About Us
Welcome to Schoenstatt Tampa Bay, a place where faith and community come together to create a vibrant spiritual journey. We were born of the piercing experience of the closing of Transfiguration Catholic Church. During Transfiguration’s three month journey (July 13, 2019 to October 20, 2019) of grief and sorrow, we learned about the “Double Edge Sword of the Father’s will” and learned from the Blessed Virgin Mary how to resist, insist and persist beyond the piercing of our hearts into the life-giving experience of becoming the founders of Schoenstatt in the diocese of St Petersburg.
The Journey of Schoenstatt Tampa Bay
On October 18, 2019, a group of individuals from Transfiguration made the “Covenant of Love” a bold proposal to MTA: “We freely and willingly give you our beloved home parish of Transfiguration, but in exchange, we propose you give us multiple Home Shrines that with each other would collaborate to build a Schoenstatt Shrine in the diocese of St. Petersburg.” This bold exchange, with the piercing Sword of the Father’s will, gave birth to Schoenstatt Tampa Bay. This explains our symbolism: the Shrine built upon the sword.
What is Schoenstatt?
Schoenstatt is an international Catholic movement that seeks to inspire individuals and families towards a renewed faith in God. The name “Schoenstatt” comes from a small village in Germany where the movement started in 1914, meaning “beautiful place.” At its core, Schoenstatt promotes a deep relationship with Mary, the Mother of God, as a way to grow closer to Christ.
Father Joseph Kentenich
Father Joseph Kentenich (1885-1968) was the founder of the Schoenstatt Movement. His vision was to educate people to be free, firm, and priestly characters who live their covenant with God, each other, and nature. His teachings continue to guide us today, inspiring us to live our faith fully in our everyday lives.
