MOTHER THRICE ADMIRABLE, QUEEN and VICTRESS OF SCHOENSTATT
We welcome Diane and Kevin Helmold to our Home Shrine Circle under the mantle of our Illinois Schoenstatt Auxiliary Shrine. Diane made her Covenant of Love during their Home Shrine Dedication on March 14 facilitated by Deacon Rob Morris of Queen of Martyrs Church, Chicago, IL. They had a house full with their four children and families attending the celebration.
Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted has been chosen by Linda and her husband Leonard and their daughter Emily as the title and mission of their Home Shrine. Even though they dedicated their Home Shrine May 3, the official anniversary date of their Home Shrine is May 15 in honor of this Feast Day of our Blessed Mother. Father Rob Johnson, pastor of Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Maryville, IL, officiated the Home Shrine Dedication.
The Nazareth Home where our Mother of Mercy waits with open arms has been chosen by Jeannie and Ken as the title and mission of their Home Shrine. They dedicated their Home Shrine May 31 the Feast Day of Mary’s Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. Father Paul Nguyen, OMV from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, IL officiated the Dedication celebration.
Here is a meditation on living the Requests of the Covenant through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary:
The 2019 Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Convention took place at the International Retreat Center in Waukesha, WI from Thursday June 27 – Sunday June 30. The Convention’s theme was Our Covenant for the Church! Present were more than 100 attendees from 15 States. We had a group of 5 from our area who attended the Convention: Linda and Kent Jeanneret, Christine Poddig, Keith and Carol Mechler. It was a fun filled 4 days of beautiful Liturgies, Talks, Workshops, Testimonies, Group Discussions, Shopping, and a Pilgrimage to St. Michael Parish, Exile Shrine, and Movement House in Milwaukee, WI.
Alberto and Maria Garcia from Texas were the MC’s for the Convention. They introduced the theme on Thursday evening and provided information and guidance throughout the rest of the weekend.
Carole DiFabio and Kathy Gall were our pianists for the weekend Liturgies and did a beautiful job leading the music and hymns Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Ann, Luis, and Carol made up the choir and Carol added instrument accompaniment with her clarinet.
Friday’s schedule included Sister Isabel’s presentation “Missionaries of the Covenant Today!” She also gave a workshop “Mary Reaches Us! Share the Fire of our Covenant of Love!” in which she outlined the necessary education and preparation for the Covenant of Love with the MTA for Schoenstatt Pilgrims. Schoenstatt Father Francisco Rojas gave a workshop titled “Mary Guides Us! Light the Way to Practical Faith in Divine Providence”. Carol Mechler gave a workshop titled “Mary Among Us! Open hearts for the Three Graces from the Shrine” in which Visit Notes on the Three Graces, the Covenant of Love Promises and Requests, and the Home Shrine where discussed regarding their purpose and where online they can be accessed for educational purposes for the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate. Father Edwin from CA gave a testimony about his history with Schoenstatt and how he is using Schoenstatt spirituality with a Men’s Group he started in his parish.
Our Saturday Liturgy was in the basement of St. Michael Parish. Father Kentenich served as Pastor at St. Michael’s and celebrated many Holy Masses there with the German families. Sister Margarite talked to us about “Father Kentenich: Pastor of Pilgrims”. Many of the Convention participants accompanied the International Auxiliary Shrine praying the Rosary through the streets of Milwaukee from St. Michael’s to the Exile Shrine. Saturday ended with a Covenant of Love Ceremony in the Shrine in which 14 attendees made the Covenant of Love for Pilgrims.
Sunday’s concluded with Holy Mass followed by a Rosary Procession to the Shrine and a Commission Renewal and Sending Out Ceremony for Missionaries. Such a beautiful weekend for all as shown in just a few photos below. For more, see www.schoenstattrosarycampaign.com
A beautiful Covenant Day Celebration at Mother of Perpetual Help!
Pictured are those who made our Covenant Day Celebration special and heartwarming. We had a good group of 14 people including one little boy. We sang On This Day O Beautiful Mother and prayed the Rosary with meditations taken from the Requests of the Covenant of Love. We presented our Mother and Queen with our striving to make our Covenant Day Celebration fruitful for her Schoenstatt Work. A short commentary was given about the requirements needed to make the Covenant of Love as an Associate Member of Schoenstatt. Afterwards, those who have made the Covenant of Love renewed their Covenant Promises. Three Missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate renewed their commitment for another year: Linda Jeanneret, Chris Poddig, and Carol Mechler. We ended the evening prayer service with our consecration prayer, My Queen, my Mother. We gathered up our Auxiliary Shrine and Pilgrim Mother Shrines and processed over to the Parish Center for refreshments and fellowship. We enjoyed the evening very much and hope more people will join us next time. Covenant Day blessings to all!
To review year one of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, select below: