Founding Sister of Schoenstatt in Scotland

Sr M Xavera Deininger , Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, 1920 - 2008

Pioneras Pioneers Pioniere Fotos: Fr. Michael Savage © 2008

SCOTLAND, Fr. Michael Savage. Sr Xavera Deininger died on Holy Saturday the 22nd March 2008 at the age of 87; she was the founding Sister of Schoenstatt in Scotland.

In Scotland we are very aware of how Scots have travelled to other countries, settled and contributed greatly to the peoples of those places. Even in these days of mass immigration we are sometimes less aware how the same process works in reverse. In the cold dank days of January 1962 a little German sister arrived in Scotland by way of South Africa. Sr Xavera Deininger of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary had been given the task by the German Bishops to look after the German speaking community who had settled in Britain after the war. It was an apostolate she threw herself into regularly travelling to the Northern most tip of Scotland down as far south as Manchester.

Serving

She was joined a few years later by Sr Vincentas. Working together the two of them helped re-establish family and cultural links to many who had been displaced or cut off from home in a post war Europe divided by the iron curtain. Ardmory house on the south side of Glasgow became the centre and home for their work. She liaised with the German Conciliate in Edinburgh especially Herr Boehonke who was based there for many years. Her work was recognised in April 1993 when she received the Bundesverdienst Kreuz from the German Government for her work with the German community. Sr Xavera was an antidote to everyone who nursed images of teutonic efficiency. She went about her work with spirit and gusto. Behind this indomitable spirit was deep sense of love for those she came to serve and for the people of Scotland with whom she lived and grew to know over 46 years.

She was born in Schwabia in the south of Germany on the 23 April 1920 in Abtsgmund the daughter of Xaver and Bertha. She was one of four children which along with herself included Gertrude, Elizabeth and Maria, a family who treasured their Catholic faith. Maria is the last surviving sister. In the late 1930s her calling in life was given shape and form by Fr Kentenich the founder of the Schoenstatt Movement. She entered the Schoenstatt sisters as the war broke out. Despite a heart condition she volunteered to go to South Africa during the 1950s and when the request came from the German Bishops to establish the a German apostolate in Scotland she again made herself available.

The grace of having a home

Throughout the years along with her work for the German community she also carried on her Schoenstatt mission. In many ways it tied in with her German community work. The modern world suffers from a sense of physical and spiritual dislocation and homelessness. Through a deep love of Mary Schoenstatt tries to create places where people could feel a real sense of being at home. The out come of this apostolate is the Schoenstatt retreat and conference centre at Campsie Glen. With the thousands of people who visit the shrine and centre annually it has proved a crowning achievement for a little sister with a big heart and an indomitable faith.

Sr Xaver's remains when they are released will remain in the Shrine at Campsie Glen until 11.30 am on Tuesday 1st April. From there they will be transferred to the Church for the funeral mass.

The Funeral will take place on Tuesday 1st April 2008 at St Machen's Catholic Church in Lennoxtown. at 12.00 noon.
Archbbishop Mario Conte of Glasgow will be the main concelebrant. Sr Xavera will be buried in the sisters graveyard in grounds of the Schoenstatt centre.

For more information contact: (Scotland) 01360 312718