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Schoenstatt Center in Lamar, TX Overrun by Hurricane Harvey
On the evening from Friday, August 24 to Saturday, August 25, eighteen Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Lamar, Texas experienced the brunt of Hurricane Harvey, including the eye of the hurricane, as it crossed over their property. The damage left in its wake was catastrophic. Just about every building on the campus was damaged. Some were destroyed, others lost part or all of the roof, most experienced extensive water damage. Even the Schoenstatt Shrine itself lost part of its roof. Since then, volunteers and generous donors have been helping to clean up the debris, secure the buildings from further water damage, and supply food and other necessities to the Sisters. A number of Sisters were evacuated to Wisconsin, since there were no longer enough undamaged rooms for them to remain in Lamar. Reconstruction is slowly beginning, but there is still much help needed and the process will take time.
Schoenstatt Center in Cabo Rojo, PR affected by Hurricane Maria
On Wednesday, September 20, eleven Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary experienced the destruction of Hurricane Maria as it tore through Puerto Rico. Cabo Rojo, the main house of the Sisters on the island, is located on the south western corner of the island, and was therefore partly sheltered from the center of the hurricane. However, the damage caused was still extensive. Roofs were torn off, scraps flew into buildings, and skylights fell in, all leading to extensive water damage. As of October 16, like most of the island, they remain without electricity or running water. We do not yet have pictures from there, but recently some Sisters were also able to evacuate to Wisconsin.
What can we do?
The Schoenstatt family throughout the USA and the world are united in prayer for these centers as they work through the effects of the hurricane. Some have already sent funds, spent time there volunteering, or are helping in other ways. In Madison we wondered how we could help. Taking advantage of the leaders’ convention in Waukesha, we developed a plan. Since nature had harmed our shrines, we would spend a day in nature, from shrine to shrine, to help build up the natural beauty of our “beautiful places” once again. Schoenstatt is a German word that means “beautiful place.”
From Shrine to Shrine for the Shrines!
On October 9th Patty Raskob and I, Barb Brochtrup, completed a 63 mile bike ride from the International Shrine of the Father Kingdom at the Waukesha Schoenstatt Center to the Founder Shrine in Madison, WI as a fundraising effort for these Schoenstatt Shrines and centers damaged by the recent hurricanes. Entrusting the intentions for the shrines and people in Lamar, TX and Cabo Rojo, PR to our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt, Patty and I set off on our journey, “From Shrine to Shrine for the Shrine.” We prayed a rosary during the entire bike trip, marking every mile with a prayer. God graced us with the support of our families, beautiful weather, and the ease of the ride on the Glacial Drumlin bike trail. Neither one of us have biked that far before, but doing the ride for those suffering in TX and PR made the aches and pains easier to bear. We are hoping our efforts will raise awareness of the plight of our Schoenstatt family affected by these storms and that people will do what they can to financially contribute towards a special fund set up for the needs of those affected by the hurricanes.
Shrine damage from Hurricane Harvey - Lamar, TX
Damage from Hurricane Harvey in Lamar, TX
On the evening from Friday, August 24 to Saturday, August 25, eighteen Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Lamar, Texas experienced the brunt of Hurricane Harvey, including the eye of the hurricane, as it crossed over their property. The damage left in its wake was catastrophic. Just about every building on the campus was damaged. Some were destroyed, others lost part or all of the roof, most experienced extensive water damage. Even the Schoenstatt Shrine itself lost part of its roof. Since then, volunteers and generous donors have been helping to clean up the debris, secure the buildings from further water damage, and supply food and other necessities to the Sisters. A number of Sisters were evacuated to Wisconsin, since there were no longer enough undamaged rooms for them to remain in Lamar. Reconstruction is slowly beginning, but there is still much help needed and the process will take time.
Schoenstatt Center in Cabo Rojo, PR affected by Hurricane Maria
On Wednesday, September 20, eleven Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary experienced the destruction of Hurricane Maria as it tore through Puerto Rico. Cabo Rojo, the main house of the Sisters on the island, is located on the south western corner of the island, and was therefore partly sheltered from the center of the hurricane. However, the damage caused was still extensive. Roofs were torn off, scraps flew into buildings, and skylights fell in, all leading to extensive water damage. As of October 16, like most of the island, they remain without electricity or running water. We do not yet have pictures from there, but recently some Sisters were also able to evacuate to Wisconsin.
What can we do?
The Schoenstatt family throughout the USA and the world are united in prayer for these centers as they work through the effects of the hurricane. Some have already sent funds, spent time there volunteering, or are helping in other ways. In Madison we wondered how we could help. Taking advantage of the leaders’ convention in Waukesha, we developed a plan. Since nature had harmed our shrines, we would spend a day in nature, from shrine to shrine, to help build up the natural beauty of our “beautiful places” once again. Schoenstatt is a German word that means “beautiful place.”
From Shrine to Shrine for the Shrines!
On October 9th Patty Raskob and I, Barb Brochtrup, completed a 63 mile bike ride from the International Shrine of the Father Kingdom at the Waukesha Schoenstatt Center to the Founder Shrine in Madison, WI as a fundraising effort for these Schoenstatt Shrines and centers damaged by the recent hurricanes. Entrusting the intentions for the shrines and people in Lamar, TX and Cabo Rojo, PR to our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt, Patty and I set off on our journey, “From Shrine to Shrine for the Shrine.” We prayed a rosary during the entire bike trip, marking every mile with a prayer. God graced us with the support of our families, beautiful weather, and the ease of the ride on the Glacial Drumlin bike trail. Neither one of us have biked that far before, but doing the ride for those suffering in TX and PR made the aches and pains easier to bear. We are hoping our efforts will raise awareness of the plight of our Schoenstatt family affected by these storms and that people will do what they can to financially contribute towards a special fund set up for the needs of those affected by the hurricanes.
Shrine damage from Hurricane Harvey - Lamar, TXDamage from Hurricane Harvey in Lamar, TX
Organizer
Schoenstatt Heights
Organizer
Madison, WI