Entrevista de la radio regional con el Padre Franz Widmaier, sobre costumbres navideños Interview of the regional radio wiht Fr. Franz Widmaier about Christmas figures and traditions Interview  für SWF und RPR mit Pater Franz Widmaier über Weihnachtsbräuche und -figuren
Brigitte Allan (centro), Los Angeles, misionera de la Campaña, con su hija y con Levinia Pienaar, Sudáfrica Brigitte Allan (center), Los Angeles, coordinator of the Rosary Campaign, with her daughter, and Levinia Peinar, South Africa Brigitte Allan (Mitte) aus Los Angeles, Verantwortliche der Kampagne der Pilgenden Gottesmutter, mit ihrer Tochter und Levinia Pienaar, Südafrika
La corona de adviento en la Iglesia de la Adoración The advent wreath in the Adoration Church Adventskranz in der Anbetungskirche
El pesebre en la Iglesia de la Adoración, casi listo The crib scenery in the Adoration Church, almost done Die Krippe in der Anbetungskirche ist fast fertig
El Santuario Original el 18 de diciembre The Original Shrine on December 18 Das Urheiligtum am 18. Dezember, mit Raureif bedeckt
El interior del Santuario, 18 de diciembre Inside the Original Shrine on December 18 Im Urheiligtum am 18. Dezember
Celebración de la Alianza: una canción de Latinoamérica Covenant celebration: a song from Latin America Bündnisfeier: ein Lied aus Südamerika
Jovenes: aportes al capital de gracias Youth filling in the slips of paper with their contributions to the capital of grace Jugendliche beim Ausfüllen der Zettel mit den Beiträgen zum Gnadenkapital Fotos: POS Fischer © 2003

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Schoenstatt is preparing for Christmas. In the Original shrine, the first poinsettias - typical German Christmas flowers - are to be seen, while in the Adoration church, next to the big advent wreath, the crib scenery is growing: the stable is already there, doors closed, and the shepherds are already walking… Not only the shepherds are walking towards the crib; those who want to spend Christmas in Schoenstatt are also coming.

"We are Christmas at home", said Brigitte Allan from Los Angeles, although she and her daughter could only stay just a day. Christmas is each day in the Shrine. For Christmas, visitors from South Africa, Chile, France, Mexico are coming, also a bigger group from Japan who want to spend Christmas in Schoenstatt.

On December 17, a reporter of the regional radio station came to take an interview for a program on Christmas; it was possible to pass on a lot of the message of Christmas as the celebration of God's unconditional love, and to speak about the "Ten minutes by the crib" to start again at December 26. Last year, over 10,000 visitors came during the Christmas season. "It's praying with those who cannot pray", someone said. It's praying with the figures of the crib, praying with the names of loved ones on stars, praying with songs and beauty and Marian atmosphere.

In the Adoration Church, each day at 3:00 pm the O-Antiphon - Christmas novena is sung and prayed. On December 18, Covenant Day, Fr Hüppi invited all to pray for those who today renew the Covenant and celebrate the 18^th as Schoenstatt's Covenant Day.

I realize how many people have filled my life with their love

It was pretty cold on December 18, with sun and bright blue skies during the day and stars at night... what reminds of the "stars" that will soon come in again, from the thousands of visitors of the "Ten Minutes" and from all over the world. Last year, inspired by the idea of a missionary in Paraná, Argentina, Tita Ríos, "My star by the Crib" was born: hundreds of persons sent thousands of names of their loved ones via internet to be written on paper stars and placed in the Original Shrine, the Founder Chapel, and to be present during the Midnight Mass in the Holy Night in Schoenstatt. All the stars with the names will be taken to the holy places of Schoenstatt on December 24. Mails with names for the stars already came in from USA, Germany, Argentina, Chile. "I wrote the list and it became very long, I realize how many people have filled my life with their love. How generous is God with me! - This is sure already a fruit of the stars in the Shrine," wrote Patricia Petersen who learned about the stars in Schoenstatt through a friend.

"I visited the website as I do it each second or third day, and I saw th news about the stars. It would be a tremendous joy if you could place a star (I send a photo!!) of my family in the Original Shrine, and especially in the Founder Chapel, where I could be for over an hour in 2000", reads a letter from Cordoba, Argentina.

Signs of God's love everywhere

Like each evening of the 18^th, the local united in the Adoration Church to renew the Covenant. Thanks to the volunteers from Mount Sion and from the houses in Mount Schoenstatt, and Sonnenau, from Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Hungary, Romania, Argentina, Ecuador, and the students of the Schoenstatt Fathers and Sisters studying German in Schoenstatt, the congregation was a real international family.

At the beginning, Father Penners mentioned the recent blessing of the Schoenstatt Shrine in Lima, Peru. The texts of the celebration tonight were about Christmas today, from the shrine and the Heart shrine of each. Father Penners said that these days, if we use them in the right way, are full of signs of God's love that we receive and pass on. Each card, letter, Christmas tree, gift, song or cookie a sign of God's love.

He also mentioned that not only the cold but the whole advent situation would remind of the great event we celebrated on December 8, the corner stone laying for the Rome Shrine. Something new began with this day, with this act awaited in years. Not only were involved the 300 or so present but many, many more, as shown by the many mails that came to Rome these days. "We hope that the time between the corner stone laying and the blessing on September 8 will be a holy time for the entire family."

With the celebration continuing, a girl from Romania sang a song from her country, while the participants put sheets of paper with the contributions to the capital of grace into the jars. Then, all renewed the Covenant of Love, uniting with the thousands and thousands who in the Shrines and wayside shrines today renew their covenant love. At the end, some sisters and girls from Latin America sang a song, and all processed out to the fire, despite the cold! And one could sense … soon is Christmas!

If you want to send the names of your loved ones to be written on a star, write a mail to: sr.kornelia@schoenstatt.de, with "My star by the crib" in the subject line.

There will be no updates of schoenstatt.de between December 24 and January 8, except one after Christmas. The newsletter service will continue and keep you updated with the current news from Schoenstatt.