P. José María García. "The pilgrim people follow the footsteps of Mary," a phrase Blessed John Paul II pronounced on the eve of the great Jubilee of Redemption in the Holy Year 2000. In its simplicity and strength, it awakens a certain nostalgia, awakening in the soul impressions of the atmosphere of pilgrimage: of joy, simplicity, hymns and prayers, shared faith, common testimony, of paths, effort and joyful tiredness, of brotherhood, and especially the way to the Shrine. The pilgrimage -a universal religious experience - is closelyRead More

Posted On January 16, 2012 In Jubilee 2014

Toward 2014: In Covenant with Poland

org. On January 7th, the Original Shrine was still sparkling with Christmas ornaments when Fathers Heinrich Walter and José María García entered to celebrate the first "Toward 2014" Holy Mass for 2012. This Mass was being celebrated in Covenant with Poland, a country with a long Christian tradition and with many painful experiences; a country with a center filled with life: the Shrine of the "Black Virgin" in Cestahowa as Father Heinrich Walter highlighted in his introduction.    Read More
Agathe Hug/org. How big would a candle be if all the world's schoenstatters added a drop of wax for each contribution to the capital of grace melting them together into a single candle for a year? One comes up with a question like this when one thinks of Portugal, because the Portuguese Schoenstatt Family did this. On April 18, 2010, they celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Schoenstatt`s presence in Portugal. On this occasion they gathered, in the country's four shrines, drops of wax as a symbol for each contributionRead More
org. Heartfelt congratulations to the German Federation of Families for their new direction. This past January 6th the German Federation's eighth chapter has chosen the new direction. Rosa Maria and Joseph Wieland were re-elected as leaders of the Federation.      Read More

Posted On January 10, 2012 In Covenant Life

In Thanksgiving

ARGENTINA, Claudia Lell. On the afternoon of December 28th, the Crespo Rosary Campaign celebrated the last Mass of the year "in thanksgiving for the work carried out during the year."        Read More
PARAGUAY, María Luz Fleitas. A Mass honoring Mary, Mother of God, was celebrated in the Youth Shrine on January 1st at 15:00hrs. in which the college Youth prayed for special blessings as they departed on their mission to the people of New Colombia and Loma Grande.      Read More

Posted On January 10, 2012 In Covenant Life

Why should we be surprised?

Margaret Steinhage Fenelon. “How could this have happened? You’re so young!” I’ve been hearing that comment over and over again in the past weeks, ever since my heart procedure. I admit that it caught all of us off guard, including me, because it came on suddenly – as if out of nowhere – and yes, I’m a bit on the young side for such a condition. It surprised even my doctors. Funny, last night I chatted with another member of our Schoenstatt Family who has had multiple heart procedures, includingRead More

Posted On January 8, 2012 In Original Shrine

Update on the Original Shrine

org. Father Heinrich Walter, Superior General of the Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers, in a letter dated January 6 – the day of Epiphany in many regions of the world – shares the latest news on the future of the Original Shrine. We publish the letter - simultaneously in five languages and on both of our websites, Schoenstatt.org and schoenstatt2014.org - and ask you to share it with those who do not have access to the Internet.    Read More