Schönstatt - Begegnungen

A new 18th of October for Africa

Schoenstatt in Zimbabwe celebrated 25th anniversary

Misa del 25° aniversario de Schoenstatt en Zimbabwe
Jubilee Mass of the Zimbabwean Schoenstatt family on October 19, 2002
Jubiläumsmesse der Schönstattfamilie von Zimbabwe am 19. Oktober 2002
Sueño y experiencia: Un nuevo 18 de octubre para Zimbabwe, para África..
Dream - and already experience: A new October 18 for Zimbabwe, for Africa...
Traum und auch schon Erfahrung: ein neuer 18. Oktober für Zimbabwe, für Afrika
La bandera del centenario
Bringing the centenary flag - in 1985, the small delegation from Zimbabwe was proud to count with their own flag
Die Gedenkjahrfahne hat eine hohen Stellenwert für Schönstatt in Zimbabwe
En el "Santuario Altar" - altar del Santuario en una casa -, día del jubileo
In the "Altar shrine" - shrine altar erected in a house - on the jubilee day
Im "Altar-Heiligtum" - Heiligtumsaltar in einem Wohnhaus - am Jubiläumstag
Fotos: Peter © 2002

ZIMBABWE, Marlene Peter. The small Schoenstatt family of Zimbabwe with great hope and joy on October 19 celebrated the 25th anniversary of Schoenstatt being founded in this Southern African country so badly longing for peace, justice and reconciliation. The Schoenstatt family so far does not have a Shrine, but the altar for a future Shrine is in the house of one of the founder families in Harare.

The day of the jubilee celebration was a very hot day , and it was decided to have the anniversary mass out in the garden of the Arnold’s home under the shady trees. It was good to see so many familiar faces, some who used to be active in Schoenstatt but no longer belong to groups, although they still consider themselves part of the Schoenstatt family.

"What you have learnt, pass it on!"

Fr. Lesley McKenna celebrated the mass. He has always celebrated when we crowned Our MTA Queen of Africa and also when we crowned her Queen and Mother of Zimbabwe last year. He travelled with the Zimbabwean delegation on pilgrimage when they went to South Africa for the 10th anniversary of their crowning in 1990. So he is very familiar with the Schoenstatt family of Zimbabwe. The little shrine inside the Arnold’s home looked so beautiful with so many different coloured roses.   The first reading was from the Book of Wisdom and the gospel was the account of the Annunciation from Luke. Fr. McKenna said in his homily that over the years our Schoenstatt family has done exactly what the reading from Wisdom said, "What you have learnt, pass it on." He noted our efforts to grow in knowledge of Christ and to learn from his mother Mary.

Schoenstatt in Zimbabwe needs to grow and bring Christ to the world

When Mary became aware that she was chosen in a special way did not keep this to herself, but went to share it with Elizabeth. Having said ‘Yes" to God she took Jesus to Elizabeth and her unborn son John and brought them sanctification and blessing. A danger nowadays is that people who have studied God’s Word tend to keep it to themselves. Tomorrow is Mission Sunday. And it is not just the religious who are called to be missionaries. They come from all walks of life and we are a part of them with the task of bringing Christ to the people. We must pray for the strengthening of the missionary work in the Church. We have a duty to communicate the love of God and Christ to others. Father McKenna continued by saying that the movement in Zimbabwe needs to grow and bring Christ through Mary to the world. Maybe someday Africa may send missionaries to western countries, to do just this!

The beginnings of Schoenstatt in Zimbabwe

After the Mass, Pat Arnold gave a brief introduction speaking of the early history of Schoenstatt in Germany, its beginnings in the chapel of St. Michael there, and its development, Fr. Kentenich Dachau, the spread of the movement. Then Sybil Macdonald who with her husband Norman was a founder member of Schoenstatt Zimbabwe spoke of these beginnings. She challenged the family to consider where they were going from here and to listen to what God was saying to them, along with the importance of saying, like Mary, ‘Yes."

While tea was being prepared some of the people made their way to the shrine for a visit with out MTA. Those who wished were invited to write down their petitions, thank yous, and contributions to the Capital of Grace and place them in the bowl provided. The day ended on a very joyful note and we left for our respective homes. On Sunday, October 20, most of the participants returned for the rest of the October Week programme. One of the topics which they were looking for into with greater depth was the Second founding document which they believe is very relevant for our Schoenstatt family in Zimbabwe today, as it was for the family in 1939.

The Schoenstatt family in Zimbabwe is small in number. With the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign of the Pilgrim Mother, and the annual of the Blessed Mother as "Queen of Africa" and "Queen of Zimbabwe", they are reaching out to a big number of people.



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