Schoenstatt will open a Marian Shrine and International Center in Rome

Press Release

With various celebrations which will include an audience with Pope John Paul II, 2,500 foreign pilgrims of the Schoenstatt Movement will participate in the blessing and inauguration of the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable which is the first phase of construction for the future International Center of the apostolic movement in Rome.

The celebrations will begin on September 8^th when Pope John Paul II’s Vicar to Rome, Cardinal Camilo Ruini, blesses the Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt with the title Matri Ecclesiae.

Prior, on the night of September 7^th, there will have been a vigil of prayer on the Vatican Gardens led by Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Commission for the Laity.

After benediction, the participants will visit the Shrine for the first time and later there will be a "serenade" in honor of Mary.

On September 9^th at Castelgandolfo, according to the organizers of the event, the audience with the Holy Father will take place. The initial vigil and the encounter with John Paul II want to serve as a major sign of commitment with the Church and the Vicar of Christ.

After the papal audience, the closing of the triduum will take place with the celebration of Holy Mass presided over by Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz, Archbishop of Santiago, Chile and President of the Latinamerican Episcopal Conference (CELAM).

The Shrine is located at Via de Boccea at the intersection with Via Santa Gemma Casalotti.

An old wish of the Founder

The Schoenstatt Movement founded on October 18, 1914 is the oldest of the Movements founded in the past century. Its main headquarters is in the German locality of Schoenstatt, its place of foundation.

Although present in Rome since 1960, it is now that an old wish of the Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, becomes a reality. During the fourth session of Vatican Council II, Father Kentenich, who was present in Rome, traced the great pathways of the Movement for the postconsiliar phase.

It is in this context which marks the importance of being present in the physical center of the Church and in closeness to the Pope. Inspired with the title "Mary, Mother of the Church" Pope Paul VI entrusted to the maternal hands of Mary the fruits of the Council. The Founder indicated the task of his Work: to work so that Mary be—according to the order of her Son—the Mother and Educator of the Church, the Family of God in the world.

Translation from Spanish: Carlos Cantú, LaFeria, Texas, USA