HELOTES • Some people think of the Texas Hill Country as a little piece of heaven. In an afternoon filled with graces from above, the Schoenstatt family truly believed heaven came to earth as they celebrated the dedication Oct. 18 of the second Schoenstatt shrine in Texas. Archbishop José H. Gomez, with the help of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Texas, blessed and dedicated the ground and building as all welcomed the Blessed Mother to take possession of the shrine, named Cor Unum in Patre, or One Heart in the Father.

 

Close to 1,700 traveled from across the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico to join in the joyous occasion which included festive touches with yellow ribbons tied to the numerous oak trees surrounding the shrine.

 

Also present were six Schoenstatt Fathers from the United States, two Schoenstatt Fathers from Mexico and Father Carlos Zuniga from the Diocese of Brownsville to concelebrate the Mass and Rite of Dedication with the archbishop. Several Sisters of Mary (Schoenstatt Sisters) traveled from Lamar for the dedication. A letter from Bishop James A. Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo was also read to send his blessings, noting “I rejoice with the Schoenstatt families as you have turned your dream into a reality.”

 

 

 

“We …, the School Sisters of Notre Dame throughout the world, embrace a new moment in our history as an international congregation …. With jubilee in our hearts, we gratefully commit to act together in response to this Call to Solidarity.”
                                                                                           — SSND General Council, Rome

 

SAN ANTONIO • Blessed Mother Mary Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger of Bavaria, Germany, could little have imagined the breadth and scope that her dream — changing society through education — would take. There are the skeptics who question whether “one person can really make a difference.” The life of Blessed Mother Mary Theresa certainly proves the skeptics wrong.

 

Oct. 24 marked the 175th anniversary of the founding of the worldwide School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) which Blessed Mother Mary Theresa founded. Celebrations were held in the United States and abroad. The local SSND community observed the significant milestone with Mass on Oct. 25 in Assumption Chapel at St. Mary’s University. Mass concelebrants included Father John A. Leies, SM, Father Bernard Lee, SM, Father Don Cowie, SM, and Father James Shea, CSsR. Among well wishers in attendance were members of various religious congregations, past students, family and friends.