Celebrating Family with Nicholas!

For most of the world, this is a place of boots, spurs, and saddles…but for St. Nicholas, its just another stop on his annual trip around the world. What will he find when he reaches the Schoenstatt Families in TEXAS?

Estudiantes del Colegio de Schoenstatt hacen un teatro sobre San Nicolás Students of the Schoenstatt Collegium put on a play about St. Nicholas Schüler der Schönstatt-Schule beim Nikolaus-Spiel
Lisa Zygmont, cantando en la dedicación del Santuario Hogar Lisa Zygmont shares her talent in opera singing at the dedication of her family’s home shrine Lisa Zygmont ist Opersängerin – sie singt zur Einweihung des Hausheiligtums
David Casey como Nicolás joven Schoenstatt Collegium student David Casey plays the part of St. Nicholas as a young man David Casey spielt den jungen Nikolaus
Unos de los chicos cantan con sus padres Some of the children gather with their families to sing songs and encounter St. Nicholas Einige Kinder singen Lieder mit ihren Eltern
Sally Robb preparando un calendario de adviento con su hijo Samuel Schoenstatt Collegium mother Sally Robb makes a special Advent calendar with her 5 year old son Samuel Sally Robb bastelt mit ihrem Sohn Samuel einen Adventskalender Photos: Patrick Hamilton © 2005

USA, Andrew Arriaga. At the beginning of every December, most people in the USA are already "celebrating" Christmas, buying lights, a tree, CDs of Christmas carols, presents, and other decorations. Unfortunately, this atmosphere our neighbors are busily creating in their home will vanish on December 26. But this Advent finds Schoenstatt families in Austin, in Covenant with the Blessed Mother, creating an atmosphere that will last for a lifetime.

As soon as the twelfth month of the year begins, its time for St. Nicholas to prepare his trip to the earth. He has to gather nuts, pick fruits, buy candy, and bake cookies, sew bags and put everything together with nice ribbons. His angel helpers assist him, so that on the night before his feast day, the good bishop is ready to begin his tour of the world. At each house where the children have faithfully left their clean shoes out for him, especially at houses where the children have left notes for the Christ Child, Nicholas stops and leaves his presents. Then he returns to Heaven, carrying the notes of the children to Baby Jesus, and then he stays there for another 365 days. This year, though, there was a difference.

This year, St. Nicholas made a special early visit to Texas, to pop in on the Schoenstatt Family branch in Austin. They had gathered inside the Schoenstatt Center, at the site of the future "Shrine of Bethlehem, Cradle of Sanctity". They had gathered to learn how to make their homes into Shrines, where the Holy Family can always knock and find a place to stay, where Christ can be born again into today’s world. Several times each week, in fact, parents whose children are enrolled in the Collegium—a school based on Schoenstatt spirituality—come together for these "Colloquium" meetings. One of the fruits of these meetings came Sunday morning, as the Zygmont family joyfully dedicated their homeshrine.

To celebrate Nicholas the man, and his love, and for him to encourage us to prepare our hearts for Baby Jesus

Meanwhile, St. Nicholas had finished preparations for his afternoon audience in Texas with the Schoenstatt Families. Entering the small, comfortable living room of the house, he heard singing, and saw so many people that there was not enough room for them in the next room. As he walked into the crowd of about 40 children and their parents, and made his way to the throne they had prepared for him, he saw the smiling faces, and he knew they weren’t only seeing the possibility of sweets and goodies. He could see that they really understood that he was a saint, a person who had changed the world with love.

St. Nicholas joined in the celebrations, calling different groups of people to the front: a family, candidates for confirmation in the Catholic Church, student leaders. St. Nicholas brought the families greetings from Heaven, from Fr. Kentenich and of course from the Blessed Mother. He reminded them to keep preparing a place for Baby Jesus in their homes and hearts, so that through our kindness and love, the world can experience the presence of God. Even after he returned to Heaven, the families gathered there continued to sing and pray, united with the youth, the Sisters, and the Fathers (including a birthday song for Fr. Jesus Ferras, who just arrived to join Fr. Cristian and Fr. Jonathan in the new Austin house community of the Fathers). Afterward, they went outside to fry fish and chips and enjoy the atmosphere of love and trust, while the sun set on the beautiful hill.

Your Shrine, our Bethlehem

Advent’s second week was just beginning. Soon St. Nicholas will be back to fill our shoes, on his annual night trip. And because our Lady educates us, and is present in our midst with her Son, we know that St. Nicholas will not just be going into houses; he will be visiting Shrines.

Most Americans are going to the mall to ask Santa Claus for toys, but our Schoenstatt way here is something really new for Texas and very meaningful. To celebrate Nicholas the man, and his love, and for him to encourage us to prepare our hearts for Baby Jesus. The atmosphere was so strong that some of us felt like it was really a little bit of

heaven. The atmosphere is so warm. The shrine is there, even though its not built yet. Its wonderful: Bethlehem.