The Anam Cara group would like to welcome everyone to our covenant Mass at the Shrine on Friday 18th May 2012 at 7.30pm .The theme of our Mass is:  ‘The Covenant of Love – The Roots and Foundation of our Family Life’ In our families, our parents and grandparents are our role models, our teachers, our guides and our security as we grow from children and mature into adulthood. Most importantly, they pass on to us the gift of faith. In our Schoenstatt family, we are blessed with a spiritual parent in the person of Mary, our Blessed Mother who  challenges us to live this faith every day in our own lives. (more…)

Over 40 members of the St Ethelbert’s Parish, Deane in Bolton visited the Shrine this weekend with their Parish Priest, Fr. Duncan. They had time to pray in the Shrine and time for one another while they shared light refreshments prepared and served by the Team of ladies from St John Fisher’s. Even though it was a cold but sunny day the brave and courageous took time to look around the grounds, visit the Cottage and have quiet time in the Shrine. he few hours in the afternoon passed very quickly and everyone enjoyed their day and they are looking forward to coming again next year. If you would like to download a copy of the report click here

Welcome to our Pilgrim Mother Rally starting at 1.30pm on Sunday 6th May 2012 at the Schoenstatt Centre, St Jon Fisher’s Kearsley. Please find the letter of Fr. David inviting you below:

Dear Coordinators and Members of the Prayer Circle of the Pilgrim Mother !

Wow! A nice long title but a noble one, don’t you think!

Some of you may have read either in the April edition of the MTA magazine or on the Internet Website of Schoenstatt  www.schoenstatt.org.uk  of the visit to us in England of a large replica of the Pilgrim Mother. The very original large Pilgrim Mother started out with John (João) Pozzobon of Brazil in the early 1950s and is still in that country.

The large replica Pilgrim Mother coming to us will be with us for the months of May and June before being returned to Schoenstatt in Germany. While it is here in England it is to be kept in safekeeping in our Shrine here in Kearsley, Bolton. (more…)

Group:
 Anam Cara
Celebrant:
 Fr. Bryan
Theme: “What roots mean for a tree, what foundations mean for a house, that is what the Covenant of Love means for our family.”

This coming June – 1st (7.30pm GMT), 8th (8pm GMT) and 15th(7.30pm GMT) Fr. Duncan will be introducing us to the theme of the Garden of Mary in this Year of the Father 2011. Here is what you can expect…

This year’s Kentenich Talks in June 2011 are about the “Garden of Mary” Vision – how it came about in Schoenstatt and its meaning for our spiritual lives today. The Garden of Mary is a symbol for a means of evangelisation, where the relationship to God and to each other becomes the platform for faith. It has a horizontal and vertical dimension.

The horizontal dimension is reflected in the symbolism of a garden that is full of every kind of tree, and flower, pathway and river. However, this great diversity does not diminish the unity of the Garden. The significance for living our faith today is that the Church is made up of very different and unique people, each bringing their own originality and talents, but together make up the one Body of Christ. (more…)

God talks to his People

Father Kentenich pointed out that the great conversation in the history of God’s people lies in their Covenant Dialogue with God. The golden thread which runs through the great events of the Bible is the Covenant. Each of the charismatic leaders Noah, Abraham, Moses and David made their Covenant with God and all their dealings with the people of God fall within the context of this Covenant: I will be your God you will be my people. (cf Ex 6:7, Ez 36:28). The Prophets were continually to remind God’s People that they belonged to God and God alone. Hosea tells us:

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.vBut the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. (Hosea 11)

(more…)

May Day and Pilgrim Mother Rally
Welcome to our May Day this year. Everyone is welcome to this pilgrim day. We want to consider that our deep love of Mary admits us to a School of Life in the Spirit. Blessed  John Paul II said at the beginning of his time as Pope that we should not be afraid to open the door for Christ in our hearts and in our homes. This message and invitation was to continue throughout his Papacy and we are invited to enter into this School of Hope. We are holding a Rally for the Pilgrim Mother and invite all those who belong to the Pilgrim Mother Groups to come along to this day of pilgrimage. The Pilgrim Mother Shrines will be re-dedicated and the group coordinators will be commissioned again to bring the image of Our Lady to the homes of many that their homes may become holy places through the living presence in faith  of Jesus and Mary: That  faith in their family may become alive and that many will be able to bear witness to the goodness of God in their lives. . We look forward to welcoming  you to the Shrine on Sunday 15th May starting at 1.30pm. If you want, you are welcome to come early and bring a picnic lunch.

to download the poster – click here