Retreat and new motto

One with our father- we make it our own- Founder Generation!

In order to be active members of history...to really be part of the jubilee generation! We came up with a motto:

One with Father, we make it our own- Founder Generation!

The first part: One with our father- came up from a talk Sr.M.Daniela gave us during the Spring break retreat about the early Schoenstatt Girls Youth. She told us when she was in the youth and their longing to help Fr. Kenetenich to carry his mission into the future. Their diocese motto was: One with the founder we go on the way into the future. The idea of taking part of what some of the first group of femenine youth had conquered, and strived for helped us decide the first part of our motto. We also want to be one with our father and founder and walk by his hand to 2014!

We make it our own- We talked about the Founding Document in small group and the part where Fr. Kentenich tells the Founding Generation, "you have made my idea your own...your hearts have caught fire! also made our hearts resound. You have made my idea your own. As New Founder Generation we want to make father's idea our own! We want to make "the Covenant of Love our own!" Our Father's mission- the Covenant of Love cannot be transmitted in all its essence and fervor if we do not make it our own. We want to make his idea our own- to continue making our shrines a place of grace where our MTA distributes her graces, and educates us as modern saints... We want to make our own his mission and charisma.

Founder Generation is what we are called to be!!! We are the Founding Generation for the next 100 years!

Our capital of grace will be tangibly expressed with colored stars.
The stars will be conquered with founding generation deeds. (Striving for inner freedom, deciding for the hardest, prayers, etc...)

"How often in world history have not small and insignificant beginnings been the source of great and greatest accomplishments” (Founding Document)

These words are an incentive for us to strive to make sure something like a true saint is the end result. The dangers are increasing around us. If ywe want to swim against the stream with still more success in the future, we most have 'strong arms and muscles'. Hence – especially since we have the time – let us strive more deeply for the realization of our youth ideals: Marian devotion, self-sanctification, apostolic activity.

Remember: One with our Father, we make it our own, Founding Generation!

Stephanie Schuckenbrock- Good to read at all times!

Lenten Reflection
It all started on Friday, the day we don’t eat meat, my family decided to go out and eat fish. After trying to eat at several places only to find they were super crowded, we ended up eating at a sushi place, which is my absolute favorite place to eat. They have this one sushi roll that is a little slice of perfection wrapped up in rice and doused with a rich sauce. The point I’m trying to make is that I love eating sushi. You might be wondering, how is this relevant to Lent? Well, let’s begin with the reason we don’t eat meat on Fridays. Back around the time the Bible was written, meat was considered a luxury while fish was the common man’s food because the wealthy owned land and could raise farm animals while the sea belonged to everyone. So eating fish signifies modesty and sacrifice because while we have the ability to eat meat we don’t. As I was indulging in the best raw fish wrapped in rice on this planet, I realized eating this sushi wasn’t a sacrifice for me nor was it modest. The whole reason for not eating meat was to contribute the sacrifice to the capital of grace and there I was devouring some irresistible sushi. As I continued to munch, I felt bad that I wasn’t truly capturing the meaning of Lent. Even though I was technically following the rules for Lent, it felt the same as not telling a lie, but not fully telling the truth. But then it dawned on me that just feeling bad about it was changing anything because I was still chowing down on the sushi. I think many of us suffer from not living our Lent to its fullest potential whether it’s caused by spoiling ourselves with whatever we gave up or rarely meditating on what Jesus did for us. In order to combat this horrible problem, I’d like to encourage you to seize Holy week. Holy week is an opportunity to take your goals for the Lenten season and live them to the fullest. For example, if you gave up eating candy, don’t eat sweets during Holy week. Or if you were going to strive to eat healthy, avoid eating fatty foods and exercise every day. If you were going to try to limit the time you spent watching TV, only use technology such as computers or TV’s when necessary. But most importantly include time to pray and reflect. Try to think about exactly what Jesus did. Think about how difficult it must have been for him. Try to picture yourself in his sandals and how you never could have done it. Truly appreciate and thank God for all of your blessing and the best present he ever gave you, His Son. So when you’re having a difficult time living your Lenten goals to the extreme during Holy Week remember we’re not the only ones, who gave up something we value during Lent and that what we’ve given up is completely insignificant compared to what God sacrificed for us.
-Stephanie Schuckenbrock

Houston’s new Covenant of Love Candidates

Blessed Mother is happy to soon receive 7 more Covenant partners. The Schoenstatt Girls group from Houston has been preparing to seal their Covenant of Love since October 2010. On February 26-27 this year we had a Covenant of Love retreat at Conroe. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other more, to enjoy nature, and of course to dwell in our Schoenstatt's Covenant of Love. Our themes were: The Covenant of Love and our Baptismal Covenant, the exchange of hearts, good, and interests; the Blessed Mother in Scripture, and Schoenstatt as an answer for the needs of our times.
We really had a wonderful time. The Quintana's family lend us their beautiful vacation house with a view to the lake. We brought enough food for two days and an open heart to learn and prepare ourselves to seal our Covenant of Love. At the end of the retreat the question was:

Why do I want to make my COL?

Analicia Caylor
"I want to do my COL with Mary to stay close to God in the years to come. Not only would I look to Mary for guidance in my decisions but also to become a better person."


Emily Caylor
"So I may get closer to the Blessed Mother and have that special bond with her."


Cecilia Sanchez
"Life is like a soccer game- never give up and strong until the end"

Carmen McGillis
"Nothing bad comes from being closer to the Blessed Mother, but all good"

Fatima Ramirez
"I am preparing for my COL with Mary; who leads me closer to God and I am happy to know that though this journey I am learning to be a better person a "new woman" that little by little would love to seal a pact with the MTA and God."
Arielle McGillis
"God is unconditional love. Mary, our Blessed Mother, is the pathway to our Almighty Father.
with her guidance we can be the best daughter for our Father in Heaven."

Sofia Caylor
I want to do my COL with Blessed Mother because it is a very special thing that I will have in my heart forevermore. And I will be Blessed Mother's heart always. Also it is a chance for personal growth. How can I say no to my Mother? I can't! She will lead my life to Jesus, as if she was a compass.

8 different ways to celebrate Lent
As Lent goes on, we are all trying to think of some different things to do for the holy season. I know that it’s not always easy to think of something other than the same old, same old. Here are some ideas that may inspire you:
1. Volunteer to help your local animal shelter. Or you could donate a few bags of cat or dog food. God loves all his creatures!
2. If your family is busy and you can hardly ever find them all together, decide on a time that works for everyone to pray the rosary. No matter if it’s once a day or once a week, it’s still better than not praying together at all. It will bring your family together even in tough times.
3. Get out of bed before anyone else in the house wakes up, and clean the house. Think of how happy your parents and family will be to wake up to a clean house! Minus vacuuming of course, that would wake everyone up!
4. Visit some friends that you hardly ever see; or visit someone you know who may be sick or depressed. Seeing a friend will make them happier and feel better.
5. Give food, clothes, or toys to the poor. Whoever gets it will be delighted!
6. Visit an old folk’s home. Organize a service project or a talent show. They will love to see young people and be reminded of the ‘good old days’.
7. Be friendly towards someone who is always teased. Invite them to dinner or a party. It will comfort them that they have a friend.
8. Invite a non-Catholic friend to Mass, or pray with them. Who knows, they might be touched by the Holy Spirit and want to convert!

I hope you find some helpful things for Lent in my article. Have a good Lent and after, a happy Easter!
-Alaina Eaton