers. With the blessing of the ID cards, we entrusted all of their worries and needs to St. Joseph, accepted and took all their concerns to the shrine.

The highlight of the day was at 8:00 p.m. when we paid homage to Mary, the most beautiful of all mothers, with all who spiritually united with us. A group of sisters began to praise with their instruments. Over a thousand people joined us online and tuned in the song of praise in honor of the Queen of May.

SOME TESTIMONIALS COLLECTED FROM SOCIAL MEDIA:

•   “What a moment, how many graces we have received … Thanks to the sisters for this gift. Our dear Mother Thrice Wonderful deserves it.” Ester Morais

•  “It seems like I am in the shrine! Thank you, sisters! This song of praise to our dear three times wonderful Mother and Queen is too beautiful!” Zuzuka Motta

•  “A thousand times, thank you! Thank Our Lady for being able to participate in this blessing. I feel I am there in the shrine.” Graça Siquera

•  “Heaven has touched the earth!” Cidinha Pinheiro

Such testimonies encouraged us to prepare the second song of praise on the eve of Mother’s Day on May 10, with even greater love, on the following topic:

SHE IS MY MOTHER

The shrine was beautifully decorated, the songs well practiced, spiritual bouquets prepared for our Queen of May. Many thousands of Mary’s children from near and far joined us on the Internet to confirm through songs and prayer: She is my mother!

The highlight of the Marian praise was the Covenant Day. On every 18th in parishes in our country, in the different dioceses, people unite to renew their devotion to the Schoenstatt Mother and Queen and to bring their contributions to the capitol of grace. Still, it was surprising how many followed online the invitation with the topic:

“COVENANT MOTHER AND QUEEN.”

At 8:00 p.m., the “Tabor of the Eternal Presence of the Father” shrine opened its door in a virtual way to accommodate the numerous children through social communication. As a family, we thanked for the gift of the covenant of love, for the onset of grace on October 18, 1914, which continues to flow through the network of shrines. We thanked for the life of the deacon João Pozzobon, who was formed in the school of the shrine and who sang the most beautiful praises in his life to the Mother and Queen and who lived the covenant of love by carrying the image of the pilgrim shrine through all of our Brazilian country.

VIRTUALLY UNITED IN PRAYER

The month of May ended with the transmission of the Pentecost vigil. United with our dear Mother and Queen in the Coenaculum shrine, we pleaded for the descent of the Holy Spirit with his gifts and fruits over the holy Church and all of humanity.

The words of our father and founder become concrete:

“Schoenstatt, our shrine… should above all be our Cenacle. That is the silent waiting and hope that brings us together here at this time. We hope in our Cenacle for the great Pentecost miracle, similar to how it filled and transformed the soul of the apostles at the time. “(The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of Peace”, p. 360)

With thousands of pilgrims, virtually united in prayer, we converted our shrine into a Cenacle.

The online program will continue to run in the coming months until the pandemic ends. The door of the shrine is virtually open so that many can get to the heart of the Blessed Mother and allow her to help them overcome the challenges of this time.

Source: Sisters of Mary