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February in Schoenstatt
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2008-02-08

It is alive again at the Original Shrine…

February in Schoenstatt

 

Ein Spaziergang durch Schönstatt am 7. Februar

Un paseo por Schoenstatt, 7 de febrero

A walk through Schoenstatt on February 7

Ein Spaziergang durch Schönstatt am 7. Februar

 

Am Urheiligtum blühen die Schneeglöckchen

Campanillas blancas frente del Santuario Original

Snowdrops in front of the Original Shrine

Am Urheiligtum blühen die Schneeglöckchen

Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008

 
Heilige Messe in Polnisch im Heiligtum der Familien  

Santa Misa en polaco en el Santuario de Familias

Holy Mass in Polish in the Shrine of the Families

Heilige Messe in Polnisch im Heiligtum der Familien

Foto: Sr Damiana Czogalla © 2008

 
Kreuzweg am Aschermittwoch  

Via Crucis, Miercoles de Ceniza

Stations of the Cross, Ash Wednesday

Kreuzweg am Aschermittwoch

Foto: Melissa Ann Schmid © 2008

 
Die Internationale Auxiliar der Kampagne ist nicht beim Lichter-Rosenkranz dabei, weil sie in Burundi unterwegs ist  

La Tercera  Auxiliar Internacional de la Campaña en Burundi

The International Auxiliary of the Campaign in Burundi

Die Internationale Auxiliar der Kampagne ist nicht beim Lichter-Rosenkranz dabei, weil sie in Burundi unterwegs ist

Foto: Sr. Lisette Seitzer © 2008

 
 

Fuente en la Casa Sonnenau, en memoria de la Hermana Lisann

Fountain in House Sonnenau, in memory of Sr Lisann

Brunnen in der Sonnenau, zum Gedenken an Schw. Lisann Brunnen in der Sonnenau, zum Gedenken an Schw. Lisann

Foto: POS Fischer © 2008

Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

 
   

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. The snowdrops at the Original Shrine are as always the first to proclaim far and wide that spring is in the air on this sunny, quiet February day in Schoenstatt. The Lenten season has begun especially early this year – February 2nd , the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord left one last lingering sound of the Christmas bells. Then five days later, Ash Wednesday had already come. With snowdrops the frist pilgrims, walkers and visitors have come… Gilgenborn, the pedestrian walking path from Vallendar to Schoenstatt, sometimes seems to be a pilgrims’ way. Jesus is inviting all to come!

And they came. On the first weekend in Lent – over 100 mothers from the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart were the first to participate in a retreat in this year. The theme of their Schoenstatt retreat was: Mary – Woman of Good Relationships. As she was present at the Wedding of Cana and was instrumental in Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine, so too is Mary present everywhere today offering her love and empathy to her children. She is an observant woman; a woman who sees where distress lies – distress that is hidden to the naked eye and that society has no mercy for. Inconspicuously, she establishes good relationships all over the world – from person to person, from Earth to Heaven and vice versa. In her presence, it is easier to be open to God and His love. Petitions, prayer encounters, spiritual songs, and sharing create the perfect atmosphere for a person to discover his life in terms of the Schoenstatt spirituality.

As is the case every year, Schoenstatt offers many opportunities to prepare for Easter and more importantly to reflect and pray: retreats for First Communion children and their parents, retreats for catechesis candidates, Stations of the Cross (every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.), Reflection retreats, various other retreats, and many more offer people the chance to grow spiritually during this time. Among the many "novelties" is the Healing Week in House Marienau. This retreat will be facilitated by Anette Philipps, Lenten Course Leader in the Fasting Center Hörstel (Samaritan Movement), and Father Egon Zillekens, Priest and Guesthouse Rector in Marienau.

An International Place of Pilgrimage

Last Sunday, February 10th, some Latin American priests from the Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests Institute arrived in Schoenstatt and will be spending two weeks here. Fr. Mauricio Torres Marin wrote, "This is my first time visiting the Original Shrine – what grace!" On February 13th, there will be a Holy Mass said in Polish in the Family Shrine; this particular Mass takes place every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Stations of the Cross precede the Mass. Along with the recurring 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon Spanish Mass in House Sonnenau, the Polish Mass is one of the very few regularly scheduled foreign language liturgical celebrations language to correspond with the high number of Non-German-speaking visitors coming to Schoenstatt week by week. The majority of the events are conducted in the German language. The Mass scheduled for Wednesday, March 12th, will take place in a larger setting in Schoenstatt to accommodate the concluding celebrations of the Polish Mission Retreat from Koblenz. The Family Shrine where the Mass usually is celebrated is too small, and therefore, the Stations of the Cross (6:30 p.m.) and the Holy Mass (7:00 p.m.) will take place in the Pilgerkirche.

On Ash Wednesday, a small group of seven people gathered together in the Pilgerkirche to pray the Way of the Cross. "I sincerely wanted to invite a married couple from Portugal, who are currently staying in House Sonnenau and in Schoenstatt for a time of reflection," noted Melissa Schmid from the USA, "However, they cannot speak German. Maybe Schoenstatt could offer a Stations of the Cross in other languages. That would be beautiful!" On the afternoon of February 23rd at 4:00 p.m. the multi-language Illuminated Rosary will take place. This special rosary invites each participant to come forward and offer his or her prayer intentions and pray the Hail Mary in his or her Mother tongue, which brings together many different languages. "Whenever we notice that participants from other countries are present, we incorporate the international aspect into the presentation," remarked Martina Rasch from the Schoenstatt Community of Working Women.

Remembering Sister M. Lisann

February 22nd marks the 1-year anniversary of the death of Sister M. Lisann. A few weeks after her passing, a beautifully designed fountain to commemorate her dedication to House Sonnenau was constructed in the lobby of the house. On Sunday, February 24th, a Memorial Mass in the Pilgerkirche (10:30 a.m.) will be celebrated. Father Raphael Azarias K. Benuyenah, Coordinator of the Priest Seminar in Cape Coast, Ghana, writes, "I will certainly celebrate my Holy Mass here in Sister Lisann’s honor on the 24th as well. She was like a mother to me when I was in Schoenstatt to make my Covenant of Love."

A Farther Glance

A glance farther out in time, on the first weekend in March, marks an exciting event in Schoenstatt. The Solemn Reception of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary is scheduled for March 2nd. A full program for the youth is planned for the Saturday before the reception. Among the young women who will be entering the Sisters of Mary Community is the first novice from Kenya. Despite the difficult conditions in Kenya, roughly 15 colleagues and friends from the Schoenstatt Movement will come to Schoenstatt to participate in this event.

Looking beyond Vallendar-Schoenstatt, one finds many activities at other Schoenstatt locations as well. Last Thursday, the bishops from the South-West Germany Dioceses gathered together in the Oberkirch Schoenstatt Center. In Argentina, the Sion Festival in the Sion Shrine of the Schoenstatt Fathers will mark the beginning of Schoenstatt life in the country after the long summer break - one of the quaint attractions in the Sion Shrine is the Introduction of the Postulates, which occurs every other year.

In Burundi, the International Auxiliary of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign will visit the first Shrine in the country (located in Mutumba) on February 17th. Father Deogratias Marakuhiro writes, "Now, we have a program for many visitors here in our country and throughout the countries along the Great Lake – Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Kenya as well requests a visit from the Pilgrim MTA. The first visit is of course the Shrine in Mutumba on the 17th. The bishop is very happy about the message of this precious picture. We hope that many people from many countries come, especially Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. We trust that the visits of the Auxiliary will promote peace in our countries. It is a joy to know that several friends of the Campaign in Argentina are already following the footsteps of the Auxiliary carrying prayers with them for the Capital of Grace. She is the Great Missionary; she will work many miracles, including the miracle of peace!"

Translation: Melissa Ann Schmid, USA

 

 

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