NIGERIA, Sr. M. Iona Mackenzie. Nine mothers sealed their Covenant of Love as members of the Schoenstatt Mothers’ League, in the Shrine at Ibadan, Nigeria. As the only Schoenstatt Mothers’ group in the country, these 9 mothers can be considered as the founding members of the Schoenstatt Mothers’ League in Nigeria. The mothers started meeting as a group in 2008, on the first Sunday of the month after the Mass in the House Chapel of the Schoenstatt Fathers. A number of them were regular attendants of this Sunday Mass and the weekday Masses in the Shrine and they were encouraged by the resident Schoenstatt Fathers and visiting Schoenstatt Sisters from South Africa, to form a group of like-minded mothers who loved the Shrine and the message of the Shrine.
They did so and with the support of the Fathers and the Schoenstatt Sisters from South Africa who visit once a year, they began the slow journey of discovery of what their role is as Schoenstatt Mothers around the first Nigerian Shrine.
Mother, me and you and you and I forever
The Mothers were most eager to make their covenant with the Mother Thrice Admirable but also a little nervous at the thought of the responsibility she was calling them to as the first Schoenstatt Mothers. However, as they phrased it in their group consecration prayer: Now we can say with confidence: Mother, me and you and you and I forever.
The celebration in the Shrine was one of gratitude, joy and thanksgiving. Afterwards, a homebaked cake was ceremonially cut and everyone enjoyed a little party with cake, crisps, soda and homemade juice. In the strength of their covenant, the Mothers now want to start or revitalize their Home Shrines in preparation for the year of the Shrine Current and towards 2014.
This is the beginning of good things to happen around the Shrine of Our Lady in Nigeria. These mothers should not see their group as just social group but apostolic. In the sense that they should go out like Peter and Paul and evangelis others and bring them to our Lady