Schoenstatt of Ohio

The Schoenstatt family gathered on Sunday, October 16, 2011 for the dedication of our Marian wayside shrine named Mariengarten.   The name Mariengarten has a rich history in the Schoenstatt movement.  German for Garden of Mary, the name reminds the family of a time when Fr. Joseph Kentenich was in solitary confinement during World War II.  Fr. Kentenich wrote to Sr. Mariengard and his Schoenstatt family that they could obtain his freedom by becoming “flourishing gardens” through their strivings for holiness.

With this new shrine at the Transfiguration Center in Ludlow Falls, Ohio we are confident that Mary is with us and that she desires to act as helpmate and educator in forming her children into the image of her Son.

Curtis Kneblik

Ohio Director

The Schoenstatt Family will be praying for the intention of the building of the daughter shrine in Ohio on October 10-18, 2011  If you don’t have one of the novena booklets you can contact the Schoenstatt Center in Waukesha at 262-522-4300 and they can send you one or simply pray a novena of your choice. Our goal is to unite spiritually as a Schoenstatt family for the building of the shrine.

Curtis Kneblik
Diocesan Leader

Fr. Jonathan Niehaus, a Schoenstatt Father currently in Germany, has been diagnosed with a very aggressive, malignant cancer.  His condition is very serious.  The Niehaus family and the Schoenstatt Fathers ask for the intercession of Fr. Joseph Kentenich for a miraculous cure.

“Eternal Triune God, for love of you and your holy Church, Father Joseph Kentenich, the founder of Schoenstatt, always tried to do your will and lead many people to you.  Grant him our petition for the complete and immediate healing of Father Jonathan.  We pray it is God’s will that Father Jonathan will be a miracle for the cause of Fr. Kentenich’s canonization. Amen.”

Fr. Alex Awi Mello and Sr. M. Danielle Peters are pictured here with Dexter Family at their home shrine dedication on July 27, 2011.  It was a joyous celebration that gathered our families together again asking our Mother Thrice Admirable to make our homes her special place of grace.

Curtis Kneblik(Dayton) and Jim Moeller(Springfield) made pilgrimage to the Schoenstatt International Shrine in Waukesha, Wisconsin for the Journey of Love Conference.  It was great opportunity to meet with members of the Schoenstatt family from all over the country and discuss our work with the Rosary Campaign.

Today a new initiative began at the Transfiguration Center with the Pilgrim MTA.  On First Friday’s the Schoenstatt family gathers at the Center for a morning of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.  We have a large Pilgrim MTA in the room during the service but this particular MTA has never traveled.  Generally, we send out smaller versions to the homes but today we decided to send out our Mother on a special mission.  Here’s a picture of the MTA going forth until she returns on May 6th for our next time of prayer.

The Catholic Telegraph, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati recently did a story on the blessing of the wayside shrine at the Transfiguration Center in Ludlow Falls, Ohio.

http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1871:graces-bestowed-at-new-schoenstatt-shrine&catid=1:local&Item

Fr. Gerold Langsch will be visiting Ohio March 17-22, 2011.  Schedule details are forthcoming. Register now for retreat at the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein.

schoenstatt-retreat-brochure-ms-2011

A group from Ohio made pilgrimage to the Schoenstatt International Shrine in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  The trip included 35 people from Dayton, Springfield, Minster, St. Henry, and West Milton.  Seven people sealed their “Covenant of Love” with the Blessed Mother in the International Shrine.

It was a joyous occasion for those who gathered for the blessing of our new Schoenstatt Wayside Shrine on the grounds of the Transfiguration Center in Ludlow Falls, Ohio.  On October 18, 1914, Fr. Joseph Kentenich gave a talk to some seminarians in his care. He invited Mary to come and dwell in a particular place, a small inconspicuous chapel, to form and educate some young men to be “firm, free, priestly personalities”. The seminarians in exchange would give her their hearts, minds, work, and lives.  The place was Schoenstatt, Germany.

Yesterday, on the anniversary of this founding talk by Fr. Kentenich, members of the Ohio Schoenstatt family gathered to ask Mary to make this “little place” a place of grace.  A place where all who gather may know of Mary’s constant care and her desire to help us on the pathway to heaven.  A beautiful point of the ceremony occurred when Curtis Kneblik presented the “Cana Jar” which had been used to collect all the “Contributions to the Capital of Grace” as well as petitions over the past year.  The jar was absolutely full, and these petitions and contributions were offered up to our MTA by burning them in a fire.

At the close of the liturgy, after the blessing of the shrine, Mike Schubert recognized Carol and Gordon Lis for the 25 years of leadership to the Schoenstatt movement in Ohio.  A prayer of blessing was offered to Curtis Kneblik as the new Diocesan Leader for Ohio with his wife Tracy by Fr. John MacQuarrie.