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