From December 4 to 6, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from Kaliningrad, Moscow, and St. Petersburg (Russia) gathered to celebrate the opening of the jubilee year of their community’s centenary.
The celebration began on the 4th in St. Petersburg. Holy Mass was celebrated in the parish of St. John the Baptist, presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Moscow, Monsignor Paolo Pezzi, and concelebrated by numerous priests and representatives of the Catholic communities. Despite it being a workday, parishioners, members of the Schoenstatt Movement, acquaintances, and friends participated in this special event. Holy Mass was preceded by a procession with a lit commemorative candle. The Sisters of Mary carried lilies in their hands.
At the beginning of the Mass, the Sisters addressed those present and highlighted the importance of this day: “October 1 marked 99 years since Father Joseph Kentenich and the first Sisters took a courageous step to found our religious family. It was a decision made in difficult times, full of great challenges, but also inspired by faith and zeal. Father Kentenich, recognizing the signs of the times in the spirit of faith in Divine Providence, understood the importance of founding the Sisters Family, who would dedicate themselves to the charism of the Movement, since the formation of a new person is not possible without the participation of a new woman.”
Charisms are gifts for our time
In his homily, Monsignor Paulo Pezzi spoke about charisms and the action of the Holy Spirit: “In every age, the Holy Spirit raises people to respond to calls that can be absolutely extraordinary and to take the cry of the people […] Father Kentenich formed and developed his charism at a time when different ideologies wanted to bring paradise to earth. And what were the consequences? They created hell on earth. And what did the Holy Spirit do then? He awakened a whole series of charisms capable of counteracting the tendency of those ideologies. And how? We heard it at the beginning: “by educating a new person.” He educated the person born of these ideologies, who had already lost his identity.”
The archbishop continued: “It cannot be said that the German concentration camps were less severe than other prisons, but even in that profound isolation, he (Fr. Kentenich) never lost hope or faith in God. And that was when he began to educate his own people. A process that continues to this day, because no charism is exhausted, it does not end. Every charism is eternal. What does eternal mean? It means building that temple in heaven that no one can destroy. […] Dear brothers and sisters, celebrating the jubilee means for us the opportunity to renew ourselves.”
A celebration for the whole community
The jubilee celebration became a common event for the entire parish community. The parish priest, Father Francisco Teixeira García, officiated this Mass in commemoration for the beatification of Sister M. Emilie Engel. At the end of the celebration, all participants received an image of the Mother Thrice Admirable, accompanied by a small rosary made by the Sisters. As Archbishop Pezzi explained, this rosary is not only a souvenir but also a continuation of the jubilee celebration that unites us spiritually through prayer.
After Holy Mass, all those present shared in the joy of the Jubilee celebration with a meal prepared by parishioners. Candles with the number “100” were blown out on the commemorative cake, symbolizing the centenary.
The Sisters of Mary in Russia had prepared for this moment through a nine-month novena. A highlight of this journey was the blessing of the symbol of the Holy Spirit by Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. On December 4, Archbishop Paulo Pezzi finally placed the symbol in the Sisters’ chapel.
Representatives of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Russian Federation
On Saturday, December 6, the jubilee year was also opened in Moscow at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Holy Mass, presided over by Archbishop Paulo Pezzi, was concelebrated by the counselor of the Apostolic Nunciature in the Russian Federation, Msgr. Mislav Hodžić, by the representative of the Nunciature, Fr. Igor Chabanov, and by other priests.
In the procession at the beginning of the Holy Mass, the Sisters carried the image of the MTA, the same one with which the first missionaries left for Moscow on October 13, 1991.
In his homily, the archbishop referred to the image of the Mother of God as a source of wisdom and an example of unlimited trust: “Wisdom consists in doing God’s will.” Recalling Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation, he said: “And suddenly everything comes to life. Because when we do God’s will, we begin to create, to straighten our paths. And our conversion and repentance begin to bear fruit.”
The archbishop then observed that Fr. Kentenich, even in Dachau, inflamed the hearts of his companions with love for the Virgin Mary.
A special year of grace begins for the Sisters
At the end of the celebration, the Sisters thanked Bishop Paulo for presiding over Holy Mass. They presented him with flowers and a gift: “The 100th. Anniversary of the ‘birth’ of the community allows us to be repeatedly surprised by God’s plans and actions, despite human frailty. Glorifying God, keeping everything in our hearts, and allowing Him to come today: that is what we have learned from Mary,” they said.
For all those participating in the celebration, the Sisters prepared an image of the Mother Thrice Admirable, accompanied by a prayer of consecration and a handmade pocket rosary.
The celebration ended with refreshments and fellowship, where movement members, friends, and guests participated. The Sisters spoke further about the Institute’s charism and history, and they also presented some songs composed in the Russian community.
The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary began serving the Church in Russia in 1991, first in Moscow, then in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg.
Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías