December 8, 2001

Germany, Munich: First Ecumenical Meeting of Ecclesial Movements

"With each other – how else?" This is the motto of the first Ecumenical Meeting of Ecclesial Movements in Germany taking place in Munich on December 8. In the morning, responsible persons of the different movements will have an encounter. Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, will be present and will speak about the importance of community among the Movements. From 1:15 PM – 5:00 PM, members and friends of approximately 40 movements will gather in the Frauenkirche (Cathedral) in Munich; about 3,000 people are expected to join in the ecumenical service. Cardinal Friedrich Wetter and Bishop Dr. Johannes Friedrich will speak to the participants, as well as Chiara Lubich.

Preliminary talks have taken place in the course of the year, also in Schoenstatt. On the Catholic side, the dialogue of the Ecclesial Movements was initiated on Pentecost 1998 and has since resulted in a number of encounters on national and diocesan levels on common feasts and apostolic activities. For about 30 years, Protestant Movements, communities and brotherhoods have promoted a similar cooperation. On December 8, Catholic and Protestant Movements will meet to get to know each other and celebrate the beauty and variety of God's kingdom.

The Auxiliary for Blind People on the visit to one of numerous institutions in Argentina: for countless persons with visual impairment an experience of Mary and her instruments reaching out to them. Das Bild der Pilgernden Gottesmutter für Blinde bei einem der zahllosen Besuche in Einrichtungen für Blinde: Menschen mit starker Sehbehinderung erleben, dass sie Maria und ihre Werkzeuge ihrer speziellen Situation anpassen.

Fotos: Ciola © 2001

December 8, 2001

Argentina, Villa Ballester: Crowning of the Auxiliary for Persons with Visual Impairment

The First Auxiliary Pilgrim Mother for Persons with visual impairment will be crowned on December 8, 2001, in Villa Ballester, Argentina. This Auxiliary – a picture of the Pilgrim Mother in the shape and size of the Auxiliaries but all crafted from wood so blind people can touch the picture's contours - has visited all the provinces of Argentina. Blind and visually impaired children in special schools, blind youth and adults in rehabilitation centers, cultural centers for blind people, and many families have received her visit. During the preparation for the crowning, the Auxiliary also was in Schoenstatt, Germany, for the first time.

The Schoenstatt Shrine in Quito, Ecuador. Schönstattheiligtum in Quito, Ecuador.

Fotos: Santos © 2001

December 8, 2001

Ecuador, Quito: Crowning of the "Queen of World Peace, Queen of Unity" in the Shrine of Alangasy, Quito

Throughout the year, the Schoenstatt family of Quito prepared for the crowning of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt on December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The whole Schoenstatt family of Ecuador united in the preparation of this crowning, praying the following prayer: "Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, Shrine of the Holy Trinity. At the beginning of this millennium - filled with so much light and so much dark - coming from the middle of the world and from the hands of our Father and Founder, we want to crown you as our Queen, Queen of world peace, Queen of Unity of our Family, Queen of Unity of the people of Ecuador, Queen of … (individual title). Queen of our hearts. Let us be instruments for a new Pentecost! Amen. For our Queen – saints of everyday life!"

The program of the day includes a cantata, a Holy Mass in the morning with the crowning of the Mother Thrice Admirable in the Shrine, and in the evening a folk festival in the historical center of Quito. On that day, the missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign will also crown the Auxiliary Pilgrim Mother for Ecuador. In several buses, members of the Schoenstatt family of Guayaquil will travel to the capital where Schoenstatt families from Quito will receive them into their homes.

San Luis Potosí, July 2001: The corner stone for the Shrine "Marvels of Mary" is carried to the construction site. San Luis Potosí, Juli 2001: Der Grundstein für das Heiligtum "Wundertaten Mariens" wird zur Baustellen getragen

November 2000: Promise to build the Shrine. November 2000: Der Bau des Heiligtums wird versprochen.

Fotos: Rosillo © 2001

December 9, 2001

San Luis Potosí, Mexico: Dedication of the Shrine "Marvels of Mary"

"Marvels of Mary" is the name of the Shrine in San Luis Potosí that will be dedicated on December 9, 2001. The festivity will begin at 11:00 AM; the choirs from Querétaro will participate to sing for the Mater. The Holy Mass will begin at 1:00 PM with Archbishop Don Luis Morales Reyes of San Luis Potosí being the main celebrant.

On October 18, 1999, Eduardo and José Ruiz Esparza, the founders of the Schoenstatt Movement in San Luis Potosí (who got to know Schoenstatt in Monterrey), donated the picture of the Blessed Mother for the Shrine that since then has visited all the homes of the Schoenstatt family of San Luis Potosí, staying for one month in each one. On November 4, 2000, during a reunion, the decision was made to build a Shrine; in the closing Holy Mass of the reunion, all those present promised the Blessed Mother to collaborate for her new Shrine. On January 7, 2001, the Archbishop of San Luis Potosí blessed the land for the new Shrine; on July 1, 2001, the cornerstone was laid.

More: http://www.schoenstatt-mx.org/cronologia_sant.htm

View to the mountain where the Shrine will be built. Blick auf den Berg, auf dem das Heiligtum entsteht.

View from the place of the future Shrine to Monterrey and the surrounding hills. Blick vom Gelände des zukünftigen Heiligtums auf Monterrey und die umgebenden Hügel.

Fotos: López © 2001

December 16, 2001

Monterrey, Mexico: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Schoenstatt Shrine

"The family of Monterrey (Mexico) can finally announce that the construction of the Schoenstatt Shrine will begin on December 16," said information passed on via e-mail. "15,000,000 Hail Marys and 5,000,000 Confidence Prayers (I trust your might…) have been offered to the Capital of Grace for Mary. When you pray the rosary or Hail Mary in this month of November dedicated to Mary (in many countries of the Southern Hemisphere), please remember the Schoenstatt family of Monterrey. Your contributions to the Capital of Grace can be sent to: santuariomonterrey@hotmail.com"

Seven years ago the Movement in Monterrey received a donation of a large piece of land on top of a mountain with a gorgeous view of the city of Monterrey and towards the hills and valleys surrounding the city. Monterrey is located close to the border of the USA and surrounded by mountains. For seven years many people, and especially young people, have climbed the mountain and carried all that is necessary to celebrate Holy Mass by the wayside shrine there. For about three months it has finally been possible to access this area also by car. The construction of the road has been difficult in view of obtaining permission from the different authorities and due to the steep incline. The Schoenstatt family of Monterrey is convinced that the time has come to begin the construction of the Shrine. Youth, couples, mothers, professional women, pilgrims and the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Campaign belong to the Schoenstatt Movement of Monterrey.

December 24, 2001

60^th anniversary of the founding of the Mariengarten

On December 24, 1941, Father Kentenich's answer to a letter sent into his cell in the prison in Koblenz (where he was held by the Gestapo) marked the founding of the Mariengarten (Garden of Mary). Later, Father Kentenich said that the Mariengarten is the anticipated symbolic expression of Schoenstatt's second milestone, Father Kentenich's free decision to set aside all human means that could have spared him from being sent to the concentration camp in Dachau and instead to give his exterior freedom as ransom for the inner freedom of the Schoenstatt Movement. The mutual responsibility of founder and founding, and of the individuals and communities of this founding, is expressed in the Mariengarten.

Ten minutes by the crib: "All may come to you, Jesus, child in the crib, really all..." Zehn Minutes an der Krippe: "Alle dürfen zu dir kommen, Jesus, Kind in der Krippe, wirklich alle..."

Fotos: POS, Brehm © 2001

December 26, 2001

Schoenstatt: Ten Minutes by the Crib

Since 1997, the celebration of "Ten Minutes by the Crib" on Mount Schoenstatt has been attracting a growing number of people, over 8,000 in the last year. From December 26 through January 8, each day at 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM a short meditation and Christmas songs are offered by the big crib in the Adoration Church, with special involvement of children. Christmas tea and cookies are served in the nearby remodeled barn.

English edition: Joan Biemert, New Franken, Wisconsin, USA