After three years of intensive preparations, the International Schoenstatt Movement celebrated the beginning of its Jubilee Year in Armadale last Friday.
The Schoenstatt Shrine at Mt Richon, Armadale was one of the first of the 200 shrines throughout the world to begin celebrations of 100 years since the movement’s founding, with celebrations to continue until October 18 next year.
Hundreds of people braved a chilly evening and slight drizzle to attend an outdoor Mass concelebrated by Vicar General Fr Peter Whitely at the shrine’s forecourt.
Concelebrants included Frs Kazimierz Stuglik, Andrew Lotton, Emmanuel Tv Dimobi, Kenneth Asaba and Cyprian Shikokoti who frequent the shrine throughout the year either to celebrate a Pilgrims’ Holy Mass on Fridays or to assist with Shrine Time, a monthly Holy Hour for young adults.
Among those present in the congregation were Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Schoenstatt couples, families, regular pilgrims from a number of local parishes and Schoenstatt friends and supporters.
At the heart of their jubilee celebration is the renewal of the Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable and the founder Fr Joseph Kentenich in the original shrine near the town of Vallendar, Germany.
Following Fr Whitely’s homily Fiona Nottle, parishioner at St Francis Xavier Parish, Hilbert sealed her Covenant of Love after praying a handwritten consecration prayer. Mrs Nottle has had a great devotion to Our Lady since she was eight years old.
“More people need to come to the shrine,” Mrs Nottle said. “It is a very special place of grace and my life has truly been blessed by it.”
Philomena Theseira from the Schoenstatt families said, “It was a wonderful night and Schoenstatt’s Jubilee Year is about celebrating 100 years of the Covenant of Love so one of the true highlights for me was to see someone make a Covenant of Love with Our Lady tonight.”
Local fireworks went off with seeming spontaneity at the end of the celebration adding to the joyous atmosphere.
At the close of the Mass, Fr Whitely announced the news that Pope Francis had granted a plenary indulgence to all members of the Schoenstatt Movement and to the faithful who participate in the Schoenstatt Jubilee.