October 26, 2019

Local Schoenstatt Movement welcomes prayer visitors

REGIONAL
By Rebecca Drake

 

SPRINGFIELD – A Roman Catholic apostolic movement, the Schoenstatt Movement of Massachusetts of the Springfield Diocese, located at 163 Sandy Hill Rd. in Westfield, welcomes visitors for its weekly rosary, private prayer, and other devotional gatherings.

Led by Diane Czerwiecki and Andrea Cook-Hewitt, the residence or “movement house” of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, a secular institute, is called the “Place of Grace.” It contains an image of Mary and the Child Jesus under the title of “Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt.” The rosary is prayed each Wednesday at 6:15 p.m., and the Place of Grace is a site for various devotional gatherings and private visitations.

There is a large Spanish involvement in Westfield and Springfield, as well as in Lawrence, Mass., and surrounding towns.

Worldwide movement

The worldwide Schoenstatt Movement was founded in 1914 in Schoenstatt, Germany, by Father Joseph Kentenich, whose sainthood cause is presently underway. According to the website schoenstattwisconsin.org, Schoenstatt is an ecclesial movement that “emphasizes education after the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, upholding her as a perfect example of love and commitment to Christ. 

“The Schoenstatt Movement works to help renew the Church and society in the spirit of the Gospel. It seeks to reconnect faith with daily life, especially through a deep love of Mary, the Mother of God,” the website states.

Schoenstatt is present in more than 49 countries on five continents and, in addition to the original shrine in Germany, there are more than 200 replica shrines around the world.

Local devotions and special events

In an email interview with iObserve, Cook-Hewitt said, “The Schoenstatt movement primarily promotes education into a deeper love and knowledge of Mary, resulting in a special consecration with Mary, known as the ‘Covenant of Love.’”

“Sharing the ‘Light of Mary’ is a joy and a mission for Schoenstatt members,” she said.

Cook-Hewitt noted that the “spiritual advisor” for the Westfield Place of Grace is Linda Burl, who develops a theme for every Holy Thursday repository at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Westfield and is assisted by other members in decorating for this. Burl also presents an ongoing DVD series. Czerwiecki and Cook-Hewitt are co-coordinators for the Schoenstatt Movement in Massachusetts.

Cook-Hewitt added that Czerwiecki “educates people who are interested in becoming Pilgrim MTA (Mother Thrice Admirable) coordinators as well as instructing those who want to make their Covenant of Love.”

Burl and Lynn Serra also share the responsibility of preparing people for making their Covenant of Love. For the Spanish community, the trainers are Mary Fernandez, Irma Cartegna-Luna, and Amparo Ferando.

“Schoenstatt has opened my life up to God, definitely to the Blessed Mother, and to the founder of the Schoenstatt Movement,” Cook-Hewitt said. “My faith and spirituality has grown enormously in coming into Schoenstatt. 

“When I first came in we had monthly meetings. I could not get enough. My body and soul craved what I was learning,” she said. “I have since made my Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother. She and God are always in my heart.”

Upcoming events

Upcoming special events at the Westfield Place of Grace include a program on Friday, Nov. 1, All Saints Day, which includes confession with a Schoenstatt priest at 9a.m.; a retreat talk from 10-11:30 a.m. in English and from 1-2:30 p.m. in Spanish; bag lunch from 11:30-12:30; and Mass at 3 p.m., which fulfills the holy day obligation.

An Advent Reflection Day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning with silent prayer at 9:30 a.m., followed by an Advent reflection by a Schoenstatt sister from 10-11, and a brunch from 11-noon.

For more information and available visitation hours, call Andrea at 413-427-8323 or Linda at 413-568-2125 or 413-530-1892; or email SchoenstattofMA @msn.com.