the birth of our Savior!

Merry Christmas to all the Schoenstatt girls around Minnesota! "For today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord!" (Luke 2:11) Keep his love and peace in your heart throughout the Christmas season, and rejoice. Please continue to pray for the movement, especially the girls' branch, here and across the US. May the youth of today find the Baby in the manger through our witness.
Christmas blessings,
Hannah

Barbara Kast

I wanted to share a quote from Barbara Kast's biography:
"Christ, now you are present in the shrine. You are in the tabernacle, which has open doors so that all can feel your presence and love. Mother, help me to become a true tabernacle of the living Christ, a radiant, pure tabernacle, empty of self and filled with God, a tabernacle full of the Father's love, the Mother's trust and unconditional, childlike faith; a tabernacle that is modest from within and without, that always bears true witness to the presence of the living God amongst us in the Immaculate Host that is transformed at Holy Mass." (Diary 16)

Her life was a beautiful example of love, sacrifice, and the living out of the Personal Ideal. May we all speak to Christ these same words.
Hannah

HAPPY FOUNDING DAY!!

Greetings from my room shrine!

Happy October 18th to all the girls of our Girls' Youth in MN! This is the day that Fr. Kentinich established the Covenant of Love with the boys in their little shrine in Germany. 95 years later, the movement has spread around the world and we have many girls here. May the MTA be glorified and her love spread to even more people. If we all would imitate her in every aspect, the world would change drastically.

"Pope Pius X's fundamental insight that the easiest, surest, and shortest way to a vivid oneness with Christ and a deep penetrating love for the heavenly Father is through Mary."
-Fr. Kentinich

Many blessings as we are united in our shrine,
Hannah

October 18 is approaching quickly...

I can't believe it's almost our Founding Day! October 18 will be the 95th anniversary of Fr. Kentenich's new idea to create a shrine in a tool-shed to honor our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. They entered into a covenant with her, and the movement grew. Please pray especially for our girls in Minnesota, Iowa, and La Crosse, and for Sr. Deanne as she continues her amazing work as our youth sister. May you receive many special blessings from our Mother on her special day!
United in the Shrine,
Hannah

Our latest production!

I wanted to share a video with all of you that our Leaders' Circle put together. Every September, the North and South Minnesota Leaders' Circle girls come to the shrine for the Leaders' Overnighter. This was one of our big projects, and I finished it later at home. There were several technical hitches, and it's still not "professional", but it gets the word out. Please continue your contributions to the Capitol of Grace for 2014! Enjoy!!
Hannah

Mens' Retreat

I know that you girls probably aren't looking to go on a mens' retreat, but let your dad know about this great opportunity to spend time at the shrine! :-) Here's the information and sign-up for this upcoming retreat led by Fr. Gerald Langsch.

Fall Weekends at the Shrine!

Here's the latest brochure of upcoming events.

Commitment form for this year

To sign up for Schoenstatt girls' groups, print and fill out this form.

pictures from Fiesta Maria

Here's a picture of the kids throwing water balloons at each other. All the water games were a big hit!!

Check out all of us doing the "Shark Song"!


Flowers for Mary!


Our Fiesta Maria sign at the end of the driveway welcoming everyone.

How did Fiesta Maria go??

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to update you all on the recent high school camp where we ran the Fiesta Maria for the Hispanic kids of Sleepy Eye. Here's a copy of the article that I wrote for the St. Mary's Parish Bulletin, and it should answer all your questions :-) Check out the pictures as well!

Fiesta Maria!

June 22-24, 2009

Hannah Andrews from Ham Lake, MN

During the Schoenstatt high school girls' camp 2009, we planned and led a camp for the Hispanic children of Sleepy Eye. Participants ranged from 16 children on the first day to 25 children on the last day. The Fiesta Maria took place each afternoon for about 2 hours from 3:30-5:30 pm, Monday through Wednesday at Schoenstatt on the Lake. Each day had a specific theme: the Trinity, Mary, Mother of God, and Called to Be Saints. All the day's songs, dances, skits, and crafts were based on that theme. The ages of the children ranged from 5 to 13 years old. The kids enjoyed the camp immensely, and the smiles grew throughout each day. All of the high school girls had specific jobs to do and led the camp with help from the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary: Sr. M. Deanne and Sr. M. Sophy Ann. Some girls led the crafts, while some led the games. The best part of Fiesta Maria for the kids was the water games. We threw water balloons, squirted everyone, and cooled everyone off in the hot weather.

Some of the older boys first thought that the camp was boring, but they quickly changed their minds when the water balloons came out. All of us playing with them got pretty wet as they squirted bottles of water on us! One boy brought his own bottle full of water on the second day so he would be ready to squirt everyone. The shrine was also an important part of Fiesta Maria. Led by Maria Lucia, the children talked about the day's theme and the parts of the shrine. On the first day, about the Trinity, we played an “I Spy” game trying to find the persons of the Trinity in the shrine. On the last day, the kids made paper flowers and gave them to the Blessed Mother in the shrine. They realized the importance and reverence of the shrine, and some even wanted to stay and pray more!

The weather for Fiesta Maria was clear and hot. We were thankful that all storms and rain were during the morning and early afternoon, so we could play our games outside. The children who came had a great time, and they enjoyed it tremendously. An older boy told me, “This is a lot better than school!” They were sad to leave us each day, and wanted to come back.

All of us were grateful to be able to come and help with Fiesta Maria. We would like to thank the following for their support of our project: Bishop LeVoir, Sr. Anne Marie Reha from the Hispanic Ministry office of the New Ulm Diocese, Msgr. Lozinski and St. Mary’s Parish, & Alma Saenz and those who coordinate the Migrant program. We would also like to thank the Schoenstatt high school girls who came the weekend before to help prepare for the camp. Sixteen young women helped to organize the camp, go door to door inviting Hispanic families to send their children to the Fiesta Maria, and to attend the Hispanic Holy Mass on Sunday, June 21. The girls had fun learning the songs for Holy Mass and meeting families belonging to the parish.

The mission experience reminded us to give to others, for giving makes us truly happy! As part of the high school camp, we attended Holy Mass each day, prepared the camp afternoon, and had fun activities in the evenings. We agreed that this mission project was a smashing success, and we should repeat it again next year to minister to the Hispanic community of Sleepy Eye. The wet smiling faces of the kids were priceless!

Fiesta Maria Talent Help List

For all high school girls that are coming to the high-school camp, please indicate your talents on this form.

Come and See Weekend

Calling all girls ages 15 and older! Come to Schoenstatt on the Lake to spend time with the sisters and to learn more about the life of Schoenstatt sisters. Click here for more information.

Camp Registration

Here's the camp information! Click here to download the information sheet and print your registration form. Come to camp at the shrine this summer! Register soon to reserve your spot. Camps fill up quickly!

CAMP!!

Watch this blog carefully over the next few days! Camp registration will open on February 1. Be sure to register early because camps fill up very quickly. The registration form and information will be posted here....

Winter-Spring Weekends

Click here to find out more about upcoming events this winter and spring and to print the registration form.