By Rocio Granados - La Voz Catolica
Priests process into Mass on the grounds of the Schoenstatt shrine in Homestead.
La Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100 del movimiento de Schoenstatt empezó con la procesión de los sacerdotes en los terrenos del Santuario en Homestead.
The Schoenstatt shrine in Homestead, seen here as Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates the 100th anniversary Mass, is a replica of the original one in Germany.
El Arzobispo de la Arquidiócesis de Miami, Thomas Wenski, celebra la misa de aniversario número 100 en el Santuario filial de Schoenstatt en Homestead, una réplica del Santuario original en Alemania.
Banner notes the 100th annivesary of the founding of the Schoenstatt movement.
Banner recordatorio del Aniversario número 100 de la fundación del Movimiento de Schoenstatt.
Priests from throughout the archdiocese concelebrate the 100th anniversary Mass for the Schoenstatt movement. At left are Father Elvis Gonzalez and Father Matias Hualpa. Father Hualpa discovered his vocation through his association with the Schoenstatt movement in his native Argentina.
Sacerdotes de toda la Arquidiócesis concelebraron la Misa del aniversario número 100 del movimiento de Schoenstatt. A la izquierda el P. Elvis González y el P. Matías Hualpa. El P. Hualpa descubrió su vocación a través de su asociación con el movimiento de Schoenstatt en su natal Argentina.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily at the Schoenstatt 100th anniversary celebration in Homestead.
El Arzobispo Thomas Wenski predica la homilía de celebración del aniversario número 100 del movimiento eclesial de Schoenstatt, en Homestead.
Schoenstatt devotees take part in the 100th anniversary Mass Oct. 18 on the grounds of the shrine in Homestead.
Cientos de devotos de la Virgen de Schoenstatt participaron de la Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100, en su Santuario en Homestead.
Schoenstatt devotees take part in the 100th anniversary Mass Oct. 18 on the grounds of the shrine in Homestead.
Devotos de la Virgen de Schoenstatt participaron de la Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100, en su Santuario en Homestead.
Posing with images that they brought to be blessed during the Mass are, from left: Vecki Leitman, Lawrence Leitman, Analise Zea, Bella Leitman and Jose Zea.
Posando con las imágenes que trajeron para ser bendecidas en la Misa, de izq. a der.: Vecki Leitman, Lawrence Leitman, Analise Zea, Bella Leitman y José Zea.
Vecki Leitman, front, poses with her brother Lawrence Leitman, and an image of Our Lady of Schoenstatt. At right is another child who took part in the Mass, Analise Zea.
Vecki Leitman, adelante, posa con su hermano Lawrence Leitman, y una imagen de Nuestra Señora de Schoenstatt. A la derecha otra niño que participó en la Misa, Analise Zea.
Vecki Leitman holds a Marian image that she brought to be blessed after the Mass Oct. 18 at the Homestead shrine, marking the 100th anniversary of the Schoenstatt movement.
Vecki Leitman sostiene una imagen Mariana que trajo para ser bendecida después de la Misa, el 18 de octubre, en el santuario de Homestead, por el aniversario número 100 del movimiento de Schoenstatt.
Father Matias Hualpa, who was ordained earlier this year and discovered his vocation after becoming involved with the Schoenstatt movement in his native Argentina, distributes Communion and blessings during the 100th anniversary Mass Oct. 18 in Homestead.
El P. Matías Hualpa, quien recientemente fue ordenado sacerdote, encontró su vocación en el movimiento de Schoenstatt en su natal Argentina. Aquí se le ve dando la Eucaristía a los feligreses que asistieron a la Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100 del movimiento eclesial.
Kathy Asanza, one of the founders of the Schoenstatt movement in Miami, takes part in the 100th anniversary Mass.
Kathy Asanza, uno de las fundadoras del movimiento de Schoenstatt en Miami, participa en la Misa del aniversario número 100.
Schoenstatt members who take part in the 100th anniversary Mass with Kathy Asanza. From her left: Fanny Wilde, Ines Elvira Buralia, Paty Paredes and Jose Paredes.
Miembros de Schoenstatt que participaron en la celebración se retratan con Kathy Asanza (la segunda de izq. a der.), encargada de la organización. Le siguen Fanny Wilde, Inés Elvira Buralia, Paty Paredes y José Paredes.
The Schoenstatt shrine in Homestead, seen here as Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates the 100th anniversary Mass, is a replica of the original one in Germany.
El Arzobispo de la Arquidiócesis de Miami, Thomas Wenski, celebra la misa de aniversario número 100 en el Santuario filial de Schoenstatt en Homestead, una réplica del Santuario original en Alemania.
Banner notes the 100th annivesary of the founding of the Schoenstatt movement.
Banner recordatorio del Aniversario número 100 de la fundación del Movimiento de Schoenstatt.
Priests from throughout the archdiocese concelebrate the 100th anniversary Mass for the Schoenstatt movement. At left are Father Elvis Gonzalez and Father Matias Hualpa. Father Hualpa discovered his vocation through his association with the Schoenstatt movement in his native Argentina.
Sacerdotes de toda la Arquidiócesis concelebraron la Misa del aniversario número 100 del movimiento de Schoenstatt. A la izquierda el P. Elvis González y el P. Matías Hualpa. El P. Hualpa descubrió su vocación a través de su asociación con el movimiento de Schoenstatt en su natal Argentina.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily at the Schoenstatt 100th anniversary celebration in Homestead.
El Arzobispo Thomas Wenski predica la homilía de celebración del aniversario número 100 del movimiento eclesial de Schoenstatt, en Homestead.
Schoenstatt devotees take part in the 100th anniversary Mass Oct. 18 on the grounds of the shrine in Homestead.
Cientos de devotos de la Virgen de Schoenstatt participaron de la Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100, en su Santuario en Homestead.
Schoenstatt devotees take part in the 100th anniversary Mass Oct. 18 on the grounds of the shrine in Homestead.
Devotos de la Virgen de Schoenstatt participaron de la Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100, en su Santuario en Homestead.
Posing with images that they brought to be blessed during the Mass are, from left: Vecki Leitman, Lawrence Leitman, Analise Zea, Bella Leitman and Jose Zea.
Posando con las imágenes que trajeron para ser bendecidas en la Misa, de izq. a der.: Vecki Leitman, Lawrence Leitman, Analise Zea, Bella Leitman y José Zea.
Vecki Leitman, front, poses with her brother Lawrence Leitman, and an image of Our Lady of Schoenstatt. At right is another child who took part in the Mass, Analise Zea.
Vecki Leitman, adelante, posa con su hermano Lawrence Leitman, y una imagen de Nuestra Señora de Schoenstatt. A la derecha otra niño que participó en la Misa, Analise Zea.
Vecki Leitman holds a Marian image that she brought to be blessed after the Mass Oct. 18 at the Homestead shrine, marking the 100th anniversary of the Schoenstatt movement.
Vecki Leitman sostiene una imagen Mariana que trajo para ser bendecida después de la Misa, el 18 de octubre, en el santuario de Homestead, por el aniversario número 100 del movimiento de Schoenstatt.
Father Matias Hualpa, who was ordained earlier this year and discovered his vocation after becoming involved with the Schoenstatt movement in his native Argentina, distributes Communion and blessings during the 100th anniversary Mass Oct. 18 in Homestead.
El P. Matías Hualpa, quien recientemente fue ordenado sacerdote, encontró su vocación en el movimiento de Schoenstatt en su natal Argentina. Aquí se le ve dando la Eucaristía a los feligreses que asistieron a la Misa de celebración del aniversario número 100 del movimiento eclesial.
Kathy Asanza, one of the founders of the Schoenstatt movement in Miami, takes part in the 100th anniversary Mass.
Kathy Asanza, uno de las fundadoras del movimiento de Schoenstatt en Miami, participa en la Misa del aniversario número 100.
Schoenstatt members who take part in the 100th anniversary Mass with Kathy Asanza. From her left: Fanny Wilde, Ines Elvira Buralia, Paty Paredes and Jose Paredes.
Miembros de Schoenstatt que participaron en la celebración se retratan con Kathy Asanza (la segunda de izq. a der.), encargada de la organización. Le siguen Fanny Wilde, Inés Elvira Buralia, Paty Paredes y José Paredes.
HOMESTEAD
| Valeria Serrano is not an official member of the Schoenstatt movement. But
she is very devoted to its patroness.
“We
love the little Virgin very much, we always pray to her,” said Serrano. “She
came to our home when we needed her most and she gave us much peace. That is
why we are here.”
Serrano,
accompanied by her husband and two sons, was one of hundreds of devotees of Our
Lady of Schoenstatt who gathered at her Homestead shrine Oct. 18 to mark the 100th
anniversary of the movement’s foundation.
She
said she learned about Schoenstatt in April, when a missionary approached her
mother in the church where she was praying for Serrano’s daughter.
Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC
Posing with images that they brought to be blessed during the Mass, from left: Vecki Leitman, Lawrence Leitman, Analise Zea, Bella Leitman and Jose Zea.
The
daylong festivities began early in the morning at the Homestead shrine, with a rosary
led by children. Later, Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated a Mass accompanied
by retired bishops Fernando Isern of Pueblo, Colo., and Lorenzo Leon of Huacho,
Peru.
“Today
is a day of great joy and thanksgiving for the Schoenstatt communities,” said
Archbishop Wenski in his homily. “Today we give thanks that through the work of
Schoenstatt communities throughout the entire world — and here as well in the
Archdiocese of Miami — a great harvest of souls has been gathered for the Lord.
I ask God to grant you perseverance in your efforts to spread the Gospel… To
Jesus, through Mary. Charity unites us.
Your mission is, always, the Covenant
of Love.”
Among
the archdiocesan priests concelebrating the Mass was recently ordained Father
Matias Hualpa, who discovered his vocation after the joining the Schoenstatt
movement in his native Argentina.
“We have been preparing for four years to get
to this day, remembering what Father (Joseph) Kentenich, along with his
congregation, did over 100 years ago, and our love of the Virgin, obviously,”
said Father Hualpa, who celebrated one of his first Masses after ordination
this May at the Homestead shrine.
After
the Oct. 18 Mass, members of the movement presented Archbishop Wenski with the
Cross of Unity, to thank him for his presence and also because his birthday fell
on the same day.
The
Schoenstatt faithful came from as far as Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and Weston, and
as near as Kendall.
“Since
I saw the eyes of Mary I felt that she was calling me,” said Lila Philip, a
native of India who joined the movement in 2011. She came to the celebration
with friends from her parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Kendall, where she has been
a member for more than 18 years.
Kathy
Asanza, one of the founders of the movement in Miami and a coordinator for the
100th anniversary festivities, said “Today we celebrate the centennial of the Covenant
of Love with Our Lady of Schoenstatt. …It is a family party, beautiful and
happy, filled with appreciation for everything that God and the Virgin have
given us.”
The
Schoenstatt movement was founded in Germany at the beginning of World War I —precisely
on October 18, 1914— by the German priest Joseph Kentenich and a group of young
seminarians. The name is derived from the place where they first gathered, in
an abandoned chapel that is now the original shrine, consecrated to the Virgin
Mary.
In
1987, a small group of people formed the movement in Miami. Over time, the
devotion grew, to the point that they were able to build the shrine in
Homestead. Its name is the Shrine of Light and Pathway to the Merciful Father.
It was blessed Dec. 12, 2010. “Schoenstatt
means ‘beautiful place.’ Little by little this is becoming a beautiful place. We
are growing little by little,” said Asanza.
Currently,
Schoenstatt has more than 300 members in South Florida, the majority of them Hispanic.
There are separate groups for women, families and young people.The
movement is characterized by the image of Mary with the child Jesus in her arms,
which devotees have dubbed the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt.
Members focus on teaching love for the Church through welcoming, educating and
sending forth.
“Our
end is not to stay in Mary but to get closer to God our Father, to Jesus
Christ, to live his teachings, to be better Christians, to do what our founder
said: ‘to form a new man for a new community,’ someone who puts God at the
center of his life and in that way progressively transforms the community where
he lives,” said Asanza.
The
key to that transformation is the Covenant of Love which members make.
The
covenant “is a commitment, a pact with the Virgin, where she gives us her heart
and we give her our heart, so that she can transform it, so that we can have,
receive and transmit love,” said Gladys Cristancho, a member for 30 years.“It
is a deep consecration with the Virgin to be lived out the rest of your life,” added
Cristancho, a member of the women’s group. She
learned about the movement in Atlanta, where her mother founded it, and made
her covenant in Milwaukee, the U.S. headquarters of the movement.
“I
came to live in Miami to be close to the sanctuary. I arrived, providentially,
when they broke ground,” she added.
In
addition to the original shrine in Germany, there are over 200 affiliated shrines
throughout the world, including 11 in the U.S. The one in Homestead is the only
one in South Florida.
All
the Schoenstatt shrines resemble the original one in Germany. Father Kentenich
wanted all of them to be the same “so when you enter a shrine, you feel at
home; it is a place that you recognize, with minimal variations: the altar, the
building’s frame, everything is the same,” said Asanza.
A
traveling image of Our Lady of Schoenstatt visits homes, schools, jails,
hospitals and the sick; people commit to receive her every month.
“Miracles
are not physical. In Schoenstatt there is an emphasis on the miracle of
transformation, of growth in personal holiness, holiness of the family, holiness
of children. Of course, physical miracles also occur,” Asanza said, “because
nothing is impossible for God.”
The
Schoenstatt shrine in Homestead is a place of pilgrimage where many members and
non-members arrive to pray. Mass is not celebrated on a daily basis because the
adviser, Father Mariano Aravena, is not always available. But
the shrine is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mass is celebrated Tuesdays
and Wednesday at 10 a.m., and every first Saturday and third Sunday of the
month at 4 p.m.To
learn more about Schoenstatt, go to www.schoenstattmiamiusa.org.
FIND OUT MORE
The Schoenstatt shrine in Homestead is a place of pilgrimage where many members and non-members arrive to pray. Mass is not celebrated on a daily basis because the adviser, Father Mariano Aravena, is not always available. But the shrine is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mass is celebrated Tuesdays and Wednesday at 10 a.m., and every first Saturday and third Sunday of the month at 4 p.m.To learn more about Schoenstatt, go to www.schoenstattmiamiusa.org.
