From Heaven a Mission continues

The Wacker Homeshrine was delivered to the Movement House in Milwaukee

Santuario en Milwaukeee, St. Philipp Neri, dia de la reapertura St. Philipp Neri Shrine, Milwaukee, day of the reopening Heiligtum von St. Philipp Neri, Milwaukee, am Tag der Wiedereröffnung
Santuario en Milwaukeee, St. Philipp Neri, dia de la reapertura St. Philipp Neri Shrine, Milwaukee, day of the reopening Heiligtum von St. Philipp Neri, Milwaukee, am Tag der Wiedereröffnung Fotos: Schoenstatt Family Magazine © 2007
Santuario Hogar de los Wacker, ahora en el Movement House Homeshrine of the Wacker family, now in the Movement House Hausheiligtum der Familie Wacker, jetzt im Movement House
Grupo de la JM: compromiso con el Santuario Boys’ Youth group: commitment with the re-opened Shrine Gruppe der SMJ: Einsatz für das wiedereröffnete Heiligtum
Santuario en St. Philipp Neri Shrine in St. Philipp Neri Heiligtum in St. Philipp Neri Fotos: Jentz © 2007

USA, Dave and Christi Jentz. What a blessing for the Milwaukee Schoenstatt family to be given the treasure of the Wacker Homeshrine! Joe and Mae Wacker were founding members of the Milwaukee couples group - the so-called Pioneer Couples - along with the Schimmels, Days, Augers, Grabers, Hornings and Mr. Jost . Mae Wacker survived them all by several years; she passed away only last year at the age of 97. They met for many years on Monday nights with Fr. Kentenich at the Movement House in Milwaukee. Their Homeshrine was delivered on February 15, which happens to be Gilbert Schimmel Day, the anniversary of the death of the man who offered himself to be a second Joseph Engling for Father Kentenich and Schoenstatt in the USA. Coincidentally, who observed and promoted this date longer and better than Mae Wacker?

Some have wondered what would happen to the "Sur Sum Corda" Homeshrine. Throughout the years, many Schoenstatt members have visited the Wacker Home Shrine, from all parts of the world. Now we are assured that it is safely placed for future generations to visit.

In January, the regional leaders for the Milwaukee Area Boy’s Youth had planned to meet at the Movement House on February 15^th. They were pleasantly surprised to find that the Wacker Homeshrine was moved there that day.

The Long Lost Shrine

The boys, along with the Men’s College Branch, are currently working on the spiritual renewal of the St. Phillip Neri Shrine, on the north side of Milwaukee. Last October the Phillip Neri Shrine reopened. Here is a report from Milwaukee District Leader, Luke Fenelon, which was written for the winter 2006 edition of the Boys Youth Magazine.

"This past October", 16-year-old Luke writes, "a very special thing happened to the Schoenstatt Movement in not only the Milwaukee area but also the rest of the United States. The long lost shrine, the St. Philip Neri Shrine, was opened up again.

The St. Philip Neri shrine is located on the North side of Milwaukee. It had been closed about 8 years earlier, because the old pastor of the Philip Neri parish did not want it (the shrine is built on parish grounds). When the new janitor started to work there, he asked Fr. Dennis, the new parish priest, if he could fix-up the shrine, because he had gone to school there and had been in a boy’s group and loved the shrine. He saw that the shrine was not in use, and felt it should be fixed up. But the question was where to get furnishings for it, because it would be too expensive to get new ones. That is when Sr. Simonette came with a pilgrimage and saw the janitor working on it, and she offered the use of the old furnishings. So then the school janitor, Mr. Horn, Mr. Gall, and Sr. Simonette put the furnishings back in, and fixed it up to make it respectable.

Then on October 15, the Schoenstatt Movement from the Milwaukee area had Mass at the Schoenstatt Center and then went over to the Philip Neri Shrine for Benediction and a rededication ceremony. Fr. Dennis, the janitor and a few other people from the parish came along and participated in the benediction and rededication.

Now instead of having only 2 two shrines in Father’s Exile place we now have three again. It is a great place to have a shrine too, because it is in a rough neighborhood and if we show how much we love this place of grace, we can for sure bring more people into the Shrine.

That is about it for the story, but I have a request for you. My group, the Ver Sacrum Crusaders of the MTA, had an idea. If every time we say an Our Father for the Philip Neri shrine, we could put a nickel, dime, or quarter, if we are feeling generous, and bring all the change together and save it up for a Ver Sacrum light which is missing from the shrine. If you would like to help, start saving up those Our Father’s in a jar and give it to Father Mark or me when you see one of us next. But remember it will take a lot of prayers to buy a Ver Sacrum light, so this will be quite a long project. Thank you!"

A rosary for each day the shrine was closed

Since then, Luke is glad to relate that the original Phillip Neri Shrine Ver Sacrum Light has been found and it only needs to be re-gilded. The Ver Sacrum Crusaders of the MTA are seeing to its restoration.

That evening, when the homeshrine of the Wacker family came home to the Movement House, the boys received a satin band with the motto "+ FOR YOU MARY REKINDLE THE VER SACRUM+". Those who wear the ribbon promise to bring contributions to capital of grace for the St. Phillip Neri Shrine, and to help the university men. They have promised to pray a rosary for every day that the St. Phillip Neri Shrine was closed. It was closed almost eight years.

They received their ribbons in front of the Wacker Homeshrine. Pioneer faithfulness and youthful enthusiasm, hand in hand…