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    Our History

    A Journey of Faith

    From Germany to India — the story of the Schoenstatt Movement, its Founder, and the Providence Province.

    The Schoenstatt Fathers in India are part of a worldwide Schoenstatt Movement dedicated to spiritual renewal of the people through the Blessed Mother.

    Fr. Joseph Kentenich, founder of the Schoenstatt Movement
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    Era 1  ·  1885–1968

    Origins in Germany

    The life of Fr. Joseph Kentenich and the founding of the worldwide Schoenstatt Movement.

    18 Nov 1885

    Fr. Joseph Kentenich born in Gymnich, Germany

    1 Jan 1904

    Fr. Joseph Kentenich entered the novitiate of the Pallottines in Limburg

    24 Sept 1909

    Final profession of Fr. Joseph Kentenich

    8 Jul 1910

    Fr. Kentenich was ordained as a Priest

    27 Oct 1912

    Pre-Founding Document

    1 Jul 1914

    St. Michael's Chapel handed over to the Marian Congregation

    1 Aug 1914

    Outbreak of First World War

    18 Oct 1914

    First Milestone — Covenant of Love

    First Milestone
    1

    First Milestone

    The Covenant of Love

    Fr. Joseph Kentenich and a group of junior seminarians sealed the first Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother, inviting her to make the Schoenstatt Shrine a place of grace and form the hearts of people for Church renewal.

    • First Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine
    • Foundation of Schoenstatt spirituality
    • Goal: form free, strong, and apostolic personalities
    • Beginning of Schoenstatt's mission for Church renewal
    • Tested during World War I through heroic witness of the founding generation

    The Journey Continues

    From Germany to India

    Following Fr. Kentenich's death in 1968, the Schoenstatt movement crossed continents — arriving in India that very year to begin a new chapter of faith.

    Era 2  ·  1968–Present

    Mission Journey in India

    From the first arrival in 1968 through the growth of the Providence Province — an ongoing story.

    Arrival & First Shrines
    1 Jan 1968

    Arrival in India

    16 Dec 1969

    First shrine in India blessed at B.L.M, Aloor

    15 Aug 1990

    First Schoenstatt Shrine (Cor unum in Patre Shrine) of SSM — Bangalore

    21 Aug 1998

    Bishop James Pazhayattil inaugurates PMRC in India

    28 Oct 2000

    Bethlehem Shrine of Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary — Irinjalakuda

    30 Dec 2000

    Blessing of Madurai Shrine

    2 Feb 2004

    Shrine at Bangalore, Theology House

    30 Aug 2014

    Blessing of First Shrine of Schoenstatt Fathers in Kerala, Kuttur

    Formation & Education
    1 Jan 1979

    Seminary & Formation for future Schoenstatt Fathers — Mission Training College, Aloor

    1 Jan 1984

    Collaboration with Vincentian Fathers for the formation of seminarians

    13 Apr 1989

    Old House, Aluva — First House in Kerala

    4 May 1991

    Blessing of Schoenstatt Study House, Aluva

    2 Jan 1994

    Fr. Roy Vennukkaran ISch ordained as the first Schoenstatt priest in Kerala

    18 May 2000

    Blessing of Schoenstatt Fathers Minor Seminary, Aloor

    1 Jun 2000

    Scholarship Program for Education (SSP)

    1 Jun 2003

    Opening of Mary Matha Schoenstatt College at Aloor

    5 Jan 2007

    Sion Centre, Kuttur

    15 Jan 2011

    MMSC becomes Mary Matha Schoenstatt Academy

    Community, Youth & Social Apostolate
    1 Jan 2003

    Beginning of Family and Youth Group — Journey towards Covenant of Love, Aloor

    18 Oct 2006

    Release of Mariyadooth Movement Magazine

    1 Jan 2008

    Beginning of Family and Youth Group at Sion Centre, Kuttur

    27 Jan 2011

    Blessing of Jeevalaya Boys Home, Varadiyam, Thrissur

    1 Jun 2011

    Beginning of Migrant Youth and Family Apostolate, Bangalore

    29 Dec 2012

    Schoenstatt Academy for Life Transformation and Transmission (SALTT)