The beginning of any journey, but especially a life-changing journey, can awaken mixed emotions – excitement, nervousness, joy, fear, anticipation for what lies ahead…!
The first official step on the journey to become a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, the candidacy, is just such a beginning. Therefore, it is perfectly normal for a mixture of some or all of the above emotions to fill the hearts of the young women setting out on this journey! However, as the newness wears off, the hearts are filled more and more with the joy and excitement of following God’s loving call and less and less with nervousness and fear.
In this article, we would like to introduce you to our 11 candidates.
But first – what exactly is the candidacy?
It is a time of growth into our community’s way of life and the meaning of a vocation to the consecrated life. During the official candidacy, the candidates receive classes, work in various areas with the sisters, and have time to pray and relax. The daily schedule is flexible and open. In our community, the official times of formation are held at an international level at our place of origin in Schoenstatt, Germany.
Our current candidates have been together in Germany since the spring/summer of 2024 and are looking forward to their Reception in November of this year.
Without further ado, let’s meet the candidates!
Why do you want to be a SchoenstaTt Sister of Mary?
Hello! My name is Iolanda, I am 20 years old, and I come from Brazil. What motivates me to become a Sister of Mary is, above all, [the desire to] respond to God’s love. It is not only about proclaiming that love to others but also about being an instrument that leads everyone to the Father’s heart.
Hello! My name is Amanda Rosa, I am 23 years old, and I come from Brazil. What motivates me to be a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary is the hope of [being able to] lead many hearts to the Blessed Mother’s shrine in the future. In this way, they can find peace in [her] love and come to know her Son, Jesus, even more deeply.
Hello, I am María Paz, 23 years old, a kindergarten teacher, and I come from Argentina. When I think about becoming a Sister of Mary, it fills me with joy because I will be able to be a mother and educator for many. I can be a home, accompany people, and bear witness to their growth and their journey toward holiness. That deeply moves me and makes me happy.
Hello, I am Erika, I am 26 years old, I come from Ecuador, and I am an architect. What motivates me to be a Sister of Mary is [the thought] that God can use me as an instrument to reach others and to bring joy through Schoenstatt.
Hello! I am Amanda, I am 28 years old, a nurse, and I come from Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. What motivated me—and continues to motivate me—to become a Sister of Mary is the joy of responding to God’s plans, of being Mary for the world, and of becoming an instrument so that many people may find their way to the heart of God through the covenant of love and Schoenstatt.
Hello! My name is Sofía, I am 20 years old, and I come from Argentina. When I think about becoming a Sister of Mary, what brings me the greatest joy is the possibility of being a home for many, of bringing Mary to the people, and of being, in a way, like a mother to others in my work. It makes me happy to pass on the joy of having a home, a mother, and also a father.
My name is Mikaela, I am 22 years old, and I come from Brazil. It is a joy to be here today, to live in Schoenstatt, and to spend time with my course sisters. What motivates me to become a Sister of Mary is that, through Schoenstatt, I can dedicate my life to the service of the Church. In doing so, I can help bring many people to the good God.
My name is Zuzia. I come from Poland. I am 20 years old. I want to become a Sister of Mary because I wish to bring Mary’s love to other people, to be a witness of Mary in the world, and to help others find the path to the covenant of love so that they too may experience these graces and the work of the Blessed Mother in their lives just as I have experienced and continue to experience every day.
My name is Carina, I am 27 years old and come from Brazil. I am an educator and a psycho-pedagogue. It is a great joy for me to be here and to follow my vocation. It fills me with joy to know that in the future, as a Sister of Mary, I will be able to bring Jesus to many people— to all those whom the dear God has entrusted to me. In this way, I can help ensure that Jesus is known and loved even more by all.
Hello, I am Paulina, I come from Argentina, and I am 20 years old. For me, it is a great joy to think about becoming a Sister of Mary because I believe that in this way, I can bring the presence of Mary to others and, at the same time, be a bridge that leads them to God. I also want to invite people to learn the truth about deep natural relationships and the reality of supernatural bonds.
I am Manoella, 20 years old, I come from Brazil, and I am a trained nurse. For me, it is a great joy to make Mary present in the world. In doing so, I can carry Jesus with me, and since he is my greatest joy, I am happy to be able to bring him to other people through Schoenstatt.