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February 15, 2020

Greetings from the Confidentia Shrine,

After having made her covenant of love recently, a lady touched by the experience told us that she felt like an apostolic rocket! This is exactly what our year’s motto tells us: Joyful Apostles, Living the Covenant! The coordinators of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother are such apostolic rockets. This month we feature a witness by Anita Mitchel from the Fort Worth diocese.

But not only coordinators of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother are apostolic rockets! By virtue of our baptism and covenant of love, we are all called to be apostolic in being and acting. Forty-five years ago, on February 10, 1975, the canonization process of Father Kentenich was begun. Often, we wonder and are also asked, why does it take so long? We may imagine some of the obstacles and may have heard talks by the postulator. Ultimately however, the question why doesn’t get us very far. Father Kentenich would advise us to ask what for instead.  We remember that St. John Paul II told us that we are to canonize our father and founder! And how do we do it? By making him better known and loved as an intercessor in our needs. Who of us doesn’t know a person who is in great need?! Perhaps it’s an illness, or marriage difficulties, a job loss, or trouble with a wayward child. Yes, we promise our prayer, but couldn’t we also give them a novena booklet to ask for Father Kentenich’s intercession? There are novenas for children, youth, and adults. All we have to do is get an assortment from our local centers and then be alert to discover those who may find a companion and intercessor in Father Kentenich.

And of course, after we know that Father Kentenich has indeed interceded in a particular need, we want to say thank you to him. And how do we do it? By taking the time to report when and how it happened:

1. Describe the need – What was the problem?
2. Prayer and trust in Father Kentenich – What did I do?
3. Answered prayer – How did Father Kentenich?

Don’t write a long list, but credible proof with place, date, and your signature. This is how you and we contribute to Father Kentenich’s canonization and at the same time are apostolic rockets: all in virtue of the covenant of love.

With greetings from the Confidentia Shrine,

Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary   

Greetings from the Confidentia Shrine and Happy New Year!

The new decade and year are just two weeks old and we may still be in the habit of writing 2019 on our checks and letters. But let’s take a closer look at 2020 since we can discover a lot of meaning in it.

To have 20/20 vision means to see clearly without lenses. The 20/20 TV news magazine proudly claims that their reports give clarity of insight. And those of us old enough may remember Johnny Nash for his 1972 lyrics: “I can see clearly now; the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day!”

What message bears the Year 2020 for us as Joyful Apostles Living the Covenant? We recall that our father and founder, Joseph Kentenich, came to a decision on January 20, 1942, which is difficult to understand at first sight. Indeed, it took more than 20/20 vision for his followers to align themselves with his death-leap of faith to go to the concentration camp in Dachau and not to take advantage of another physical exam which may have declared him unfit for camp due to his advanced age and a lung disease. Only with a supernatural vision and a profound faith in God’s providence can one muster the courage to act against one’s nature and the advice of all his friends and counselors, to freely choose a life of hardship, starvation, and perhaps even death.

And what’s the message for us? As joyful apostles living the covenant, we are invited to deepen our covenant of love and to make the supernatural vision of our founder our own. This new level of surrender will have an effect on our daily life. This month’s example of a joyful apostle living the covenant can inspire all of us.

With greetings from the Confidentia Shrine,

Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary

November 15, 2019

Greetings from the Confidentia Shrine!

Almost a month has gone by since many of us gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this shrine! What a glorious day it was! People came from all over Texas and beyond to give thanks to the Triune God for the gift of Schoenstatt and for the first Schoenstatt Shrine on Texan soil. We prayed, played, enjoyed a delicious meal, and visited with one another just like family. And we truly are a family united in the covenant of love. This was a reality many shared with us during the day as well as in their messages afterwards. We sisters give thanks to all who came and continue coming to the shrine and we thank especially for the countless volunteers and benefactors who made the jubilee an unforgettable blessed feast.

Shortly before the shrine jubilee, the delegates of the league branches gathered in the shadow of the Confidentia Shrine for a weekend of sharing, learning, and discerning. As always, this convention aimed at finding the motto which will guide the Texas Schoenstatt Family throughout the coming year.  The delegates took their responsibility seriously. They were inspired by the fact that next year we will commemorate the centennial of the Apostolic League of Schoenstatt and also the centennial of the first women joining Schoenstatt. After a few hours of deliberations in small group discussions and a plenary session, the core team, consisting of a representative from each of the league branches met after an hour of adoration to formulate the motto which reads: Joyful Apostles, Living the Covenant!

Throughout the year we will ponder different aspects of this beautiful motto; so please stay tuned! For now, please don’t forget to honor our founder, Father Joseph Kentenich whose birthday we will celebrate tomorrow with a sign of gratitude for having been the first joyful apostle to live the covenant of love!

Happy Thanksgiving to y’all,

Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary

October 15, 2019

Greetings from the Confidentia Shrine!

In just a few days, on October 18, we will gather with the international Schoenstatt Family to renew our covenant of love with our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt. Most of us will do so in the home shrine or with the local Schoenstatt Family at a wayside shrine. Some of us have the privilege to be close to a daughter shrine. Wherever we will be, the Blessed Mother, our covenant partner is awaiting us.

It may be a few months or more than fifty years since we sealed our covenant of love with her in the shrine and if we are sincerely living out of this relationship, then we surely have a story to tell of the countless nudges, signs of consolation, and encouragement we have received. Father Kentenich liked to talk about “the covenant of love with one another and among one another”. He also interpreted the relationship between the Schoenstatt Family and the Church as a covenant of love. Dilexit Ecclesiam, Beacon on the New Shore! Every day anew, our annual motto encourages us to love the Church as Father Kentenich did, and by our witness light the way for our darkened world.

In only four days, on Saturday, October 19, 2019, we will gather to celebrate the sixty years of our MTA, our Queen of Confidence’s faithfulness, to her shrine and the Texas Schoenstatt Family. This first Schoenstatt Shrine on Texan soil was built with countless contributions to the capital of grace and the sure confidence that she wanted to settle here and dispense abundant graces.

“With certainty, the key to unlock the heart of the Blessed Mother is confidence.” These words of Father Kentenich can be experienced daily in our shrine. Please come and join us in thanking the Triune God for the gift of our shrine and the covenant of love.

Looking forward to welcoming you!

Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary