Schoenstatt Movement celebrates centennial jubilee

Corpus Christi has played a vital role in the Schoenstatt Movement for more than half of its existence. The Movement, founded by Father Joseph Kentenich in 1914, is observing its centennial jubilee this year, and the Corpus Christi Schoenstatt Movement Center is part of the worldwide celebration.

Father Kentenich and a group of Pallotine seminarians under his charge founded the movement in Schoenstatt, Germany when they enshrined their “Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother of God.” In 1926, Father Kentenich founded the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. Before his imprisonment at the Dachau Concentration Camp by the Nazis, he sent sisters to South America and South Africa.

After his release from Dachau, Father Kentenich made his way to South Africa and came to Corpus Christi in 1948 at the invitation of Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina. The following year, three Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary came to Corpus Christi to care for Bishop Ledvina’s home. Three other sisters came the following year to begin teaching at parochial schools in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Before long, a total of 26 sisters were busy working at the bishop’s house, the chancery, parishes and schools.

Group of walkers arrive at Schoenstatt Center Lamar on July 14 after a 42-mile walk from Corpus Christi. This is the 45th year the walk has been undertaken in honor of Father Joseph Kentenich, founder of the Schoenstatt Movement. Contributed Photo

In those early years, the sisters lived at the old bishop’s house on Antelope and Tarancahua. On Oct. 18, 1959, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary dedicated their new home in Lamar where they also built a replica of the Shrine in Schoenstatt Germany. It was the first Shrine built in Texas; since then one has been built in San Antonio and another one will be dedicated later this year in Austin.

The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary also opened the Schoenstatt Movement Center in Corpus Christi at 4343 Gaines Street. It was at this Center where they celebrated their Centennial on July 12. The day opened with Mass at the Corpus Christi Cathedral with Schoenstatt Fathers Héctor Vega and Christian Christensen celebrating. Sisters Cecilia Carrére and María Paz Viñas provided the liturgical music.

Father Vega reminded the pilgrims that Father Kentenich would tell them the work of the first 100 years is “not enough.” That time was for the development of the movement and “unifying the family.” Much work remains to be done in the next 100 years, including spreading the Schoenstatt spirituality as missionary disciples.

“It is time to get to work,” Father Vega said. “We cannot rest on the laurels of people that have built the covenant of love at great sacrifice.”

Before setting off on the next 100 years, pilgrims gathered at the Schoenstatt Movement Center to pay tribute to the last 100. They read a proclamation from the City of Corpus Christi recognizing the Movement’s founding and their work in Corpus Christi. They proceeded to unveil a bust of Father Kentenich. Father Vega said the bust “will always remind us of his loving care and compassion.”

After the unveiling, those present enjoyed a meal at the Center. They also reenacted a “spiritual footsteps pilgrimage” inside the Center. The pilgrimage is usually the starting point of the annual 42-mile walk by Schoenstatt Youth from the center in Corpus Christi to the Shrine in Lamar, which also started on July 12.

Sisters Cecilia Carrére and María Paz Viñas provided the music for the Schoenstatt Movement's centennial jubilee celebration. Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

The first stop on the pilgrimage is the former bishop’s residence where Father Kentenich met with Bishop Ledvina and served as the home for the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. The rest of the pilgrimage included stops at the former Carmelite Convent, the Benedictine Abbey, the old Corpus Christi airport and the Cathedral—all places where Father Kentenich visited during his stay in Corpus Christi.

Today, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary are no longer in pastoral ministry in the diocese but remain at the Schoenstatt Confidentia Center in Lamar where they host the Movement’s retreats. The Lamar center, built on land sold to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary by the Diocese of Corpus Christi, serves as headquarters for the Southern Province of the Movement, which includes Texas and Mexico.

The Schoenstatt Mothers Branch donated the bust that was unveiled at the Corpus Christi Center and took the lead in the local Jubilee celebrations. Sister Corelia, who came to the diocese in 1958, said that remaining events for the jubilee include the dedication of the Bethlehem, Cradle of Sanctity Shrine in Austin on Sept. 13; a pilgrimage to Schoenstatt, Germany and Rome on Oct. 13-26 for the jubilee celebration on Oct. 18; and the jubilee celebration for the Texas Schoenstatt family and friends at Lamar on Nov. 9.