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Rosary Project for the Schoenstatt Shrine in Valais

The Schoenstatt Boys' Youth of Switzerland plans to collect 100,000 decades ­ and is getting enthusiastic with the rosary

Grupo de la Juventud Masculina de la Suiza en Miwaukee, con miembros de la Juventud Femenina y los Padres Christoph Horn (i.) y Jonathan Niehaus (d.)
Group of the Schoenstatt Boys' Youth of Switzerland in Milwaukee, with members of the Girls' Youth and Schoenstatt Fathers Christoph Horn (l) and Jonathan Niehaus (r)
Gruppe der Schönstatt-Mannesjugend aus der Schweiz mit Schweizer Mädchenjugend und den Patres Christoph Horn (l) und Jonathan Niehaus (r) in Milwaukee
Una cuenta por cada decena del rosario
One bead for each decade of the rosary
Eine Perle für jedes Gesätz des Rosenkranzes
Valais, Suiza - lugar del Santuario tan anhelado
Valais, Switzerland - place of the Shrine so much longed for
Wallis, Schweiz - hier soll ein Heiligtum entstehen
Mapa de la Suiza con Birgisch, lugar del Santuario
Map of Switzerland with Birgisch, place of the future Shrine
Hier liegt Birgisch, der Ort des zukünftigen Heiligtums
Fotos: David Fischer © 2002

SWITZERLAND, David Fischer/mkf. "Up to this day we collected 3,731 decades of the rosary for the Shrine in Valais. Join us!" This banner opens to the (astonished?) visitor of the Web page of the Schoenstatt Movement in Switzerland, in the section titles: Rosary Project. Behind it is the Schoenstatt Boys' Youth of Switzerland, and the idea was born at the place where Father Kentenich spent 14 years in Exile, in Milwaukee, USA. The Schoenstatt Boys Youth would be glad to see their project would have wide repercussion!

On the website, a card can be downloaded that shows a Shrine with a rosary around. Each bead stands for one decade of the rosary; the picture is self­explaining, the instruction clear:mark a bead for each decade you prayed, and when the rosary is done, send the card to the leader of the Swiss Schoenstatt Boys' Youth, David Fischer.

"A tremendous Joy each time anew"

"We want to do our share that the Shrine can soon be built in Birgisch in Valais", explained David Fischer, "and we want to do so by collecting contributions to the capital of grace through our fervent life of prayer." They feel inspired by a remark of Father Kentenich, who in Milwaukee gave the advice: "Don't go to bed on any day without having prayed the rosary or at least one decade of the rosary." How do the boys experience the rosary? David: "Well, it's sure a real grace that you experience with the rosary. The more you work with the rosary, the more does it grow in influence. It's a wave of prayer. I have to admit that our project is getting ever more exciting. A tremendous joy each time anew…"

The first rosary in the Shrine in Waukesha, Milwaukee

Well before the Holy Father on October 16 proclaimed a year of the rosary, causing a new attachment to the rosary in many people and communities, the igniting spark met the young people from Switzerland. David Fischer: "It was after World Youth Day in Toronto, when a group of young people headed for Milwaukee. We wanted to see and discover the treasures of the place where Father Kentenich lived during his Exile. During the long ride, someone suggested to pray a rosary, but we dropped the idea. On the other day, we again talked about the rosary, and it was then that we first discussed the "Project Rosary for the Shrine in Valais". After that, we went to the Shrine and together prayed the first rosary for this Shrine, During the week in Milwaukee we worked on the "design" of the project and set ourselves the goal to pray 100,000 decades – a contribution to the Capital of Grace of our Lady that she then may use for the construction of the Shrine in Valais. Since a long time the Schoenstatt Family there plans to build a Shrine, and we want to support this with our project."

And then the Holy Father proclaimed a year of the rosary!

How did the project develop? David Fischer: "Most of us returned to Switzerland after the stay in Milwaukee. Back home we tried to find allies for our project. Both the number of persons involved as the number of decades prayed is continuously growing. The words of the Holy Father then of course were a tremendous incentive! Not only that he proclaimed a year of the rosary, his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae helps us to better understand the rosary and discover new treasures."

The web page logically therefore not only provides a Link to download the Apostolic Letter, but also practical instructions on how to pray the rosary, and a collection of quotes about the rosary.

How can the Schoenstatt Boys' Youth so far about the effects of their project, also in their own branch? "Looking back to summer I dare say that we caused a motion then in Milwaukee, and that the circle keeps widening. A lot grew in this time. Young people who did not know this prayer are astonished what this simple prayer can cause, also with them. Others find home to this prayers and feel at home in this simple way of praying."

"More and more I felt how this prayer carried me through my day"

Asked for a concrete testimony from the Boys' Youth, David Fischer responds: "I heard a lot of experiences during this time, but would like to share my own one. Before WYD in Toronto O hardly ever of not never prayed the rosary. I experienced the value of this prayer literally from scratch. More and more I then felt how this prayer carried me through my day and helps me. Even in the most hectic times of my life I can take the time to pray the rosary. Afterwards, work is easier and I feel more at peace. – I would like to thank all those who joined our project. And I would like to invite all the other ones to pray the rosary, for the Shrine in Valais or for something else, does not matter, but to pray the rosary!"

Joining is simple

It's that simple to join, David Fischer explains. Just send the number of decades prayed for the Shrine in Valais to: jungmaenner@schoenstatt.ch

Or downlaod the cards with the rosary, mark a bead for each decade, and when the rosary is complete, send the card to: David Fischer, Gislermatte 11, 6234 Triengen, Schweiz

The Schoenstatt Boys' Youth will keep you informed about the number of decades prayed on the Web Site of the Schoenstatt Movement of Switzerland.

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Last Update: 11.12.2002 14:33 Mail: Editor /Webmaster
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