On Saturday, August 22, 2026, the Feast of Mary, Queen, was celebrated at the Shrine of the Queen of Hearts in Mala Subotica. Approximately 1,500 Schoenstatt members gathered—from nearly every region of Croatia, from Slavonia and the eastern part of the country to Dubrovnik—as well as from Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly from Mostar and Ljubuški. Many traveled long distances to attend.
The event commemorated several important historical occasions:
♥ The 10th anniversary of the coronation of the Mother Thrice Admirable as Queen of Hearts, August 20, 2016.
♥ The 17th anniversary of the dedication of the first Croatian Daughter Shrine in Mala Subotica, August 22, 2009.
♥ The 25th anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Schoenstatt Family, August 22, 2001.
The celebration was preceded by a nine-month novena and, immediately before, a spiritual triduum from August 19–21, organized by Father Christoph Horn. Through prayer, the Eucharistic celebration, and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, the Schoenstatt Family of Croatia prepared together for the anniversary.
A Heart-Shaped Shrine Complex
The heart-shaped green oasis, home to the Shrine of the Queen of Hearts, the wayside Shrine, the summer altar, the pilgrims’ house, and other buildings, had been refreshed by the long-awaited summer rain and welcomed numerous pilgrims.
Father Christoph Horn, who has long accompanied the Croatian Schoenstatt Family and serves as the Shrine’s rector, warmly welcomed the pilgrims and presented the day’s program.
The solemn Eucharistic celebration at the summer altar was presided over by Bishop Bože Radoš of Varaždin. Numerous priests concelebrated, including Monsignor Álvaro Ernesto Isurieta Y Sea, secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Croatia. He is originally from Argentina and is a member of the Schoenstatt Priests’ Federation.
The crown, which is actually the heart
In his homily, Bishop Bože urged us not to limit ourselves, when faced with life’s crosses, to asking, “Why this cross in particular?” Rather, we must recognize that the cross itself is the key to our salvation.
Referring to the Queen of Hearts, he said:
“The heart of the Mother of God is crowned, and from her heart the crown springs forth.”
And he reminded us:
“The first words engraved on Mary’s soul are: ‘Rejoice, full of grace! Rejoice, for the Lord is with you!’ Mary wants to place in our hearts what she has carried and continues to carry in hers: her beloved Son. Mary is the Queen of Hearts, inviting us to what God himself has called her to: Christian joy.”
He continued: “Crowning Mary does not simply mean placing an outward crown upon her. It means surrendering our hearts and our lives to her and allowing her to reign within them.”
In addition to Sr. M. Ramona Schneider and Sr. Mariana Hermann, Sr. M. Anke Rechtien, provincial superior of the Schoenstatt Dynamic Province, participated in the celebration. This made us feel united with the place of origin, with the source, and, at the same time, with the entire international Schoenstatt Family.
Among the guests were also representatives of public life and local authorities.
Where hearts burn, the future grows
This was the theme of the afternoon program. It was organized by Sr. M. Ramona Schneider in collaboration with several Schoenstatt members. The focus was on the history of the Croatian Schoenstatt Family, known in Croatian as HŠO.
H – Hrvatska (Croatia). We reflected on our beautiful country, Croatia. A country not only of extraordinary beauty but above all with a big heart: a heart that beats for God, family, freedom, and the homeland.
Š – Šenstat (Schoenstatt). We remembered those who brought Schoenstatt to Croatia: Father Rudolf Chrysostomus Grill, Mrs. Hedwig Maria Weinzierl, Father Christoph Horn, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary—Sr. Mariana and Sr. M. Ramona—and many others.
O – obitelj (family). We rejoiced in our pioneers, who made Schoenstatt spirituality their own in our country and inspired many others with their enthusiasm. We especially thought of Monsignor Ivan Šešo and Sr. Mirjana Kukuljan, who worked for Schoenstatt as a Carmelite and was excused from her duties by her superiors for this purpose.
Through all of this, one thing became clear: the Schoenstatt family in Croatia did not emerge overnight. It has grown over decades, thanks to people who believed, prayed, made decisions, offered sacrifices, and repeated their “yes” time and again.
That is how, little by little, a family was able to emerge within the Covenant of Love.
One phrase summed up this experience particularly well: If we ourselves burn with passion for Schoenstatt, we will also inspire others.
God often writes history in unassuming places
Another part of the program focused on the history of the Shrine in Mala Subotica.
On a small plot of land, seemingly unremarkable at first glance, the first Schoenstatt Daughter Shrine in Croatia took shape. Today, this place has become a spiritual home for many people—a place of prayer and fellowship within the Covenant of Love.
Looking back, we clearly recognize “the finger of God”: His guidance over many decades, from the stone Shrine to the Shrine of the Heart.
The Shrine in Mala Subotica also reminds us of a profound Schoenstatt experience: human beings need a home and a refuge in a noble heart.
“My heart, your Shrine”
A special moment of the afternoon was a prayer to the Queen of Hearts. In the invocations, thanks were given to Mary for her guidance and her presence.
We thanked her for choosing this plot of land in Mala Subotica to establish her dwelling here alongside her Son. The plot is triangular, into which the shape of a heart has almost naturally fits. The Shrine in the middle of a heart of cypress trees: an eloquent sign that the Queen of Hearts loves, above all else, to make her home in people’s hearts.
Thus, a phrase became the expression of our shared story: “My heart, your Shrine!”
The Crown in the Sunlight
Particularly impressive was the procession that, during the afternoon program, led from the Shrine to the so-called “summer altar.”
Children and adults carried Schoenstatt flags. Behind them, four men from our Schoenstatt Family carried a replica of the original crown —a crown that one of the fathers in our family had crafted from a grenade from the last civil war of the 1990s.
The sun had been hidden behind the clouds for most of the day. Thus, the pilgrims were able to celebrate this special feast at the Shrine in pleasant weather. But just as the procession reached the summer altar, the sun broke through the clouds and cast its rays upon the crown. It was as if Mary herself, through this small gesture, were saying:
“Even if it is only a replica, I will make it shine and gild it with my rays.”
And indeed, the crown glowed with the sun’s rays. For many, it was a moment of silence and deep emotion.
Afterward, we prayed together the prayer of renewal of the coronation.
More than 600 images of the Pilgrim Mother
Another highlight was the blessing of the images of the Pilgrim Mother.
More than 600 images from numerous Croatian dioceses were displayed in a long row of tables. Behind each image are individuals, families, and communities who, month after month, open their homes to Mary, share their lives with her, and live their experiences alongside her. After the blessing, the images set out once again on their journey: back to homes and families, toward the people.
In this way, the Shrine of Mala Subotica comes to life far beyond its physical location.
At the center: Christ
On an anniversary, there is much to share: about people, stories, encounters, gratitude, and what has been growing.
But during it all, there was also a moment of silence.
During adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Father Christoph Horn, everything returned to the essential: Christ.
Because Mary always leads us to her Son.
After all that was said, sung, and celebrated, there remained the moment when many words are no longer needed: simply to be in His presence, to thank Him, to entrust ourselves to Him, and to listen to Him.
What will we pass on?
The anniversary was not just a celebration of the past. It also raised a question for the future: what will we leave for those who come after us?
The Schoenstatt Family in Croatia can look with gratitude at the foundations laid by previous generations. No contribution, however small, nor any sacrifice offered out of love and incorporated into the capital of grace, has been lost.
Perhaps the goal for the next 25 years can be summed up in one sentence:
To have a home in our hearts, to live from the Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable, and thus to contribute to the renewal of the world.
Queen of Hearts, continue to guide our Croatian Schoenstatt Family!
Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, make our hearts your Shrine and guide us together toward the future.
Yes, and at the end there was a long farewell. Each local community wanted to take a separate photo. And since our coordinator in Zagreb is also the host of our monthly radio program on Radio Marija, titled “Schoenstatt, That’s Me,” many of our photos can also be seen there on the website – click here.
