General Updates
We Welcome Schoenstatt San Antonio’s Youngest Schoenstatter!
A Joyful Welcome to Baby Leonardo
On Thursday, July 24, we joyfully welcomed Leonardo Balderas, born to Alejandra Solano and Alejandro Balderas—devoted members of the Schoenstatt Movement of San Antonio.
Leonardo entered the world weighing 6.8 pounds and measuring 19 inches long. Now over a month old, he’s growing quickly and has already attended Mass at Mount Schoenstatt—a beautiful beginning to a life rooted in faith.
Ale and Alejandro serve as Diocesan Coordinators for the San Antonio Schoenstatt Movement and are active members of the Board of Directors. Their deep love for the Blessed Mother shines through their tireless dedication to the Cor Unum in Patre Shrine, the movement, and our Schoenstatt family.
We unite with them in spirit and prayer as they celebrate the gift of new life. May Baby Leonardo be a radiant blessing in their home and a light to the world. Through the grace of God and the tender intercession of our Mother Thrice Admirable, may their days be filled with health, peace, and love.
Congratulations, Ale and Alejandro! And Leonardo—welcome to your Schoenstatt family and to the world!
Get Your Tickets! Annual Raffle Fundraiser Underway
The Schoenstatt Movement of San Antonio is gearing up for its Annual Raffle Fundraiser, and all are invited – and encouraged – to be part of it!
DRAWING DATE: Sat., Oct. 25, 2025, 10am
TICKET PRICE: $5 each (cash or check made payable to Schoenstatt Movement of San Antonio
WHERE TO GET TICKETS:
- Hope Store during store hours
- Branch leaders
- Raffle Coordinators: Frances Zunker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Cindy Treviño at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All proceeds support Schoenstatt’s mission of spiritual renewal and formation as well as upkeep of the ground and facilities so that we may continue to create encounters with Christ through the Blessed Mother.
Every ticket helps bring someone closer to Christ through Mary!
For more information, call (210) 695-1400.
Mount Schoenstatt Welcomes Retreatants from St. Anthony Mary Claret
In August, the Core Acts Group Retreat for St. Anthony Mary Claret’s Spanish Acts was held at Mount Schoenstatt. This lively group of women had a wonderful retreat, which included activities in Kentenich Hall and Mass in Cor Unum in Patre Shrine.
Did you know? Facility rentals at Mount Schoenstatt are available at very affordable rates. Revenue generated from rentals goes toward the daily operations of Mount Schoenstatt. For more information, please call or text Christine Gonzlalez, Rental Coordinator, at (210) 393-5260.
Celebrating 75 Years of the Pilgrim Mother
Celebrating 75 Years of the grace-filled visitation of our Pilgrim Mother, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt throughout the world
Dear Schoenstatt Family,
Heartfelt greetings from the Exile land of our dear Father and Founder.
Years ago when I heard for the first time about John Pozzobon and his work, carrying our Blessed Mother of Schoenstatt, the Pilgrim Mother, to families and schools, I was very impressed and enthused. I wanted to know more about this apostolate.
In 1987 the time had come. We had chartered a bus to go on Pilgrimage to our Founders Exile places in Wisconsin as Schoenstatt family of Texas. This pilgrimage was the open door. Father Kentenich’s gift in return for our visit, was a Pilgrim Mother offered to us by Sister M. Thomasine for Texas. The couples, mothers and girls who took part in the pilgrimage were very open for this Pilgrim Shrine. Gratitude and joy filled the hearts to take our Mother and Queen to the Lone Star State. It seemed to me, that this particular apostolate was truly the visitation of our Schoenstatt Mother for the education of the new person in the new community.
I remembered a talk at a Pilgrim Mother Workshop at Lamar by Father Patricio Rodriguez, explaining the Pilgrim Shrine in its simplicity. It is a small, wooden Shrine he said, but how powerful are the graces the Blessed Mother gives to us from this Shrine. She works miracles of transformation, of being at home in her mother heart and thus becoming apostolically fruitful in many ways.
In the inspiring book, “A hero today, not tomorrow”, by Father Esteban Uriburu we can also read on page 14 the words of John Pozzobon: “I am small but I want to do big things”, “I was big when I felt small.” On page 15 he says: “But then came my part; She (the Blessed Mother) entrusted this picture to me. I felt responsible and made up my mind to pray the rosary every night.”
We know about his wonderful work with the Pilgrim Mother and how it expanded in Brazil from the Tabor Shrine. Our Father and Founder said that this work was the new Pastoral.
Now we look back on 75 years of the apostolate with the Pilgrim Mother. However, not without the instruments chosen by HER.
In August and October of 1987 many pilgrims from various Dioceses came to the Confidencia Shrine, to be commissioned with our Pilgrim Mother. The first Pilgrim Shrines were commissioned in August to Elsa Crixell, Brownsville, Eva Briones San Diego, TX, and Angie Chapa, Corpus Christi. Then continued in October to Carlos and Elizabeth Cantu, Diocesan leaders, La Feria. Soon after that our Pilgrim Mother found her way to San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Laredo and Dallas Fort Worth, to be received by many open hearts.
We give special thanks to all loyal State team leaders, with the help of the spiritual advisers Father Esteban Uriburu, Father Hector Vega and the Sisters, for many years, Victor and Olga Alegria.
Gratitude includes those who continued the work faithfully, Angelina and Adolfo Lopez, Noe and Rubi Moraida, Laura Schuckenbrock, and those with great mission zeal for San Antonio, Houston, Laredo and Austin.
There are seven Auxiliary Shrines where our Blessed Mother is crowned in the intention of each Diocese. The first Auxiliary Shrine was brought by plane from Brazil by Don Blan, for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. He also made the first crown for this Shrine. A precious Statue of John Pozzobon, carrying the Pilgrim Shrine, was wood carved by Victor Allegria.
Our very first Pilgrim Mother received a crown in gratitude at the 25. Anniversary of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Texas, in 2012.
A huge Pilgrim Shrine for the celebrations at the Confidencia Shrine in Lamar was made by Tony Scamardo. I remember well the sight of the little car rolling towards the Confidencia Shrine with Toni and Joann, and in their “midst” the huge Pilgrim Shrine of about five foot long, reaching to the steering wheel. As I saw them, I run outside to greet them and was so sorry that I forgot the camera. The big Pilgrim Shrine has a place of honor on the left side of the Confidencia Shrine on the red carpet, always decorated with beautiful flowers by the mothers at the celebrations.
Gratitude, much gratitude fills our hearts for those who made Pilgrim Shrines throughout the years- Joe Rodriguez, Victor Alegria, Ignacio Cruz, Bonifacio Rodriguez, Zeke Garza and Toni Scamardo. A Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign guidebook was composed by the State team and much appreciated by those commissioned.
Gratitude as well to all Directors of the Campaign for the Dioceses during the years and especially NOW, as already mentioned. The great mission continues in our dioceses, leading many to our Daughter Shrines and the Covenant of Love.
Let us meditate with John Pozzobons words in order to never tire but grow in deep love to our Mother and Queen and her work.
United in the Covenant of Love and our great mission,
Sister M. Corelia Bechold
John Pozzobon recalled:
“I often got wet in those days but I wore a cape so the Pilgrim Mother didn’t get wet because I protected her under my cape.
A hero now. I have only to say this word and I lose all fear. My Mother Thrice Admirable and Queen, I want always remain attached to your Shrine. I believe and feel as I never have before. For me, everything is a Shrine; praying, working, travelling. Yes, everything. I bear this word hero till the end of my days. It is a weapon I use in times of temptation. Under the protection of the MTA of Schoenstatt, and together with her, I shall overcome my difficulties…”
Save the Date: Family Consecration Day | Sat., Oct. 18
This year, Schoenstatt San Antonio’s Annual Family Consecration Day, a Ludolph tradition, will be held on Oct. 18. Normally held in July, the celebration has been moved to Fall so that we may all enjoy the festivities in cooler weather.
Deacon Tony Ludolph and his beloved wife, Dolores—now entrusted to eternal life—began this tradition to bring Schoenstatt families together to consecrate themselves to the Holy Family. This special gathering draws families into prayer and fellowship, strengthening family unity, safeguarding spiritual life, and fostering virtue in our daily lives.
Check back here next month for more details!
