Jubilee of the Shrine of Light

Thirty Faithful Years of the MTA’s presence in New York

Procesión al Santuario Procession to the Shrine Prozession zum Heiligtum
Misa en la iglesia del Sagrado Corazón Holy Mass at Sacred Heart Church Heilige Messe in der nahegelegenen Herz-Jesu-Kirche
En el ristorante At the restaurant Festessen im Restaurant
Conferencia: Hna Ligia Conference: Sr. Ligia Vortrag von Schw. Ligia
En el Santuario In the Shrine Im Heiligtum Fotos: Sr. M. Irraida Guerra © 2007

USA, Sr. Irraida Guerra. On Sunday, October 21, 2007, the Schoenstatt Family of the East Coast, USA, gathered to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the New York Shrine of Light. The Schoenstatt Shrine in New York is located on Staten Island, the southernmost Borough of the city of millions. The interior of the Shrine is located in an inconspicuous place, the quiet Cary Avenue home of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.

New York City attracts people from all over the world for all different kinds of reasons. Some come looking for work, for a better life, to build the American dream. Others come here in search of New York’s cultural, architectural, and financial riches. Every bridge and every tunnel speaks of its non-stop rhythm of life. During his first visit to New York in 1948, Father Kentenich admired the gigantic bridges and commented: "We must build suspension bridges which do not need many supporting pillars… the new man strives for high ideals without a great many bindings."

Indeed, New York is a city that owns its beauty. However pleasant and attractive it may be, it is understood that many dangers, unpleasant, and ungodly things, lie hidden beneath such beauty. Is there much gratitude for the fact of having a true light in the midst of this darkness? It’s the treasure God has given in the Shrine: The Queen of Light! The Mother of God has established her abode in the Schoenstatt Shrines countless times. She is also present in the home shrines, and heart shrines, and sets out from the Shrines as Pilgrim Mother. In New York she has erected her throne of grace in many homes, parishes, and places of work.

The history of the Shrine, deeply united with Father Kentenich

The history of our Shrine is united deeply with our father and founder during his time in Milwaukee. New York in the 1960s was in turmoil. The great numbers of immigrants coming to New York experienced unrootedness and restlessness. The times unsettled the inner security of everyone who had come to this city and nation searching for a better future. For some of those the experience of the Shrine was a crucial turning point in their lives; it was a home far away from home. For the founding generation of American Schoenstatters, the 1960s were years of discovery and consecration.

Father Carlos Boskamp, a Pallotine Father originally from Schoenstatt’s second founding generation in Germany and later a missionary in Argentina, was an important instrument for the birth of Schoenstatt in New York. He was assigned to All Saints’ Parish in Brooklyn. Through his work, a great longing grew in those who heard about the Shrine and Father Kentenich. They wanted to travel to Milwaukee and see the things they had heard about for themselves. The first trip to Milwaukee was in May, 1963. This was the beginning of a pilgrimage stream. The twenty-one hour trip was not considered a crazy deed anymore. The first ones to go to Milwaukee to encounter the Blessed Mother, the Shrine, and the warm reception from Father Kentenich were the mothers. Then the husbands also went out of curiosity. On this occasion five men went to Milwaukee: one Chilean and four Puerto Ricans. All sealed their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother in the Exile Shrine in the presence of Father Kentenich.

From that time on families very often traveled to Milwaukee. Father Kentenich asked Ramonita Diaz once: "Again?" Love was the motivating power to make such sacrifices. They saved from the little money they had in order to make the trip. For them no sacrifice was too much. The Diaz family from Brooklyn traveled to Milwaukee and presented Father Kentenich their Blessed Mother picture, which he blessed for the first Home Shrine in New York.

A place to stay

The increasing numbers of Schoenstatt people led to problems. It was necessary to find a place to gather. The Diaz family offered their empty apartment for this purpose. It was the first Home Shrine for the local Schoenstatt family and dedicated with the name: Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria – Our Lady of Candlemass.

Soon, however, the Candelaria became too small for the growing number of Schoenstatt members. In the summer of 1965, a house was purchased at 1000 Castleton Avenue on Staten Island. Sister M. Petra Schnuerer was the first Schoenstatt Sister to be permanently stationed in New York At the time, little was suspected that this new house would soon be blessed on an unexpected day of joy.

Father Kentenich’s visit

One week after moving into the new house, the news was received that Father Kentenich would have a long layover at the New York airport. He would stop by on his way to Rome to visit the families. On September 16, 1965, Father Kentenich arrived at Kennedy Airport. The families came to the airport in cars and buses to greet Father on his arrival.

When he arrived at the house on Staten Island, Father Kentenich said: "And what do we want to do today? To dedicate a Home Shrine here. The first Candelaria was the precursor, the forerunner for this, the second Candelaria. And we hope that afterwards as a result of the two Candelarias, there will be a real Shrine as it is over there in Schoenstatt and in Milwaukee."

Years later, on August 15, 1970, at a memorial erected to commemorate Father Kentenich and his visit to New York, a group of couples made their consecration. With this, the Couple’s League was founded. At that time, forty-five couples formed the beginning of the League.

The Shrine

In 1976, a house which had been built as a convent was purchased. The shrine was built into the former chapel of the nuns who originally had lived there. On the day the Schoenstatt Sisters moved in, June 27, 1977, the altar for the shrine arrived. The shrine was dedicated on November 5, 1977, the first and so far the only Shrine in New York City.

September 16, 1979, fourteen years after Father had visited the Schoenstatt family in New York; the crown which he offered to the Blessed Mother during his visit was given to her.

The 1980s were years blessed by the Queen of Light. The crowning stream continued. The Movement gave a scepter to the MTA in November 1985. Retreats, weekends, days of reflection, and youth summer camps all took place during those years. Pilgrimages from Brooklyn were started and families were consecrated to the MTA in the Shrine. From New York the Schoenstatt Movement was also beginning to grow along the East Coast. The first was Massachusetts. The altar for a future Shrine in Massachusetts was stored in New York in the attic of the Shrine of Light and was moved to Westfield in 1984.

The 1990s were years of further expansion. Rays of the Queen of Light spread throughout New York City and beyond to the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and back again to the Boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

Spreading Schoenstatt: Through the Rosary Campaign

The light of the Shrine has reached into all corners of the City through the apostolate of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Members of the Schoenstatt family and many pilgrims as well take the picture of the MTA into homes, parishes, hospitals, jails, schools, and work places. The Campaign has spread as far as North Buffalo, including some areas of Canada.

Jubilee Day

If one can talk about paradise on earth, the MTA let the East Coast Schoenstatt family share a bit of it on Jubilee Day. The weather was perfect as over 300 people gathered from around the East Coast to celebrate. In a nearby grand hall, they began the celebration with a royal breakfast brunch, presentations, and addresses by Sister M Ligia, Father Hector Vega, and testimonies of Schoenstatt members.

A procession to the Shrine for prayer and blessing followed. Then the group proceeded to the newly renovated parish church, Sacred Heart, for a solemn Holy Mass. After the Mass, the participants found their way back to the Shrine, where Pilgrim MTAs were blessed and sent out, and refreshments were served.

Gifts were given, joy was shared, and faith in the Covenant of Love was strengthened by the exchanges between the representatives of the various areas. All were grateful and looked forward to a renewed and blessed future.