The Sisters of St. Rita Rosary Walk

The Sisters of St. Rita, Augustinian Sisters in Racine, Wisconsin, whose charism is to care for the elderly at St. Monica's Senior Living, have completed a gorgeous rosary walk behind St. Monica's. The garden walk, made with natural elements and breathtaking works of art by Aichim Klass from Ontario, Canada, is a perfect place to meditate.  Just behind the large crucifix there are two small, flowering bushes and a brand-new statue of the Blessed Mother with the infant Jesus, which was recently dedicated by Bishop Hying.  The bushes and the statue represent the beads upon which we pray for an increase in faith, hope and charity.  Behind the statue, visitors may walk the circular rosary path.  Each bush on the path represents one bead of the rosary.  The mysteries of the rosary are displayed on cement plaques that are also the work of Aichim Klass.  The entire rosary walk is beautiful and a great way to honor our Lady in prayer and to find some peace for your heart as well.  Visitors are always welcome, no need to call ahead.  Perhaps, until you can find an occasion to visit, you would enjoy praying with the pictures below which were all taken by my daughter, Mary.  Yet, as beautiful as the pictures are, they can't compare to praying with the images in person, so please do plan to pray at the Sisters of St. Rita Rosary Walk soon and often!  For more information about the Sisters of St. Rita Rosary Walk, visit their facebook page here.

Faith, Hope and Charity

the walk

A Hail Mary Bead

The First Mysteries

The Second Mysteries

The Third Mysteries

The Fourth Mysteries

The Fifth Mysteries

Schoenstatt Shrine

My sister invited me to daily Mass at her parish, St. Vincent Pallotti in Milwaukee, to pray for my dad on the 8th anniversary of his death on July 1st.  Daily Mass at St. Vincent is quite early at 6:25 am, so after Mass I found myself with a little extra time on my hands before I had to leave for work.  I decided to spend that time in prayer in the little Schoenstatt Shrine that is directly behind the church.

The Schoenstatt Shrine is charming but even more so were the hospitable sisters that I found praying their morning prayers when I arrived.  How quickly they had arrived at the chapel following Mass!  I joined them in their prayers whenever I could, such as praying the Angelus, and when they were through they invited me to sign their visitor book, thanked me for praying with them and were very gracious when I asked about taking a few pictures.

This wasn't my first time praying at the Schoenstatt Shrine; I've gone there for adoration from time to time, but this visit moved me in a special way, perhaps because of the kindness that the sisters showed me, or maybe it was because my dad was praying for me as my sister and I were praying for him, and I could feel his love more deeply than ever that morning.

The original Schoenstatt Shrine is in Germany, home of the lay movement's founder, Fr. Kenneth Kentenich, and there are 180 replica shrines throughout the world, including four in Wisconsin. Mass is offered at the Milwaukee Schoenstatt Shrine, 5310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, and Eucharistic Adoration is held from 9 am-2 pm Monday through Saturday.  To learn more about Schoenstatt visit this link.

Schoenstatt Prayer of Good Intention

All I experience today,

What I say and what I dare,

All my thoughts and all my actions,

What I love and what I merit,

All that I direct and conquer

All my joys and all my sorrows,

All that I am and have,

I give to you as a gift of love.

Use it so the holy stream of grace

Flows richly from this shrine

To win hearts for Schoenstatt

Lead there all those whom you have chosen

That the work we offer to the triune God

May be fruitful.  Amen.

I was impressed that the stained glass window portrays an image of the chapel

Our Mother Thrice Admirable is the centerpiece of every Schoenstatt Chapel-this year Schoenstatt is celebrating it's 100th anniversary so the banner across the altar and the candle in the center are in honor of that joyous occasion