14 October 2022 · 2022-10 newsletter
In Schoenstatt again!
It came as a big surprise to me that I would have the chance to go to Schoenstatt in Germany this August for a meeting with my core group of sisters who joined the community with me.
My visit to Schoenstatt was also a return to my roots as I had spent 9 years of my initial education in the school of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary at the place of Schoenstatt’s foundation. As I was also involved in the Schoenstatt youth since I was 12, I knew this wonderful place inside out.
Since I left Schoenstatt more than 50 years ago to serve our mission in some foreign countries, last but not least in Australia, I have occasionally returned to Schoenstatt for official meetings. But this time it would be different. We were only a small group of sisters and could spend two weeks in Schoenstatt, just being there and opening ourselves to the graces we would receive in the original shrine, in the founder chapel, where Father Joseph Kentenich is buried and just taking in the atmosphere at this holy place of grace.
It was August, holiday time in the northern hemisphere, and thus many people had come to Schoenstatt for conferences, conventions, pilgrimages etc. I was amazed how international Schoenstatt has become. It seemed that wherever you went, around the original shrine in the valley or around the founder chapel at Mt Schoenstatt you could meet people from various countries and continents, everyone being there for a spiritual renewal.
The original shrine was very inviting, its doors wide open and with a tent in front of it to offer protection. Many people spent time in and around the shrine, in prayer and listening to God’s message. Many wrote down their petitions to our Blessed Mother.
A very impressive moment for me was the gathering of 350 youth in Schoenstatt for a weekend of the “Night of the Shrine”. There was a colourful and varied program on Saturday afternoon with workshops in creative, athletic, and spiritual areas, with the opportunity to exchange ideas about a variety of topics and simply to get to know others.
The celebration during the Night of the Shrine was very intense, meditative, and spiritual during which the youth could write a Covenant letter to the Blessed Mother and renew or even make their Covenant of Love with her.
I am very grateful for the experience to be able to spend some time in the original Schoenstatt again. Schoenstatt is alive, it unites an international Family and is a place where everyone can take a message along into their everyday life.
And what did I take along from Schoenstatt?
A little green card with a message from Fr. Kentenich. There are many cards with different messages at the entrance of the Founder Chapel. Upon entering people are invited to take a message along. I just took a little card at random and would like to share this message with you.
May we always trust in God and believe that the road map he made for my life and yours, is the best one, the one that leads us to perfect happiness at the place where God wants us to be. He knows every curve and bend of our journey through life and guides us so much better than any navigator will ever do.
I also remembered you, our Schoenstatt family of Australia in Schoenstatt and lit a candle for you before the picture of our Blessed Mother in the Adoration Church. I prayed this prayer for you for all your intentions:
May you be richly blessed. United with you in our Covenant of Love,
Sr. M. Thomasine
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