1915 April 11: Otto Boenki makes his consecration with the Schoenstatt Marian Sodality (in the same ceremony as his classmate Joseph Engling).
1924 Arrival of Otto Boenki, Nikolaus Wilwers, and Franz Lorscheid of the founding generation to begin work as Pallottines in the United States. They are ordained priests in 1925.
1929 The Pallottines open the Pallottine College, a high school preparatory seminary, at Holy Cross. As teachers, Frs. Boenki and Wilwers try to introduce the boys in the school to the MTA, but without much success.
1933 November 30: The General Council of the Pallottines creates the North American District, consisting of those houses in North America founded from the two German provinces. Fr. Otto Boenki is named the first District Superior
1935 During a visit to Germany, Fr. Boenki is able to win over Pallottine seminarians William Brell and Joseph Haas for the mission in the United States. Both are strongly convinced about Schoenstatt. They come, finish their studies in Washington, and are ordained in 1937.
1936 The District is elevated to a Region and Fr. Otto Boenki becomes the first Regional Superior
1946 The Region is elevated to become the Midwest Province of the Pallottines (given the name Mater Dei Province). Fr. Otto Boenki is named the first Provincial Superior, in 1947 he is succeeded by Fr. Joseph DeMaria
1948 June 5-Sept 6: Fr. Kentenich’s first visit to the U.S. Fr. Boenki plays an important part in inviting Fr. Kentenich.
As of Sept. 1, 1948, the new Province had 36 Fathers (20 German, 16 American) and 9 Brothers (6 German and 3 American) (Source: Memorandum from Fr. Boenki to Fr. Kentenich, 1948)
Dec. 6: Fr. Boenki writes to Fr. Kentenich that the Provincial Council has voted unanimously in favor of building an “MTA Chapel” next to the Queen of Apostles Seminary now under construction in Madison (it seems to be still somewhat unclear if the Council is totally ready for a replica Shrine or a variation, but the tendency seems to favor a replica). As there is currently no money for the project, it cannot be built now, but out of love for the MTA several of the Pallottines are ready to contribute their own manual labor to bring the project more into financial reach. Fr. Boenki has already received the blueprints for a daughter shrine.
Dec. 15: In his letter of response to Fr. Boenki, Fr. Kentenich writes, “Carissime: I congratulate you on the success [with the vote of the Provincial Council]. It is of great value that the Council at least wants to build an MTA Chapel. The profession to Schoenstatt should not be too hard to still accomplish. (….) The circle around you will be easily won over for it, especially since some of the Fathers want to build the Shrine with their own hands. Every stone awakens love and is a proof of their love.” (Otto Boenki papers, delegation archive)
1965 July 31: Fathers Boenki, Miller, Haas and Brell formally apply to the Milwaukee Province of the SAC for permission to seek an episcopus benevolus, the matter is immediately referred to the SAC general council in Rome; permission is granted Aug. 7, and on September 9 they receive permission to live outside of a house of the Pallottines.
Sept. 28: Frs. Brell, Miller, and Haas are incardinated into the Archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina; Fr. Boenki’s incardination will follow in January 1966.
1969 Dec. 21: Fr. Boenki dies in New York. He is the first member of the delegation and the first member of the entire Fathers’ community to be called home to God.