Dear Schoenstatt Family,

96 years ago, on August 15, 1928, the Feast of the Assumption, the diocesan pastor, Bishop Dr. Franz Rudolf Bornewasser, blessed “in the most solemn manner the newly built residence of the Apostolic Federation, which is intended, especially, to educate the lay apostles in the spirit of the Catholic Movement that has been strongly promoted and encouraged by our gloriously reigning Holy Father Pius XI”. This was reported at the time in the Koblenzer Volkszeitung and the Rhein- und Wied-Zeitung.

In his speech at the ceremony, Father Kentenich explained that the day of the blessing of the house marked the end of the Apostolic Federation’s living within the catacombs and the beginning of its entry into the public eye, into public life. Existence in the catacombs would not continue any longer. The house, erected high up on the mountain and prominent on the public sphere, is a testimony to the contrary.

In the course of its nearly 100-year history, Covenant House has become important in this respect.

• As the place that for the longest time became the ” primary place of activity” in the life of Father Kentenich;
• As the place that in the 1930s earned the reputation of being Father Kentenich’s “pulpit”;
• As the place from which our Father set out on the road to the second milestone.
• As the place from which he set out on the road to the third milestone.
• As the place of the “Arthurian Round”, which he explicitly mentions in the Epistola perlonga.
• As the place that was acquired in 1998 by the Chilean Fernando Arrau with his Mary Queen of Labor Foundation, inspired by the May 31st mission; as the meeting place of the international Schoenstatt Movement;
• As the place where the founding spirit can still be felt on the historic floors, especially in the room where Fr. Kentenich lived most of his life, in the Arthurian Round room, as well as in his confessional and meeting rooms.
• As a place that invites you to follow in the footsteps of the founder and we cordially invite you to do so.

Covenant House Today

Nowadays, the Covenant House is cared for and administered by the Schoenstatt-Bundesheim International e.V. It is a legacy and a struggle to preserve important parts of our history. Not only Father Kentenich, but many heroes of the Movement have passed through or stayed here.

The house is not a place belonging to the past, but a place of spiritual encounter with Father Kentenich’s person and his spirituality. It is a place that points to the future. Just as the founder left from here to live the great moments in Schoenstatt’s history, the Covenant House encourages us to courageously face the great challenges of the world, of the Church and of our personal lives.

Located on a mountain, it has a privileged view of the Original Shrine, which is our place of sending forth and our favorite place. The Covenant House is also synonymous with mission during these times.

Therefore, let’s go with you!
Werner Philipps

-Board of Directors

PS: We are happy and grateful for any support for our varied efforts to preserve the founding traces in the almost century-old building of the Covenant House: either in the form of a silent prayer or with a financial donation. Our bank information is as follows:
IBAN: DE91 5705 0120 0181 0201 40
BIC: MALADE51KOB.
Donation receipts can be issued upon request.

Website: www.casadealianza.de
E-mail: casadealianza@gmail.com
Phone: +49 176 13182111

Translation: Maribel Acaron