The Father Kentenich Hall at the Schoenstatt Retreat Center in Waukesha, welcomed about 250 people for the opening of our Centennial Year on Saturday, October 4. Already as the cars entered our large Schoenstatt Land, they could see small jubilee banners attached to the light poles, which indicated our joy of proclaiming the opening of the Centennial year.
On entering the hall, the people could take in the jubilee atmosphere through the beautiful jubilee logo on the altar antependium. This, together with the beautiful flower arrangements and many national flags of those sisters belonging to our province, provided the background for our festive holy Mass.
At 9:30, the choir of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary provided a prelude of historical songs that led us through the past hundred years. At the close of the prelude, Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and the concelebrating priests took seats in the front row to take in the short presentation of our history, including a video presentation which took us through the whole world wherever the Schoenstatt Sisters live and work.
A jubilee candle, a visible sign of our great jubilee, was then placed at the ambo.
The Archbishop and the concelebrants then vested for Holy Mass which began shortly afterwards with a solemn: “Now thank we all our God…” The Archbishop provided us with a beautiful message for our jubilee and left us with thoughts of how we can continue to bring the light of hope to our world today just as Mary did at the wedding feast of Cana.
At the end of holy Mass, Sr. M. Emily, our provincial superior, thanked the Archbishop for his presence and for his beautiful homily. Then all were invited to follow the flag-bearers, concelebrants, and choir in the procession via the provincial house to our International Shrine. On the way we were accompanied by two magnificent loud speakers playing the Jubilee Year hymn “Pilgrims of Hope” in English. At the province house the Archbishop solemnly blessed the huge jubilee banner which had been unfurled from the top of the wall near the entrance.
The procession continued to the shrine with “Pilgrims of Hope” sung in Spanish over the loud speakers. Once we reached the shrine, the Archbishop lit the jubilee candle that also had been carried in the procession. It was then placed in the shrine to be burned throughout the entire year. All participants were then invited to pray the jubilee prayer together, and each one received a copy of the prayer to pray throughout the entire year.
Before the Archbishop gave us his final blessing, he invited us to turn to the Blessed Mother and greet her with the words of the Archangel: Hail Mary, full of grace.
With the solemn Magnificat our festive celebration came to a close. All were invited back to the Father Kentenich Hall for a fellowship meal.
We have abundant reason to give great thanks for the nearly 100 years and for this solemn opening of our jubilee year.
