Our Patroness, Mary Assumed into Heaven

Each year, the Schoenstatt family supports the celebration of Mary, Assumed into Heaven

Como siempre, la iglesia más grande de la ciudad se llenó... Like each year, the biggest church of the city filled to capacity Wie jedes Jahr ist die größte Kirche der Stadt gefüllt
Todos quieren participar All want to participate Alle sind da
Bendición Blessing Segen
Participantes jovenes Young participants Jugendliche Teilnehmer
Prédica Sermon Ansprache Photos: Boulle © 2008

SOUTH AFRICA, June and Francis Boulle. In 1952 South Africa was placed under the patronage of Our Lady under the title "Assumed into Heaven". At the instigation of a family league group, the Schoenstatt community in Cape Town agreed to organise a major celebration on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of this proclamation for the Archdiocese of Cape Town.

This was done in 2002 with the enthusiastic support of our Archbishop Lawrence Henry. It has become an annual event for the Archdiocese and the celebration this year [2008] was the seventh consecutive time. In South Africa the feast is a Holy Day of Obligation and the celebration was on the following Sunday, August 17^th.

Renewal and Reconciliation in our Church and our Nation

Each year a relevant theme is chosen and our Patroness is petitioned to intercede for special needs related to the theme. This year the theme was "Renewal and Reconciliation in our Church and our Nation". We petitioned about the recent Archdiocesan Synod and it implementation, and for our Nation which has a general election in 2009.

Speakers gave presentations on implementing the Synod and on the state of our country that has problems but also much for which we can be thankful. These talks were preceded by a brief look at what it means to have a patroness such as Mary Assumed into Heaven.

Concrete themes and a full church

In previous years the themes chosen included the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the challenges facing youth, seeking reconciliation and respect in our changing society and giving thanks for the miracles we have experienced.

The format each year is very similar – warm-up singing for 30 minutes as people come into the church, a decade of the rosary, the readings of the feast, brief presentations by speakers, the Archbishop’s address and the service closes with Benediction. A few years ago liturgical dancing was introduced and this has been very well received.

Each year we have been blessed with a full church [the largest in Cape Town] and a congregation that responds and sings with great enthusiasm.