17 December 2021 · 2021-12 newsletter
This was the motto chosen by eight novices from six different countries – Australia, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Austria, and Vietnam—for the celebration when they received the dress of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary on the Feast of Christ the King in the Adoration Church on Mount Schoenstatt.
As was shared in last month’s Newsletter, Olivia Lukaszewicz, from South Australia, entered the Sisters’ Community at the end of last year and has been preparing for this day throughout the year in a period of candidacy and postulancy.
For this memorable celebration, the novices in white bridal dresses processed into the Adoration Church to the sound of the bells of the Adoration Church, an experience which was very moving for the many who were watching online.
Father Bernd Biberger, General Director of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and main presider of the celebration, welcomed all the guests, including the priests from the parishes to which the novices belonged, but especially the parents, relatives and friends who joined the celebration via live stream. Various languages for the readings and festive songs were used throughout the celebration, fitting for an international group of novices.
In his homily, Father Biberger, depicted the Magnificat as the Blessed Virgin Mary’s song of praise and added that the novices do not only want to sing the Magnificat of the Blessed Mother, but they want to testify to her Magnificat through their lives: “Let my life be a great Magnificat!”.
‘Just as the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a testimony to how God works wonders, so should their lives also be a testimony to God’s saving deeds’. Father Biberger expressed that the outward expression of this is the sisters’ dress that the novices received following the homily. He also mentioned that the novices wanted to give their motto to all who participated in this celebration, because: “If our life is a great Magnificat, then we become witnesses to God’s love which is not far from us but close to everyone who turns to him.”
When the novices receive the dress of a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, they also receive a new name which they themselves select. Olivia has chosen Sr. Maria Olivia, and this was announced by the Superior General, Sr. M. Aleja Slaughter at the beginning of the clothing ceremony.
It was a great joy to see the novices return to the Church in their Sisters’ dress. Following the celebration Sr. M. Isabell, our new provincial, Sr. M. Rita, Sr. M. Emmylou and Sr. Mary Hazel, all from our Australian province and working at present in Schoenstatt, together with other sisters from English speaking countries joined with Sr. M. Olivia to celebrate with her. Because of the time difference it was only on the following couple of days that Sr. M. Olivia was able to connect with her family in Australia, a long-awaited joyful reunion online!!
One of several echoes following the celebration was: “Heaven is rejoicing over the new Sisters of Mary, over their yes to Jesus and to their striving to set the Blessed Virgin Mary present in this world. The world needs authentic witnesses to consecrated life!”
Let us pray for Sr. M. Olivia and her fellow novices.
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