18 September 2023 · 2023-09 newsletter
Update on the Kew Shrine
Through earlier Newsletters, you will know that unfortunately, after more than 71 years, the Schoenstatt Shrine at Kew – the first in Australia – no longer exists as a building. The original MTA picture is now tentatively housed in the Chapel of the Salesian Retreat Centre at Lysterfield on the east side of Melbourne.
The Shrine was blessed on 11th May 1952, by Archbishop Mannix on the property of the Pallottine Fathers’ Community, 85 Studley Park Road, Kew. Fr. Kentenich, our Father and Founder, was alive at the time and wrote a letter to the Schoenstatt Family in Melbourne for this occasion. It is a treasured letter of our Australian Schoenstatt Family.
At that time, Schoenstatt belonged to the Pallottines, and the Shrine remained Pallottine property until the property in Kew was sold earlier this year. The property is now a vacant piece of land, no doubt waiting for developers to begin something new.
The Schoenstatt Family in Melbourne is very grateful to the Pallottine Fathers for their generous hospitality in allowing us to visit the Shrine and hold our celebrations there. They also generously gave us the MTA picture and other non-fixtures in the Shrine. We are now grateful to the Salesians at Lysterfield for offering us a place to store everything until we find another solution.
The decision of the Pallottines to sell the property was naturally a blow to us but we firmly trust that our Mother Thrice Admirable will show us the place where she wants to settle in the future. We ask you to pray that negotiations with a parish to have a home for our MTA in a side Chapel in their Church will prove to be successful. At the moment this appears to be an alternative option until Our Lady shows us further plans.
In the meantime, on Covenant Sunday, August 20, we were able to have our annual celebration and renewed sending out of Pilgrim Mother Coordinators at Lysterfield. We had a beautiful day, beginning with a rosary procession around the courtyard of the retreat centre. Fr. Shane Reade SDB enthused us with a homily during Mass in which he challenged us to move out of our comfort Zones, to go beyond the boundaries which tend to keep us safe rather than allowing us to reach out to those with whom we would not necessarily be in contact. We need to remember that everyone belongs to the Church, everyone is our brother or sister, everyone deserves being recognised in the dignity God gave each one when he created us. Sr. M. Elizabeth, who was visiting from Sydney, was able to refer to this homily as she encouraged us to offer those efforts we make to reach beyond our safe boundaries as contributions to the Capital of Grace.
She further unfolded the challenge Our Lady is giving us at this period in time. With the uncertainty of where we can place her picture and gather as a Schoenstatt Family, we can be sure that our Mother Thrice Admirable is asking us, as she did in the Founding Document to “prove first that you really love me”; “diligently bring me contributions to the Capital of Grace”. We want to do our part “Nothing without us” so that Our Lady will show us where she wants to “dwell among us, distribute graces in abundance, draw youthful hearts to herself and educate them to be instruments in her hands”.
With approximately 70 people present, as the pilgrim mother coordinators were recommissioned, it was clear that if we take our part seriously in filling the Capital of Grace, then Our Lady cannot help but answer our plea to find us the place she has chosen in Melbourne. We invite you to continue praying with us for this intention.
The Schoenstatt Family in Melbourne.
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