Posted On 2009-08-18 In Covenant Life

In the land of Joseph Engling

Schoenstatt Altar in Gudnicki, Poland, close to Joseph Engling's home - Photo: Alicja KostkaPOLAND, Lambert Schroedter / Tobía Wiedemer. “The Conference at Prosity”, which has been held annually since 2000, celebrated its tenth anniversary on July 4th and 5th. Prosity (which was then German territory) is the place where {cms_selflink page=”joseph-engling” text=”Joseph Engling”} was born; he consecrated his life to the Blessed Mother during the founding era of the Schoenstatt Work. He participated as a soldier in World War I, and during this time he aspired to selflessly serve his comrades. He died in 1918 close to Cambrai, in France. The process for his beatification began on May 1, 1948. Since then Prosity and Cambrai are beloved places of pilgrimage for people who would like to follow Joseph Engling’s example by assuming the spirit of Schoenstatt’s founding era. The objective of the conference in Prosity is to familiarize the local Polish people with Joseph Engling.

Participants of the Joseph Engling Meeting in front of the church in Gudnicki, Poland – the church that hosts the MTA altar

By Saturday, the 4th, there were already some participants in Gudnicki, close to Prosity, at the church dedicated to Saint Andrew Bobli, a Polish Jesuit. A solemn Holy Mass was celebrated in honor of Mary Mother of God.

Chapel (left) at the former farmhouse of the Pallottines in KlewnoThree months ago, a picture of the Blessed Mother was placed at the Schoenstatt altar from the 1930’s, which was rediscovered at this church in the year 2000. The small Schoenstatt Family from the region of Ermland has attached great hope to this picture: so that a new Schoenstatt spring- time will emerge in Joseph Engling’s nation. They are very much aware that before World War II, there was already a flourishing Schoenstatt life around the Schoenstatt Chapel of Klawsdorf seen in the photo above. The chapel – now without the Schoenstatt altar – on the grounds of the farm previously owned by the Pallotine Fathers, presently it is a private breeding site for goats that produce cheese and meat.

The German – Polish friendship

Before Holy Mass, Mrs. Rita Kostka presented a dance depicting the encounter of Mary and Elizabeth and the joy for the coming of the Lord and the Redeemer. It awakened a contagious joy; the presentation brought Mary in her being a woman close to us; it made Her one of us, close to us, one who was familiar with human life.

The Peter and Paul Choir from Rossel accompanied the celebration. At the end of the Eucharist, Sister Elvira, a Sister of Mary from Bromberg, Poland, presented a jar that was donated by the Women’s Federation; she explained the significance of the Capital of Grace. After the ceremony, several Polish women wanted to learn more about Schoenstatt.

Planting the "Pope Pine"After the Holy Mass in the patio of the church, Mr. Kwiatkowski from Lautern planted a “papal pine” dedicated to Benedict XVI. This tree will be a reminder of the German – Polish friendship, which was modeled by the close collaboration between the late Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger said Mr. Kwiatkowski.

An exhibition about Joseph Engling and the novena in Polish

After the Eucharist, the pastor, Father Zarzycki from Franenau, invited everyone to a reception at Joseph Engling’s paternal home.

Joseph Engling Expo in PolishA new exhibition about Joseph Engling prepared by Markus M. Amrein (a Brother of Mary) and translated to Polish by Dr. Alicia Kostka of the Women’s Federation could be viewed in the patio outside the house where Joseph Engling lived his childhood. Mr. Tadeusz Korowaj, Director of the Cultural Department from Korsze, close to Prosity, had the honor to present the new edition of the Joseph Engling Novena (by Father Alex Menningen) translated to Polish by Dr. Alcia Kostka. He mentioned the important “theological content” and he ardently recommended to those present to read it.

Then Mr. Lambert M. Schroedter (a Brother of Mary) presented a motivational talk about “the personality of Joseph Engling”. He pointed out that Joseph was never discouraged by difficulties; rather, he grew interiorly through the difficulties.

The Thiel brothers, born in Prosity, in the house where Joseph Engling was born  - with Alicja KostkaAfterwards a delicious lunch was served on the patio in the pleasant summer temperature. The following afternoon, many families with children arrived including the Ruth Family from Germany who joined the gathering to enjoy the excellent “Joseph Engling pastries.”

The meeting was very fruitful, thinking only of the presentation of the Joseph Engling Novena by Father Menningen, translated to Polish as well as the “Joseph Engling Exhibition” in Polish. “It was very successful,” said Alicja Kostka, who also organized this year’s conference so that it would be carried out as planned.

Translation: Celina Garza, amj/USA

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