This weekend at Schoenstatt

60^th anniversary of the Tabor Shrine in Santa Maria, "Forum of the future" of the German Schoenstatt Movement, Anniversary of Joseph’s Kentenich’s consecration to the Blessed Mother in Oberhausen…

Foro de futuro del Movimiento de Schoenstatt de Alemania „Future Forum“ of the German Schoenstatt Movement „Zukunftsforum“ der deutschen Schönstatt-Bewegung Foto: Zukunfstforum © 2008
Orfanato en Oberhausen Orphanage in Oberhausen Waisenhaus in Oberhausen Foto: Schulte © 2008

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. On Saturday April 12, 2008 at five thirty p.m. when the rosary will be prayed again in the Original Shrine, many people will again join spiritually from their Shrines, wayside shrines and Home Shrines. Connected by the Covenant of Love, prayers will be offered for the intentions of everyone who sent their petitions "to the Original Shrine"; and prayers will also be offered for everything that is taking place around the Original Shrine and the daughter shrines in the entire world.

About 160 representatives of the German Schoenstatt Family will meet beginning on Friday for the "Forum of the future", where they will try to discover how God wants to guide the Movement in the country of origin during the next years. This encounter was prepared by representatives from the different Schoenstatt associations and communities along with Father Lothar Penner, Director of the Movement.

April 12, 1894: consecration of the young boy, Joseph Kentenich, to Mary

April 12^th is the anniversary of the consecration of the young boy, Joseph Kentenich to the Blessed Mother at the orphanage in Oberhausen.

For the second consecutive time the Schoenstatt Family from Oberhausen extends an invitation for a journey at Saint Vincent House (Vincenzhaus), the orphanage where Father Joseph Kentenich was consecrated to Mary as a young boy. During this journey the stage of his life that occurred here, from 1984 to 1899, will be recalled. After the Journey of Oberhausen 2007 the life and work of his mother, Katharina Kentenich was studied, this year the reflection will about the "young Joseph" in the orphanage, the opportunities for academic formation that he had then and his development. The purpose is to see how the experiences Joseph Kentenich had here influenced his pedagogy. Father Elmar Busse will be the presenter.

A beautiful coincidence is that the day afterwards, April 13^th, the blessing of future parents will be held again in the Shrine of Memhoelz.

60^th Anniversary of the Shrine of Santa Maria, Brazil

In Santa Maria, Brazil, all the Schoenstatt Family of the country – and beyond its boundaries – will celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of Tabor Shrine.

The Shrine was completely restored: the altar, the altar piece, and the pews. It is very beautiful! A memorial of the Letter of Santa Maria was built in the center of the garden which is beside the Shrine. The text of the letter written by the Father and Founder in Santa Maria on April 15, 1948 and addressed to Father Tick and the first couples of the Schoenstatt Family Branch was etched on bronze and placed on a large stone.. It is known as the Founding Document of the Family Work.

An unexpected gift was that the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Lorenzo Baldisseri, will visit Santa Maria especially for the celebration of the Shrine. The Schoenstatters are very happy, since celebrating the anniversary of the Shrine with the presence of the Pope’s representative is like a "confirmation from Heaven" for the great mission that Schoenstatt has for the Church in Brazil as well as in the entire world. A mission that went out from this Shrine and that conquered all the Land of Santa Cruz" so that Brazil and the world will be transformed into a Tabor of Christ and of Mary.

In Schoenstatt, the anniversary of the Letter of Santa Maria will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 15^th with a solemn Holy Mass in the Shrine of Families, at the usual time: 6:00 p.m.

50^th Anniversary of the Focolare Movement in Germany

On April 17^th a symposium for the 5oth Anniversary of the German Focolare Movement will be celebrated in Berlin, Germany. Congratulations!

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA