“Could this be the place Father Joseph Kentenich dreamed of?” I wonder. Welcome to the Santuario Nuestra Sra. de Schoenstadt. This shrine is a testament to faith and perseverance. It stands as a beacon for the Schoenstatt movement.
The Schoenstatt movement is rooted in the Covenant of Love with Mary. Father Kentenich believed deeply in the shrine’s power. He once said, “Without the Shrine, we can do nothing.” His words echo through the history of Schoenstatt. They remind us of the shrine’s central role.
Father Kentenich first realized his dream in Argentina with the Nuevo Schoenstatt shrine. He blessed it in Florencio Varela in 1952. It became Argentina’s national Schoenstatt shrine. Today, Argentina has twenty daughter shrines. These shrines spread Mary’s graces. They offer shelter transformation and apostolic outreach.
The Belgrano Shrine celebrated its 60th anniversary. Monsignor Alejandro Giorgi led the celebration. Father Guillermo Carmona and Father Pablo Perez also participated. All branches of the Schoenstatt Family helped plan the event. They contributed to the Capital of Grace. They trusted that Mary would manifest her glories.
Father Kentenich was interested in building this shrine. He emphasized establishing a throne of grace for Mary. He saw Buenos Aires as a city in need of her influence. The Sisters of Mary arrived at Echeverría Street on December 14 1949. The Schormair family lent them the house. They bought it ten years later.
Father Kentenich stayed in the Providence House. This was the house of the Sisters of Mary. He visited several times between 1950 and 1951. He walked around the garden praying. He spoke with visitors. He spent time in the small house with twenty sisters.
The room where Father Kentenich stayed was simple. It had a bed a table and two chairs. It lacked a private bathroom or a fan. He shared the sisters’ difficult economic situation. He embraced austerity with them.
The house chapel was in what is now the foyer. The altar was the one now in Father’s Shrine in New Schoenstatt. Father Kentenich celebrated daily Mass. He offered meditations. He encouraged the sisters facing difficulties. He guided them in a paternal way.
The Founding Father wanted a city shrine. This shrine would serve the restless inhabitants of Buenos Aires. The sisters initially considered a wayside shrine. They thought a shrine so close to Florencio Varela was not convenient. Father Kentenich believed it should be a Shrine.
The cornerstone was laid on October 18 1961. The shrine was blessed on October 18 1963. Today, the Santuario Nuestra Sra. de Schoenstadt stands as a testament. It embodies faith dedication and the enduring power of belief. The shrine opens its doors. It welcomes all to experience its transformative graces.