The Life of Rev Mario Schoenmaker - A Brief Outline
from CentreCOMM February/March/April 1997
1929 Born November 18 to Wilhelmina and Giysbertus Schoenmaker of Rotterdam.
1937 As a boy of seven, experienced the call to the priesthood.
1940 Saw teachers from his Christian Brothers' School executed by the Nazis because of the assistance they had given to wounded soldiers.
1941 Entered a seminary boarding school in Tegelen. During his holidays worked in a Delft blue ceramics factory in Amersfoort.
1942 Family home bombed.
1947 After ten years of studying for the priesthood, left the Catholic Church because he could not accept elements of its dogma and because he had been converted through the Salvation Army. Became a Salvation Army soldier.
1948-49 National service in the Dutch Army.
1950 Studied at nondenominational Bible College in Zurich.
1951 Made a living painting Delft blue pottery while being an itinerant preacher for the Youth for Christ movement. Contacted by an occult fraternity in Paris, France.
1953 Invited to become part of an esoteric Christian school in Wuppertal, Germany, where he trained for one year.
1954 Joined the Dutch Army as an artist making designs and models for military service.
1955 Called by a Canadian church to be its minister but immigration application refused. Traveled to Australia instead, settling in Warragul, Victoria, where he established a painting and decorating business which he ran for four years, first in Warragul then in Melbourne.
1958 Moved to Ivanhoe, Victoria, still in the painting business.
1959 Married Helen Voet, a dietitian from Holland, in the Ivanhoe Baptist Church on 7th February. Settled in Frankston, Victoria.
1960 With Helen answered a call to work among the Aborigines at the Roelands Mission, near Collie, in Western Australia.
1961 Birth of daughter Antoinette.
1962 Called to pastor of Presbyterian-Congregational Church in Bunbury, Brunswick Junction.
1963 Called to Victoria Park and Rivervale Congregational churches in Perth. Theological studies. Traveled to Holland to see his mother who was dying of cancer.
1964 Birth of son, Adrian, and the commencement of the healing ministry.
1966 Mystical experience as a result of which his clairvoyance became operative and he was able to see auras. Began to study spiritual phenomena.
1968 Ordained as a minister of the Congregational Church. Met Colin Read. Begins to speak about metaphysics; began to give 'rudimentary' spiritual readings.
1969 Transformation of the church began. Old church building in McMaster Street, Victoria Park, sold. The Centre began with Healing Services (2 per night) previously conducted in people's homes. Began to preach on esoteric subjects.
1971 Began annual Centre readings.
1973 Blessed the union of two women, incurring criticism from the traditional church.
1974 Ordained Colin Read into the Order of Melchizedek. Spiritual readings now in the form described in the 'New Clairvoyance.'
1975 Called Rev Colin Read to be the first priest of The Centre in Auckland, NZ. Resigned from the Congregational ministry and founded The Church of the Mystic Christ as a separate denomination. Elevated to Meritus.
1977 Six months travel with Rev Colin, establishing overseas contacts.
1980 Moved headquarters of The Centre to Melbourne.
1982 Purchased Palm Court Manor in Ivanhoe as a home for the growing Centre community.
1983 Began major lecture series on Revelation, 'The Ultimate Vision', and 'Deliberations on Saint Mark'.
1985 Began major lecture series 'The Book of Hebrews'. Commencement of work with Rev Max Clayton, later to develop into 'Imaging'.
1986 Elevation of Rev Colin Read to Meritus. Publication of the first edition of 'The New Clairvoyance.'.
1986 Sold Palm Court Manor and bought the Christian Science church in Elsternwick as new headquarters which would allow The Centre to further expand.
1988 Changed the name of the church to 'The Independent Church of Australia'. Founded the Order of the Mystic Christ to give the deeper esoteric teachings. First imaging seminar held. Ordained daughter Antoinette into the Order of Melchizedek. First 'working' trip to Holland.
1989 Purchased RSL building in Caulfield as new home for The Centre which would house its varied activities.
1992 First Retreat in Holland.
1993 In a leap of faith purchased Campaspe House, and executive conference centre, as an investment for The Centre.
1994 Began series of OMC lectures on the Gospel of St Luke.
1995 Ordained first New Zealand priest, Rev Clare Elizabeth. Elevation of daughter, Rev Antoinette, to Meritus.
1996 Inaugurated the Dutch Centre with twelve members. Ordained nineteen candidates into the priesthood, both liturgical and free. Last pastoral visits to Holland, New Zealand, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney. Launched 1997 as the Year of Renewal.
1997 After short illness, set free from the physical on January 12. Cosmic Soul Mass and Funeral Rites, January 16. Continues his work from the spiritual worlds ...
