On the afternoon of Saturday 31 May 2025, the feast day of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, the Schoenstatt Family of Zimbabwe gathered before the altar of the Mother Thrice Admirable (located in Sheila Coleman’s home) to celebrate the annual coronation of Mary as “Queen of Africa.”
We first crowned her in 1981, a year after the Schoenstatt Family in Bedfordview Johannesburg South Africa had crowned her under that title. A bus-load of Schoenstatters from Zimbabwe had travelled there for the occasion. There was a great need of our Mother then, since both countries, as well others in Africa, were or had been at war for several years. So many had problems, economic, political, social etc.
A coronation that repeats itself year after year
At the time of our first Crowning, it was decided by our Zimbabwe Schoenstatt family to keep crowning our Mother as “Queen of Africa” every year, on or close to 31May, remembering the importance of that date in Schoenstatt history. We have done so for 44 years.
This year as always we had prepared for the crowning praying our nine week Queen of Africa novena, praying each day from 29 March for each country in Africa, .offering Rosaries, contributions to the Capital of Grace, reflections on Fr. Kentenich’s words and prayers.
The Holy Mass of Coronation was presided over by Fr. Paul Edwards, SJ, and concelebrated by Fr. Ange Jean Lucien Mbolo Noah, from Cameroon. The solemn coronation took place during Holy Mass, during which Mary was offered the crown made in Schoenstatt, Germany, in 1980 by the Brothers of Mary craftsmen, and brought to Zimbabwe from South Africa after her coronation.
Queen of Africa
A litany was prayed after the crown was in place, on the picture of our Mother, naming each country in Africa alphabetically:
“Queen of Algeria: accept our homage and love.”
ending with “Queen of Zimbabwe: accept our homage and love.”
Then we sang our Queen of Africa Crowning hymn which was especially composed by former parish priest Fr. Carey SJ in 1980 for S. Africa.
The chorus begins:
“O Mary Our Mother, into heaven assumed,
Reign over your people by sin once entombed.
Drive out the dragon infesting our world.
You we shall follow, with Faith fully unfurled”.
One of the verses has the end words: “Queen of all Africa, let our hearts be your throne.”
Holy Mass continued, and ended, leaving our hearts filled with gratitude and hope.
Lots of lovely photos and some videos were taken, memories to reflect on and share so important. Noticing a rainbow on one of them struck us particularly as if our MTA was reminding us that she accepted the crown, that she loved us and took our Covenant of Love seriously and would continue to take perfect care.
We believe our Blessed Mother has again accepted her crown, and has taken Africa under her mantle of Love, and she has cared in so many ways all these years and will continue to do so.
“We trust your might, your kindness Mother dear.
We do believe that you are always near.
Whatever happens Mother mild,
We blindly trust in you and in your Child.”
“Mother with your Loving Son,
Bless us each and every one.”
