Chronology of Fr Kentenich’s Life and the Founding of Schoenstatt
Below is a timeline for the founding of the international Schoenstatt Movement and Fr Kentenich’s (the founder) life.
Chronology adapted from Uriburu, A Father to Many, pp 202ff.
16 November - Joseph Kentenich born at Gymnich near Cologne, Germany.
19 November - Baptised in the parish church dedicated to St Kunibert.
December - Moved to Strassburg and attended the primary school there. (Probably around 29.12.1891 until after June 1892)
12th April - Katharina brought her son to the Orphanage of St Vincent in Oberhausen.
25th April - Low Sunday First Holy Communion
24th September - Confirmation by Auxiliary Bishop Fischer of Cologne in the temporary church of the Sacred Heart in Oberhausen.
23rd September - Joseph Kentenich is brought by Fr Savels, parish priest of the Church of the Apostles in Cologne to Ehrenbreitstein, near Koblenz. He began his classical education there in the Pallottine Mission House.
27th July - Completion of his secondary schooling. Joseph Kentenich received his school-leaving certificate.
24th September - The two years’ Novitiate began with the ritual Clothing ceremony in the Mother House of the Pallottines in Limburg on the River Lahn.
24th September - With his First Profession.
11 October - Reception of the Tonsure. Brother Kentenich is ill for a long time.
24th September - Second Profession.
11 October - Reception of the Lower Orders
24th September - Third Profession.
11 October - Ordination as Sub-Deacon
Ordained a priest at the Pallottine Mission
8 July - House at Limburg on the Lahn River.
10 July - Celebrated his First Holy Mass.
18 September - Fr Kentenich appointed teacher at Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein.
October - Appointed Spiritual Director of the House of Studies at Schoenstatt.
27 October - The first talk to the boys entitled "Programme", later known as the Pre-founding Document.
19 April - Foundation of the Marian Sodality from which the future Schoenstatt Movement developed.
July - The Sodality is given the use of the ancient chapel of St Michael.
18 October - Foundation day of the Schoenstatt Movement.
Incorporation of Vincent Pallotti's idea of the Apostolic World Federation as one of the essential goals of the Schoenstatt Movement. The foundation of the "outer organization". Publication of the first issue of the "MTA".
4 October - Josef Engling falls in battle near Cambrai, France.
18 July - Fr. Kentenich is released from other duties and can dedicate himself to the growing Schoenstatt Movement.
20 August - Foundation of the Apostolic Union at Hoerde.
6 November - Letter from Fr Kentenich to the group leaders of the Union with directives for their future work.
20 August - Foundation of the Apostolic League.
8 December - The start of the first group for women.
1 October - Official foundation of the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.
15 August - Blessing of the new Retreat House (Covenant Home) at Schoenstatt.
National Socialism seizes power in Germany. The first sisters are sent to South Africa.
April - The House of Studies at Schoenstatt is requisitioned by the Nazis and becomes a teachers' training college.
18 October - Letter from Fr. Kentenich from Switzerland on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Schoenstatt's foundation (Second Founding Document).
10 December - Crowning of our Lady's picture in the original shrine.
September 20 - Fr. Kentenich is ordered to present himself at the Gestapo prison in Coblenz. He is questioned and detained. He spends four weeks in solitary confinement in the bunker.
20 January - Fr Kentenich decides not to make use of the possibility to avoid being sent to the concentration camp.
11 March - He is transferred to the concentration camp at Dachau.
13 March - Arrival at Dachau.
16 July - Foundation of the Secular Institute of the Brothers of Mary and the Family Institute.
October - Third Founding Document. Foundation of the Schoenstatt International.
25 March - Schoenstatt is occupied by the American army.
6 April - Fr Kentenich is released from concentration camp.
20 May - Fr Kentenich returns to Schoenstatt.
15 October - First October gathering in Schoenstatt.
2 February - Foundation of the Secular Institute of the Ladies of Schoenstatt.
14 March - Private audience with Pope Pius XII. The start of his first international journey (Brazil/Uruguay/Argentina/Chile). Return to Germany.
29 December - Leaves for South Africa.
20 May - Blessing of the shrine at Bellavista, Chile.
31 May - Start of the fight "against mechanistic thinking ".
19 January - Arrives in Rome to take part in the beatification of Vincent Pallotti on 22 January.
15 August - Start of the Apostolic Visitation at Schoenstatt. Fr Kentenich is removed from office.
22 October - Start of the exile. Fr Kentenich has to leave Germany. He first goes to Switzerland and from there to Rome.
20 January - Blessing of the shrine at Florencio Varela, Argentina.
21 June - Leaves for Milwaukee where he is to spend the next thirteen years of his exile.
8 July - Golden Jubilee of ordination.
12 October - Pope Paul VI decrees the autonomy of the Schoenstatt Movement.
18 October - The Schoenstatt Family celebrates the golden jubilee of its foundation.
17 September - Fr Kentenich leaves Milwaukee for Rome.
22 October - Pope Paul Vl ratifies the decision of the Holy Office to reinstate Fr Kentenich.
18 November - Celebration of Fr Kentenich's eightieth birthday.
22 December - Private audience with Pope Paul Vl.
24 December - Return to Schoenstatt after an absence of fourteen years.
16 July - Visit to the concentration camp at Dachau to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Brothers of Mary and the Family Institute.
9 June - The Bishop of Treves consecrates the Church of the Blessed Trinity on Mount Schoenstatt.
7 September - Letter to the Schoenstatt Family attending the ‘Katholikentag’ at Essen: “With hope and joy, confident in the victory, we go with Mary into the post-modern era.”
15 September - Death in the Adoration Church after he had celebrated Holy Mass there for the first time.
20 September - Funeral of Fr Joseph Kentenich. He was buried where he died. His tombstone is inscribed with the words
"Dilexit Ecclesiam " - He loved the Church.