Christmas Newsletter.pages

8/10/2019 Christmas Newsletter.pages

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CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER

Schoenstatt Scotland

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.

2014 The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary


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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!


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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 werehere 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 whenbread 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 wouldagree, he must have moved

about 50 times his own

weight in leaves by now.

More Festive Jokes: What do you call a sleep-

walking nun? A roamin' Catholic! Why did

the priest giggle? Mass hysteria! Jesus was

strolling along one day, when He came upon agathering of people surrounding a lady of ill

repute. It was obvious that the crowd was

preparing to stone her, so Jesus made His now-

famous 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."


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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 atruly Blessed Christmas all!

Schoenstatt ScotlandKentenich Way

Campsie Glen

Glasgow G667AT

Scotland

T: 01360 312 718

Charity Registered in Scotland No: SC 017036

Schoenstatt Scotland Press
http://www.schoenstatt.co.uk/http://www.schoenstatt.co.uk/

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