The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary – the first German secular institute – can look back on their first 100 years this year. The community, which is now present on all continents in 32 countries, is celebrating this anniversary worldwide through various activities.
At the Motherhouse on Mount Schoenstatt in Vallendar, the international center of the community, a jubilee exhibition was opened on March 22, 2026. It invites visitors on a threefold journey.
The journey inward – LIGHT TRAILS– presents key elements of the community’s spirituality, offers insight into the way of living today as a spiritual family, and invites visitors to linger at the “family table.”
The journey into the founding history – INITIAL FIRE – leads to an encounter with the strong women of the founding generation who, together with the founder, Father Josef Kentenich, set out on the new path of a “secular institute” at a time when everything was in upheaval after the First World War.
The journey into the present – WORLD JOURNEY – invites visitors to the outdoor area between the Motherhouse and the Adoration Church: On 20 large-format panels, one can see how diverse the community’s work is worldwide today—in education, pastoral care, social projects, and much more.
For younger visitors—and not only for them—there is an experience course on the lawn in front of the Motherhouse, where encounters with the life of the community are made possible in a playful way.
The “World Journey” in the outdoor area is accessible at all times. The indoor sections of the exhibition are open until the jubilee celebration on October 3, 2026. They are open daily from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and can be visited without registration.
In addition, guided tours are available for groups; appointments can be requested via the following contact address: Reception of the Motherhouse, Berg Schoenstatt 1, 56179 Vallendar. Tel. 0261/64041. Email: jubi100@s-ms.org