Coming Up Soon: Solemn Reception in Germany

After a joyful and blessed time of preparation, our eight novices in Schoenstatt, Germany, will celebrate their long-awaited solemn reception into the community.

On November 21, 2021, in the Adoration Church on Mount Schoenstatt, they will receive the dress and veil of a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, and their new sister’s names will be announced.

Together with them, the whole worldwide sisters’ community is looking forward to this event with great anticipation. Please join us in praying for our novices!

Here’s a little bit about each one:

HEMMA is 28 years old. She is from Austria, but also spent time volunteering and studying in the USA and in Argentina. She has a degree in Management Communication and Information Technology. She loves music, photography, and nature. Hemma was involved with the Schoenstatt Youth for about ten years before entering the sisters’ community. She found her vocation in the Schoenstatt Shrine in Waukesha, Wisconsin, while participating in the Extended Stay Program there. We wish Hemma many blessings!

LAN is a social worker from Vietnam. Her favorite hobbies are music, traveling, and – as she says – any adventure. Lan discovered Schoenstatt in 2020 and soon heard God’s call to be a sister. A special sentence describes Lan’s longings: “A great person is the one who dares to live for a great idea.” We pray that these words may be fulfilled in Lan’s life!

LARISSA is 23 years old and comes from São Paulo, Brazil. Before entering the sisters’ community, she started her studies in Advertising and Publicity. Why? Because she believes that communication and technology open up many possibilities for apostolic initiatives. Larissa was involved in the Schoenstatt Youth since she was 10 years old, and her vocational discernment process led her to see that there was no other path for her life than to live for Schoenstatt. We pray for many graces for Larissa!

MARCELA is 25 years old and comes from Chile. Schoenstatt was a part of her life and the life of her family since she was 8 years old. Toward the beginning of her university studies in Law and then Psychology, she got to know the Schoenstatt Sisters more closely and felt the desire to consecrate herself to God. She is so grateful for the chance to belong to an international course group. May God grant Marcela much joy as she continues following his way!

OLIVIA is 33 years old and comes from Adelaide, Australia. Her parents immigrated from Poland just before she was born. In her younger years, she played competitive tennis, and she also loves nature, reading, and everything to do with family life. After finishing her university studies, she worked as a dietitian in a hospital for six years. Her vocation to the consecrated life took her entirely by surprise in 2019, and shortly thereafter she met the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. We accompany Olivia with our prayers!

REBEKKA is 22 years old and comes from a small village in southern Germany. She has a degree in elementary education with special concentrations in mathematics and theology, and she was also able to spend some time abroad in Argentina. She was involved in Schoenstatt for most of her life before entering the sisters’ community. We pray for God’s continued blessings for Rebekka!

THÁLITA is 25 years old and comes from Brazil. By profession, she’s a water supply technician and a nurse. She likes to be with people, to pray, and to laugh. She plays the guitar and some keyboard and violin, and also likes animals and sports. Thálita has been involved in the Schoenstatt Movement since she was a little child. When she was 18 years old, she answered God’s call of love and went to spend some time living with the Schoenstatt Sisters. She hopes to bring the joy of love to other people. May God grant Thálita this noble wish!

YẾN is a 27-year-old pharmacist from Vietnam. She spent some time in the Philippines in 2019 and sealed her covenant of love with the Blessed Mother in the shrine there. She is so happy and grateful to have discovered Schoenstatt and hopes that it can spread to many more people in her home country. We pray for Yến and ask that her longings may be fulfilled!

The reception on November 21 will be livestreamed so that the relatives and friends of the novices who cannot travel to Germany can take part in their great day. If you’re interested in watching the reception, please send us a request for the link through our contact form.

What’s Next for Them?

After their solemn reception, the novices will continue their formation in novitiate, first in a closed, intensive time of study, prayer, and growth into the community, and then by the chance to serve in a specific task in one of our houses in Schoenstatt, Germany. There are many beautiful gifts awaiting them during this time. They are grateful for your prayers!