ENGLAND, Fr. David Musgrave. The origins of this very latest innovation go back to the WYD held in Toronto, Canada in July 2002 and the Shrine in Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa.
A small group of young Schoenstatt members and members of the local parish joining-up with a large contingent of the Cape Town Archdiocese to attended this WYD. To enliven an awareness both in the Schoenstatt Movement in Cape Town and the residential parish of Our Lady of the Visitation, Constantia, a large banner was hung up across the arch outside proclaiming the motto of the WYD : You are the salt of the earth…. and the light of the world. This remained in position for a time long beyond the duration of the WYD.
Over the years several other banners appeared to mark some special event.
Year of Faith – Missionary Current
Fast forward now to the year 2012 and the announcement of our Holy Father, Benedict XVI: Porta Fidei: Year of Faith parallel to our very own Schoenstatt Year of Mission and the Shrine in Kearsley, Bolton of England and Wales.
In the very briefest of discussions of the Rector of the Schoenstatt, Father Bryan Cunningham, a Schoenstatt Father and fellow priests it was decided to do something similar as had been done some 20 odd years ago in Cape Town.
On further reflection it was decided to use transparent perspex as base and the font (Century Gothic) of the official Year of Faith logo and unify the two respective Years: one of the universal Church and one of the International Schoenstatt Movement.
One of the benefits of using perspex is the fact that the original carving on the door arch is not hidden but interestingly, enhanced.
The welcoming door into faith
And there we have it. The door of the Shrine lives up to its “mission” as indeed being the welcoming door into faith.
