14 October 2022 · 2022-10 newsletter
The 31st August, was a significant day in our Australian Schoenstatt history. It was the 70th Anniversary of the death of Sr. M. Bonitas. Apart from the Sisters, most of us would have not been aware of this. However, it seems appropriate to mention this now, in this the month of the founding of Schoenstatt. You may wonder why? Sr. Bonitas was one of the first four Schoenstatt Sisters to come to Australia in 1951 and although she was here for only a short time before she died, she helped lay the foundation for Schoenstatt in Australia and without that foundation we would not have the Schoenstatt Family and the shrines that we have today.
After she became ill, Sr. Bonitas freely offered her life to God and Our Lady for our father and founder, the Shrine in Melbourne (which was under construction at that time) and for a genuine Schoenstatt in Australia. God accepted the offer of Sr. Bonitas and she died on 31st August 1952.
Her life exemplified the true spirit of Schoenstatt– her loyalty to Father Kentenich, her deep love for our Blessed Mother and her commitment to building up Schoenstatt in Australia.
In one of the corners of the Sister’s property at Mt. Schoenstatt a “Bonitas Corner” was erected. This is a small wayside shrine in commemoration of Sr. Bonitas and her Marian mission and her sacrifice for Schoenstatt and for a Schoenstatt Shrine in Australia.
In 1978 her remains were transferred to the Sisters cemetery at Mt. Schoenstatt, Mulgoa where she now rests close to the shrine.
Sr. Bonitas had a simple and practical belief in Divine Providence. She would say “Everything is mapped out in God’s plan”. As a genuine child of the father she followed in loyalty the guidance of Divine Providence and served the plan of the Heavenly Father in selfless motherliness. Sr. Bonitas gave herself for Schoenstatt in Australia. She showed by her life, the importance of love for Our Lady, the Shrine and our father and founder.
May we follow her example and that of all those who have also offered their lives for the Shrine and the growth of the Schoenstatt Movement in this country.
In this month when we remember and celebrate the foundation of Schoenstatt, may we continue to strive to loyally serve our Mother and Queen and lead others to the Shrine and Father Kentenich so that the Church in Australia will know the blessings that it has been given through Schoenstatt.
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