Pope Francis Tag

MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS AT CHRISTMAS 2017 • The beautiful Christmas story has so often been sung, painted and sometimes even romanticised, but it has something to do with today, with the actual events happening today, with real life and a real world. It no longer surprises us to read this message from Pope Francis, but it will make us happy. The Christmas story is the story of a young couple that found no place to stay, and who changed a stable into a church. “They are the first toRead More
PARAGUAY, Fr. Pedro Kühlcke and Maria Fischer • On that 18 October 1914, she promised us: “Then from there I will draw youthful hearts…” Then, when did we prove with our deeds that we really love her? When we go out to take the covenant of love as a covenant of solidarity from the shrine to the peripheries. When we open our hearts and allow that in our hugs, in our lives, in our deeds, and yes, in our material donations, she, the Mother of all men and especially theRead More
WORLD DAY OF THE POOR, Maria Fischer with material from ACI and RV • Thousands of poor and excluded people will participate in the Mass that Pope Francis will celebrate in Rome on Sunday 19 November to commemorate the first World Day of the Poor. After the Mass, 1.500 people will gather in Pope Paul VI Hall for a festive meal with Pope Francis, while another 2.500 people will be welcomed at various seminaries and Catholic colleges where they will also receive lunch. The poor will be joined by membersRead More
CHILE, Verónica Gutiérrez • There were several events and special commemorations during the weekend of October 21 for the Chilean Schoenstatt community. In the first place, it was the date of the fourth milestone of Schoenstatt’s history when Fr. Kentenich was re-incorporated into the Church, he allowing his return and continuing as the director of this movement. The second point, it was St. John Paul II Day and Fr. Joseph Kentenich’s first visit to Chile. With so much to celebrate, the National Leaders’ Gathering was held at the Cenacle ShrineRead More
Fr. Guillermo Carmona • Every year on 18 October, we celebrate the patronal feast of our Shrine. The date reminds us of its importance and gives us the opportunity to reflect: how important is this place for me? What do I find here? Why do I keep coming back? Here, in this place where we belong, we give homage to our Patroness and express our gratitude and joy. The Shrine is our spiritual home, it belongs to us, it is possibly the most beautiful and visible thing we have andRead More
INTERVIEW with Fr. Egon M. Zillekens • From Monday 23 October until Friday 27 October 2017 the members of the General Presidium were in Rome for their annual closed conference. An official report on their meeting with Cardinal Farrell, Prefect of the dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life has already been published, and the photos of the encounter with Pope Francis before and after the early morning Mass in Santa Maria in the Osservatore Romano, as well as the sermon of this day are already circulating round the worldRead More
POPE FRANCIS with Schoenstatt, Maria Fischer • Three years and a day since the jubilee audience in Paul VI Hall, on 26 October, that audience when Pope Francis gave us the motto for Schoenstatt’s second century: a culture of encounter is a covenant culture, and this creates solidarity. Casa Santa Marta’s chapel doors were opened to the members of the International Schoenstatt Presidency gathered in Rome at their annual gathering. They had the privilege of participating in the Holy Father’s Morning Mass. “It was impressive to see the change inRead More
POPE FRANCIS  • “Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday under the theme: “Mission at the heart of the Christian Faith.” I urge everyone to live the joy of the mission, witnessing to the Gospel wherever they live and work. At the same time, we are called to give support by our care and concrete help to the missionaries who have gone out to proclaim Christ to those who still do not know him.” After recalling World Mission Sunday celebrated on 22 October, Pope Francis called an extraordinary missionary month forRead More
COLOMBIA, Alida Becerra • The Schoenstatt youth in Bogotá attended the meeting with Pope Francis in Bolivar Square. They were among 22.000 youth who had gathered from 4 in the morning to welcome the Pope. Working with the impulses of the Colombian Church The youth prepared themselves for the meeting with the Holy Father with Sr. María Amparo Villouta and the leaders of the youth Laura Téllez, Fanny Bravo, Consuelo Iturrieta and Andrea Sánchez. Over three Saturdays, they met at “Mater House” in Bogotá where they learnt more about PopeRead More
Fr. Alberto E. Eronti, Buenos Aires, Argentina There are questions that touch bottom, that constitute a radical challenge; they are those that leave no alternative, they must be answered.  For example, this was Martha’s experience in Bethany (Jn.11: 26) when Jesus upon affirming “Those who believe in me will live, even though they die,” He asks: “Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I do believe.”  This also was the question Father Kentenich asked a group of Schoenstatt Fathers who went to see him about problems they thought could not beRead More