Schoenstatt’s 100th Anniversary – Live from the EWTN studios (It’s not every day a movement turns 100 years old!)

On October 18, 2014, the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt will turn 100 years old. It’s not every day a movement turns 100, and news is spreading fast about this epic moment in Church history.

Since 2009, volunteers from 10 different countries have gathered in Schoenstatt, near Vallendar, Germany to help prepare for this monumental event. The original team of 30 volunteers has grown to more than 800, all working day and night to ready things for the 8,000 to 10,000 attendees that will come from throughout the world during the October 16-18 celebration. October 23-26, the Schoenstatt Family will visit Rome and meet privately with Pope Francis on October 25 in the Paul VI Hall.

The Schoenstatt Movement was founded in Schoenstatt, Germany on October 18, 1914 by Father Joseph Kentenich (1885-1968). In collaboration with the minor seminary students for whom he was Spiritual Director, Fr. Kentenich formed a Covenant of Love with the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title, “Mother Thrice Admirable,” and through that covenant, invited Mary to make the Schoenstatt Shrine a place of grace. Today, there are more than 200 replica shrines worldwide and the membership of the movement continues to grow. The spirituality of the Schoenstatt Movement is based on the Covenant of Love with Mary, the Schoenstatt Shrine as spiritual home, and the development of “firm, free, priestly personalities” who act out of love and freedom to form the new person in the new community.

Events of the Jubilee celebration with include a variety of activities, including visits in the Original Schoenstatt Shrine, holy Masses in each country’s language, international presentations, music, and dancing. Each day will have a specific theme: Homecoming, Expectation, and Jubilee, and the presentations and activities will be organized in four main areas, dubbed “tents”: Society, Pedagogy, Youth, Family and Marriage and Church. For the complete schedule of events, click here. You also can read the Zenit report on the event preparations here.

I’m humbled and delighted to have been asked by the Schoenstatt Movement to do the English commentary on the Jubilee celebration live from the EWTN studios in Birmingham, Alabama. Looking over the transcriptions, I can tell you first hand that it will be an exciting and spiritually fortifying event whether or not you belong to the Schoenstatt Movement. Lay movements are a essential part of the Church, and when one celebrates, we all celebrate! The festivities will be an uplifting testimony to the vitality and promise of the universal Catholic Church.

Below, I’ve posted the schedule of the broadcasts. perhaps you’ll notice that our EWTN team will be working through the wee hours of October 18. For that, and for the entire broadcast, I would appreciate your prayers! On the other hand, it will be thrilling and worth every bit of the effort.

In the meantime, please spread the word about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a lay movement turn 100 years old. It doesn’t happen every day. Happy Birthday, Schoenstatt!!

100th Anniversary of the Schoenstatt Movement

Vallendar, Germany

Live commentary and translation from the EWTN studios in Alabama throughout the EWTN livestream broadcast of the events. The movement expects 8,000 – 10,000 attendees from the around the world.

Program:

Thursday, October 16 “Homecoming”

5pm to 7pm CEST, 10am to Noon CST

Friday, October 17 “Expectation”

7pm to 9pm CEST, Noon to 2pm CST

Saturday, October 18 “Jubilee Day”

Solemn Holy Mass   10am to Noon CEST, 3am to 5am CST

Covenant of Love     4:30pm to 7pm CEST, 9:30am to 11am CST