An appreciation

Sister Xavera, who has died aged 88, was a remarkable woman whose life in Scotland was spent with the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, based at Campsie Glen, Lennoxtown.

It was in 1962 that Sister Xavera, then known as Sister Deininger, came to this country to look after German-speaking Catholics, who had, after the war, made their home in the country. Her parish was wide, stretching from the north to the islands and into the central belt.

Although she had been sent by the German Bishops' Conference to fulfil this task, she was also on a mission to proclaim the good news about Schoenstatt itself.

Schoenstatt, which translates as "a beautiful place", is a small town in Vallandar, which nestles on the River Rhine in the region of Koblenz.

It was here that Father Jospeh Kentenich founded the Schoenstatt Family, a Marian movement that is now a major influence all over the Catholic world. As a young girl, Sister Xavera, troubled by what was going on in the country under the Nazis, sought a new way.

After an aunt told her about this "wonderful movement", she cycled into Schoenstatt, found her spiritual home and dedicated her life to "Our Blessed Lady".

After a brief spell as a missionary in South Africa, Sister Xavera found herself in Glasgow, where she stayed in a council house in Simshill before moving to the former home of the Bishop Scanlan in Langside Drive.

Armoray House was her base and it soon became a thriving community as her personality drew people from all walks of life. She was joined by Sister Vincetis, who died in South Africa some years later.

It was here that Sister Xavera started the first boys group of which she was so proud.

Desmond Quiggley, John Devine and Brian Geary were young parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Cardonald, and Michael Hawthorn and Matthew Lynch were friends at Our Lady of Lourdes school.

Throughout the years she kept in touch with them all, giving spiritual guidance along the way.

Her inspiration spread wide in Scotland and her dearest wish to build a Schoenstatt shrine in Scotland was fulfilled when, with the help of many Scots, a site was purchased at the foot of the Campsie Fells.

Work was completed on the shrine, and in 1995 the retreat house was built. Since then thousands of people throughout the country have visited the shrine and witnessed the "miracle" of Schoenstatt.

Matthew Lynch