Author: Sealtiel Enciso Pérez
According to Catholic religious theory, the figure of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, has been venerated and the subject of worship through her different manifestations or "advocations," being essentially the same but appearing in diverse physical appearances and with a multitude of names. In the particular case of the cult of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, it can be mentioned that it is relatively recent, dating back to 1914. Unlike traditional "Marian apparitions" where this sacred entity manifests itself surprisingly to its faithful through "visions" or performing "miracles," the way in which this advocacy emerged was extremely quiet and unique.
It all started with the beginning of the priestly ministry of Father Josef Kentenich, of German origin. At the age of 27, he was ordained to move to the Schoenstatt Valley in his native Germany to begin his functions in the community of parishioners, as well as being the spiritual director of the Pallottine priests who had their residence in this place. Kentenich had distinguished himself during his formation in the seminary for his brilliant intelligence and his great spiritual vocation. Seeing the possibility of initiating a transformation among his peers, he proceeded to create various organizations promoting meditation in the Catholic faith and inner transformation following the ideals marked by his church. The groups he created starting in 1914 were: Marian Congregation, Young Men's Marian Congregation, Schoenstatt Apostolic Federation, Schoenstatt Apostolic League (in 1919 and 1920, respectively), and the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary (1920).
During the early years in 1912, Father Kentenich and a large number of followers he had among the Pallottine priests began to gather inside a small chapel located inside the Schoenstatt Seminary. In this chapel, the image of the Virgin Mary was venerated. After a series of spiritual reflections and a renewed faith in the ideals of the church, everyone present established a "Covenant of Love" with the "Blessed Virgin Mary." Over the years, the mentioned image lost its connection with the name it originally had and took on the name of the small town, transforming into what we know today as "Our Lady of Schoenstatt."
During World War II, Father Josef Kentenich was sentenced by the Nazi regime to be confined in the Dachau concentration camp in Germany from 1941 to 1945. Due to the great fervor he promoted with his works, as well as his almost magnetic and spiritual image, he managed to establish clandestine organizations within the camp and form, among the prisoners, the Institute of the Brothers of Mary and the Institute of Schoenstatt Families. It would be long to mention the life and works of this character, but we focus solely on him as the founder of the Veneration Movement of this Marian advocacy and a series of groups of missionary priests and nuns who spread his devotion across five continents starting from the first decade of the 20th century.
Now, how did the cult of the Virgin of Schoenstatt arrive in Baja California Sur and specifically in the city of La Paz? There are various explanations, as is always the case when referring to a spiritual entity, especially if it is a religious cult, which are surrounded by a "miraculous" or "beyond" human explanation event. The most credible version is that its veneration was brought by one of the European priests who came to our lands during the 20th century. As we all know, a good number of Italian priests belonging to the "Combonian" ministry were sent to our peninsula. It is very likely that one of them had knowledge of the Schoenstatt Sanctuary and even believed in the Marian devotion that was venerated there. It is also very probable that some of the travelers or workers who came from Germany and stayed to form their families in these lands of Baja California Sur brought the veneration towards this religious image, and that their cult has passed from one generation to another to this day.
The truth is that for about 20 years now, there has been a religious temple located on the top of a small hill behind the "Jardines del Recuerdo" cemetery, where the cult of Our Lady of Schoenstatt is celebrated. The path by which one can access the place is located about 20 meters to the south of where the perimeter wall of the cemetery ends, next to the transpeninsular highway. It is a somewhat inclined road that can be climbed by car, and the building is located about 450 meters away. The land where the church is located is fully fenced and covers an area of 2,564.86 m².
Now, regarding some of the versions that have been heard in different talks among the parishioners of the other Catholic churches in the city about the origin of this temple, we can mention the following:
Originally, the building was constructed to house a rehabilitation center for addicted women. It is important to note that the Virgin of Schoenstatt possesses among her gifts: the grace of inner sheltering and the conversion of life. With the passage of time, this site did not prosper and was given to the Diocese of La Paz.
A man with the last name Navarro de Alba, while surveying the land where the current church stands, discovered a buried treasure when he dug a hole to place one of the boundary stones. Upon realizing his fortune, he decides to build a Temple and dedicate it to the Virgin of Loreto. He is unable to complete the work and leaves it abandoned.
A woman named Pilar Amador recalls that a priest who baptized her mother, named María Encinas Amador, before returning to his native Italy, gave her a painting with the image of the Virgin of Schoenstatt (at that time they did not know her name). Over time, Pilar and her family move to the city of La Paz, where in the late 1990s, two of her children (some mention that they were daughters) are diagnosed with cancer. In those moments of sadness, a friend of Pilar gives her a "Novena" and tells her to pray to a very miraculous Virgin, and that if she does so with true faith, she will perform the miracle of healing her children. Upon seeing the image of the Virgin of Schoenstatt, Pilar is surprised as it was the same image that was given to her mother by the priest many years ago. In addition to the above, Pilar Amador promises that if her children are saved, she will build a temple to venerate this Virgin. Pilar's children recover from the disease, and the construction of the temple begins. However, shortly after, she discovers the existence of a half-built temple on the hill behind the "Jardines del Recuerdo" cemetery, which was abandoned. Investigating the property of the building, she discovers that it belonged to Mr. Carlos Navarro de Alba, who had donated it to the Diocese of La Paz. She completes the necessary procedures with the Bishop to finish the construction and hold the liturgy at this site. Her request is granted.
There are some other versions about the origin of this temple, but they are generally variations of the ones already mentioned.
A person named G. Valle H. wrote a brief account indicating that the construction of this temple began in 1950. However, this version lacks support since at that time the city of La Paz extended only as far as Isabel La Católica street, where the airport was located. Transporting construction materials and workers to build this structure at that location would have been almost impossible. It is most likely that the construction date of the site was in the 1980s or early 1990s. The building was never completed and was left abandoned. It was used by criminals and drug addicts, who gradually destroyed it and gave it a bad reputation. Some people living nearby claimed that strange noises and screams came from the place at night, alluding to paranormal presences and even to the performance of "satanic ceremonies" on the site.
It was in 2005 that Pilar Amador managed to obtain permission from the Diocese of La Paz to carry out activities for the rehabilitation of the temple. She immediately gathered her friends to create a group of devout women who were able to raise money and in-kind donations to gradually adapt the site to the needs of a chapel. On May 18, 2005, the first Mass and consecration of the temple to Our Lady of Schoenstatt took place, with Father Sergio Alberto González, the parish priest of "San Juan Bautista" church, officiating, and under whose jurisdiction this chapel falls.
Apparently, there are few parishioners who attend the site today (there are only liturgical services on the first Saturdays of each month and a Mass is held on the site on the 18th day of each month at 7:00 am), and due to its remoteness and difficult access, it has been a target of crime, with liturgical objects, decorations, and stained glass windows being stolen and other parts of the building being destroyed.
The only temple dedicated to the Mother, Queen, and Victorious Three Times Admirable of Schoenstatt (this is its full title) in Baja California Sur is located in our city. Its care and conservation are important not only because it belongs to the worship of the Catholic religion, but also because it is a legacy of the ancient Marian tradition, under whose mantle the current Baja California Sur flourished, and it has great tourist potential, which could be channeled by the authorities or a board created for this purpose.
Bibliography:
Madre, Reina y Victoriosa tres veces Admirable de Schoenstatt - Web oficial del Movimiento de Schoenstatt
Consejo Pontificio para los laicos (2015). «Movimiento Apostólico de Schoenstatt». Consultado el 4 de junio de 2015.
Movimiento de Schoenstatt alrededor del mundo
La Capilla del Cerrito del Panteón - Arq. Eugenio Santa Cruz Henríquez
Llega desde Italia a La Paz la virgen de Schoenstatt - Daniela Pérez
De leyenda urbana a refugio de pecadores – Anon.
La capilla de Nuestra Señora de Schoenstatt – Anon.
La Capilla del Cerrito, entre la leyenda y la profesión de fe - Humberto Zamora R.
Las tres vírgenes de Querétaro - Por Staff Códice Informativo
La capilla de el cerrito – G.V.H.
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