Among the many branches of the Schoenstatt Movement, the Girls' Youth is specifically there to serve girls and young women who are seeking a closer relationship to Christ through Mary. Schoenstatt has always had a special place for young people. The Schoenstatt Girls' Youth officially came into being on August 15th, 1931 and made its way to the United States in the late fifties. As Schoenstatt Girls' Youth, Catholic girls and young women the world over strive to become little Mary's; a reflection of Mary for our world. Here in north Texas, The Schoenstatt Girl's Youth is very active in the form of many small groups that meet on a regular basis as a means of spiritual growth and dedication. As Schoenstatt Girls Youth (SGY), the girls frequently come together for retreats and summer camps run by the Schoenstatt Sisters. Schoenstatt is a wonderful way for young women to make their faith a truly meaningful part of their lives and draw closer to Mary as Mother and helpmate.

The Schoenstatt Girls' Youth is a branch of the International Schoenstatt Movement, which was founded in Germany by Fr. Joseph Kentenich in the 1914. The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary bear the main responsibility for the Girls' Youth in the USA.

The main aims of our work with the youth are:

• the education and formation of girls according to the God willed image of womanhood as reflected in Mary.
• the deepening of the truths of our Catholic faith, as well as the fostering of prayer and the spiritual life through Schoenstatt's spirituality. This spirituality includes:
• Belief in God's loving, wise and fatherly providence, which guides and directs our lives;
• The awareness of our baptismal covenant, which is secured and deepened through the covenant of love with Mary, the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt;
• The reality that each person is given a unique mission by God, and is therefore called to be an instrument in his hand for the renewal of the world in Christ through Mary.
• above all, through Schoenstatt the girls should develop the longing and ability to integrate our Catholic faith into daily life.
• Ideally, Schoenstatt is not just another after-school activity among all the others, but rather a way of life for the girls that enables them to think clearly, to decide firmly, and to love purely in accordance with the calling to holiness that is essential to the Christian life.
• Levels within the Schoenstatt Girls' Youth
• The Schoenstatt Girls' Youth includes three levels divided according to the ages of the girls. As such, the levels do not operate on a "prerequisites" basis. For example, a girl may join the Girls' Youth without having been a Little Crown or Marian Apostle.
• Mary's Little Crowns (ages 6-8): Study material leads the girls to grow in love for Mary and basic knowledge of Catholic Marian devotion (i.e., Marian Feast days, rosary, names of Mary, pilgrimage places, Mary's virtues) and how Schoenstatt honors our Lady.
• Marian Apostles (ages 9-13): Study material prepares the girls to seal the covenant of love with Mary as Marian Apostles. As a group the girls choose a group name and design a symbol (i.e. Mary's Jewels of Purity, Pure Pearls of our Mother Mary). Special emphasis is placed on the importance of Holy Mass, the choosing of appropriate books, magazines, TV shows and movies, protection for purity, and praying daily the consecration prayer, "My Queen, My Mother." After their consecration the girls look for a special spot in their room in order to give Mary a place of honor. This little corner is called their room shrine. Once they have their room shrine, the emphasis is placed more on self-education and the cultivation of their hearts as the dwelling place of Jesus and Mary. Download Marian Apostle Workbook.
• Schoenstatt Girl's Youth (ages 14-college level): Study material leads the girls into Schoenstatt spirituality and prepares them for the covenant of love an as an official acceptance into the youth branch. Topics relevant to their age level, such as courtship or vocational discernment, are covered in the light of our faith and Schoenstatt's spirituality.

In addition to monthly Schoenstatt Girls' Youth meetings, members are invited and encouraged to participate in:

• local retreats during Advent and Lent, held at St Elizabeth Ann Seton in Keller or St. Mark in Denton
• Schoenstatt Summer Camps, Lamar, TX
• pilgrimages, youth leaders convention at the Schoenstatt Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin and at Schoenstatt's place of origin in Schoenstatt, Germany.

For more information please contact:

Mitzi Cox, Mlcox8@gmail.com

SEAS, Keller contact 817-431-6551

Andrea Woolums, woolums10@verizon.net

St Mark, Denton contact 940-367-4479