CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

Schoenstatt Scotland

2014 The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary

We wish you all a wonderful and Blessed Christmas from Schoenstatt. Be assured you are
remembered in our prayers throughout the holiday period. This year as you might imagine,
we have been extremely busy. Both Sr. Margerita and Sr. Mary
Elsbeth have been on several International journeys for
business. With it being the 100th anniversary of Schoenstatt,
and for us, 25 years in the Campsie Fells, we are quite
delighted at being able to slowly calm things down to a steady
canter toward Christmas. Sr. Anne Marie returned for the
festivities and brought the original Father Symbol with her. Sr.

Iona, the Provincial visited and spent some time at Schoenstatt Scotland, as did some other
sisters from the time of the founding of Schoenstatt Scotland, and she will be returning in
December for a brief visit. Archbishop Leo Cushily Presided at the major celebrations.

The year has been busy for other reasons also.

We had the decorators with us for weeks as

the Retreat Centre, the Shrine and the Garage were all repainted, and now look stunning and
sharp in their new, latest technology Dulux paint. We are also benefitting from a new
heating system that uses wood pellets, and so the house and the water is much hotter than
previous as we move into our next 25 years. As you can see on the front page, we have also
had installed a new Father symbol in the ground outside the Shrine replacing the earlier one.

Dear Santa, If you leave a brand

new bike under the Christmas tree, I will
give you the antidote to the poison I put
in the milk I left out for you. Bobbie!

One of

the best images we had on Facebook this year was of this little chap who in the end

was given the name Robbie thanks to our Facebook

fans. His fan base ran into the thousands. He has been
around all summer, and is now less ball shaped and more
wee birdie shaped that he was. While the painters were
here they could not believe that he would follow
you around. Indeed on
several occasions he
walked in front of us all
the way up to the the
Shrine, and then waited
till we came back out
again. Amazingly, Tess was not interested in Robbie at all.
And the two of them ignored each other entirely. Even when
bread was put out for Robbie, Tess would come along and the
two of them would hoover up the bread together. Autumn

has been spectacular on the

estate. Though I doubt if
our gardener Stuart would
agree, he must have moved
about 50 times his own
weight in leaves by now.
More Festive Jokes: What do you call a sleepwalking nun? A roamin' Catholic! Why did
the priest giggle? Mass hysteria!
Jesus was
strolling along one day, when He came upon a
gathering of people surrounding a lady of ill
repute. It was obvious that the crowd was
preparing to stone her, so Jesus made His nowfamous statement, "Let the person who has no
sin cast the first stone." The crowd was shamed
and one by one began to turn away. All of a
sudden, a lovely little woman made her way
through the crowd. Finally getting to the front,
she tossed a pebble towards the woman. Jesus
looked over his shoulder and said: "I really hate
it when you do that, Mum."

We are going from strength to strength: With more

pilgrims, retreats and visitor numbers, and many more
people using both the Website and most especially,
Facebook.
And, a lot of

our visitors are new individuals to Schoenstatt Scotland. Our portfolio of

retreats has grown, and we have had parish retreats from all over, and from different
diocese this year. We continue to hold many day retreats for school children which
culminates per annum into thousands of kids spending the day at the Retreat Centre, or one
of our sisters visiting a school. We also organise bespoke retreats to the individual or small
group as and when required, subject to a Spiritual Directors diary and the calendar.
We wish to thank all of the parishes who supported us by placing news of our retreats and
events into their bulletins and or at the back of their churches on their noticeboards. We
also wish to thank the priests who have helped us during retreats and for offering mass
during retreats. It is very much appreciated!
We are in the process of enhancing again, our web presence, and this will allow us a news
blog with extended connections. We will also have a YouTube channel for video hosting and
much more, so keep an eye on www.schoenstatt.co.uk. Facebook continues to be the place
where you can access not simply updates about Schoenstatt, but also wonderful images,
prayer general, prayer specific, arrow prayer, stories following various themes, events and
much more. Finally, over the next week or so, Sr. Claire, Director of Festive Flair, will be
draping and bedecking everything she can with Christmas decorations, including all of the
internal trees, yes, there is many more than one. With Stuart decorating several trees out on
the estate with lights.
Below is a favourite image over the last two years that sums up Schoenstatt and its work and
that of those who assist us in that work, retired
teachers and others whom we heartily thank
for all their time, effort and dedication. Have a
truly Blessed Christmas all!

Schoenstatt Scotland
Kentenich Way
Campsie Glen
Glasgow G667AT
Scotland
T: 01360 312 718
Charity Registered in Scotland No: SC 017036

Schoenstatt Scotland Press