Newsletter: General Updates
Honor Mary’s September Feast Days at Mount Schoenstatt
By Margaret Ousset, Board Chair, Schoenstatt Movement of San Antonio
As the late summer warmth gives way to September, our hearts at Mount Schoenstatt turn with deep affection toward the Blessed Mother. September invites us into a season of rich Marian devotion, marked by two profound feast days that draw us closer to Mary’s maternal heart and her unique role in salvation history. Through these celebrations, we are reminded of her gentle presence guiding our daily pilgrimage of faith.
On September 8, the Church joyfully celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her birth is a dawn of hope for all humanity, as she was prepared from her very conception to bear the Savior of the World. Celebrating Our Lady’s birthday reminds us of the heavenly Father’s immense generosity in giving us His Son. As St. Augustine beautifully reflected, “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley.” Her surrender, obedience, and total love for God paved the way for our redemption.
Shortly after, on September 12, we venerate the Most Holy Name of Mary. Just as the Church honors the holy name of Jesus, we hold Mary’s name in high esteem—a holy name that is simultaneously sacred and deeply maternal. Re-established as a universal feast by Pope St. John Paul II, this devotion has inspired countless saints, including St. Louis de Montfort, to entrust their spiritual lives to her name. Whenever we invoke Mary, we call upon a mother who intercedes for us with powerful, tender care.
On September 15, the Church turns her gaze to Our Lady of Sorrows, remembering Mary as the faithful Mother who stood beneath the Cross and united her heart completely with her Son’s redemptive suffering. In contemplating her Seven Sorrows, we learn from Mary how to remain steadfast in love even in moments of trial, trusting that God transforms every sorrow when offered with faith. This feast invites us to bring our own crosses to her maternal heart, where she consoles us, strengthens us, and leads us closer to Christ.
This September, let us celebrate these feasts either by visiting our Shrine or by bringing prayer into our heart Shrines and home Shrines. May the joy of Mary’s birth, the peaceful refuge of her holy name, and the compassionate strength we receive from Our Lady of Sorrows inspire us to renew our Covenant of Love, drawing us ever closer to her divine Son.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
By Deacon Paul Williams, Our Lady of Guadalupe - Helotes
Each September 15 of the Catholic liturgical year, Mary’s Immaculate Heart is often depicted as pierced by seven swords, representing the sorrows that she experienced, with and alongside her Son, Jesus. In perfect obedience to God and His will, Mary consented to her Son’s passion and death, entering into his sorrow in a way, only a mother can.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary is a Catholic devotion focusing on the emotional pain and grief suffered by the Blessed Mother, during key moments of Jesus’ life and passion.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary are:
- The Prophecy of Simeon. Simeon warns Mary that a sword will pierce her soul, foretelling future grief.
- The Flight into Egypt. Mary and Joseph flee by night into a foreign land to protect the infant Jesus from King Herod.
- The Loss of Jesus in the Temple. Mary and Joseph endure three days of anxious, heartbreaking searching for the child, Jesus.
- Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary. Mary watches her beaten and condemned Son carry His heavy cross to His execution.
- The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus. Mary stands silently at the foot of the cross, watching Jesus die with the apostle John.
- Jesus Taken Down from the Cross. Mary holds the lifeless body of Jesus in her arms (the Pietà).
- The Burial of Jesus. Mary faces profound sorrow as the tomb is sealed as she leaves Him behind.
These Sorrows of Mary are often depicted in Luke 2:34-35, when Simeon prophesied the sorrows that Mary would undergo.
Meditating on these sorrows can offer comfort in our human suffering, connecting our personal grief to Mary's empathetic and steadfast maternal heart. Let us turn to the Blessed Mother in our time of sorrow and grief. Mary, Pray for Us!
St. Joseph Gets a New Coat of Paint
With grateful and joyful hearts, we extend our gratitude to Belinda Munguia, who lovingly refreshed the statue of St. Joseph, our beautiful adoptive father, which stands at the steps of Cor Unum in Patre Shrine. His new coat of paint has brought renewed beauty and dignity to this beloved figure.
The care and devotion poured into this simple act of service remind us of St. Joseph’s quiet fidelity to Mary, his spouse and our Blessed Mother. Thank you Belinda!
Blessed Saint Joseph, increase our faith and protect our family!
Archdiocese of San Antonio Centennial Celebration | Nov. 7
Centennial Celebration: Mass & Pastoral Vision Proclamation
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Nelson W. Wolff Stadium
Doors open at 3 p.m. | Mass Begins at 4 p.m.
FREE
Join the Archdiocese of San Antonio on Sat., Nov. 7, for a historic Centennial Mass and the formal proclamation of the new Archdiocesan Pastoral Vision by Archbishop Gustavo García‑Siller, MSpS. Doors open at 3 p.m., and Mass begins at 4 p.m. at Nelson W. Wolff Stadium.
This free, family‑friendly celebration marks a milestone in our local Church’s history and invites all the faithful to unite in prayer, gratitude, and renewed mission as we embrace the pastoral direction that will guide the archdiocese into its next century.
