Catechist Patrick AKPAH

On Sunday, 21st of December, 2025, 16 youths from St. Theresa Catholic Church, Awotan, took the bold step of sealing the covenant of love with the Blessed Virgin Mary as introduced by the founding father of the Schoenstatt Movement, Father Joseph Kentenich in October 18, 1914

 

Schoenstatt is a Catholic Movement which began in Germany in 1914. It is named after the place near Koblenz on the Rhine river where it started. Schoenstatt means beautiful place. This movement began with a group of high school boys led by young priest, Father Joseph Kentenich, they came together and consecrated themselves to the blessed Mother. This Act gave rise to the covenant of love.

As the movement took root in Germany in 1914 and then worldwide, it became known and appreciated as a Marian Movement, an Apostolic Movement and a movement committed to the wholehearted renewal of the Church and society

 

The covenant of love with Mary in Schoenstatt is the centre of the Schoenstatt Spirituality, it is the source of the other aspects of Schoenstatt spirituality, namely: Everyday sanctity and instrument spirituality. The covenant of love is naturally connected to the shrine of Mary who is addressed as the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, who is actively working in shrine through her special graces which are the grace of a home (feeling at home in the shrine and in the heart of Mary), the grace of inner transformation and the grace of apostolic zeal.

 

St. Theresa Catholic Church, Awotan marked her place in history as the first Parish under the Schoenstatt Fathers to seal the  Covenant of love with the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt.

 Fr. Cyprian Avong, the Rectory and Promoter of the Schoenstatt Marian Movement in Nigeria celebrated the Mass, assisted by Brothers Vincent Akilimali Salumu and Eloge Hakizimana.

 

St. Theresa recorded double history in one moment, as Fr Claudius Uwaoma parked into the new parish house, making history as the first Priest to live in the parish, with the ceremony of the covenant of love, which began with a Holy Mass at St Theresa, continuing at Our Lady Queen and Victress Schoenstatt Shrine Ijokodo Ibadan.