BOLIVIA, Fabián Aguirre. On Saturday, July 5th, with the endorsement of Mrs. Vilma Pérez, the Chief of the Philatelic Department at the Postal Service of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and the President of the Philatelic Association of La Paz, Daniel Gonzalez, La Paz family coordinators Nelson and Carmiña Mostacedo, and the Schoenstatt Diocesan Priest, Father Jose Neuenhofer launched the first official postal stamp in the world in commemoration of the “100 Years of the Founding of Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement.”
At the ceremony, Nelson Mostacedo stressed the time in which we live for the centenary of the Movement and the importance that the shrine has as a place of grace to build a society rooted in God. At the same time, Mrs. Pérez underscored the importance that this event has for Bolivia’s Postal Service given that the stamp highlights an religious event of international importance. “On this occasion, with this stamp, we can reach hundreds of countries with which Bolivia maintains postal exchange”, she noted.
At the end of this unique act, members of the Movement’s branches gave Father José Neuenhofer – known for his book “A True Father” containing many photographs that he had personally taken of Father Kentenich- a well-deserved round of applause for the leadership role he played in promoting the postal stamp.
20.000 stamps
The stamp was issued with the name of the Marian Schoenstatt Movement. On the first day, Bolivia’s Postal Service issued 200 special stamped envelopes (see photo) with the value of 1.58 dollars and 20,000 stamps with the individual value of 71 cents. With many letters yet to sent, it is expected the postal stamp will spread to the five continents, where Schoenstatt and daughter shrines have become home for millions of people who desire to renew the Christian roots of our world
Original article in Spanish
