USA, Carlos Cantú. Every year in September, we have a very special retreat for couples in Texas. It is held at the Confidentia Shrine/Schoenstatt Center in Rockport/Lamar, Texas. This year it was held from the 24th to the 26th of September. What really makes it special is that it is held completely in Spanish for our Spanish-speaking Schoenstatters. There is always a very special flavor to this retreat because the retreatants are originally from various Spanish-speaking countries: México, Colombia, Venezuela, and El Salvador. Add to this those Texans who are of Spanish-speaking origin and you have a delightful combination which confirms what a multicultural and multilingual Movement we have in Schoenstatt.
The retreat was in the skillful hands of Schoenstatt Father, Fr. Christian Christensen, who is originally from Chile, and Sisters M. Daniela Rensing and M. Gloria Mauricio who are originally from Germany and México respectively. The kindness and thoughtfulness of our Sisters always reminds me of the saying: Mi casa es su casa (my house is your house) because they really outdo themselves with unselfish surrender to the individual. They really strive to make you feel at home and thus we all experience the grace of being at home which is a special gift from our Blessed Mother from her Shrine. And the coffee, tea, juices and sweets are just an added icing on the cake!
With joyful gratitude, one heart in the Father
The event began on Friday evening at 7 PM. After the customary registration, greetings and initial fellowship, Sr. M. Daniela provided the group with an orientation which really set the mood and tempo for the retreat. Everyone found her exhortation that we set everything aside during the weekend most helpful. Following Sister Daniela’s remarks, the group proceeded to the Shrine which they filled to capacity, and Fr. Christian gave the introduction talk. WITH JOYFUL GRATITUDE, ONE HEART IN THE FATHER (CON ALEGRE GRATITUD, UN CORAZON EN EL PADRE) is our current motto in Texas. Fr. Christian’s talk emphasized the importance of the words GRATITUDE and JOYFUL…..to be grateful for what God has done in us; to be grateful that Jesus gave his life for us…..to be joyful for our spiritual gifts; to be joyful for having what we need; to be joyful for the Golden Jubilee of our Confidentia Shrine; to be joyful for the 100th anniversary of Father Kentenich’s ordination to the priesthood; to be joyful for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of Schoenstatt and the sealing of the Covenant of Love. Gratitude and Joyfulness are attitudes which need to be cultivated today.
Joyful memories
On Saturday morning, Sister M. Gloria enlightened us further on the topics of gratitude and joy by recalling the Golden Anniversary of our Confidentia Shrine, the Year for Priests, Father Kentenich’s 100th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. She then emphasized how we had celebrated with gratitude and joy Father Kentenich’s anniversary on July 8, 2010 at our National Leaders’ Convention in Milwaukee… at our Queenship of Mary celebration on August 22, 2010 in La Feria, Texas… at our celebration in Brownsville, Texas where we commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign…..and how we plan to celebrate Father Kentenich’s 100th anniversary to the priesthood at our annual October Day celebration on October 24, 2010 at our Confidentia Shrine. Sister Gloria skillfully stressed some of our Schoenstatt principles which are characteristic of so many events and happenings in our Schoenstatt history: (1) the magnitude of the difficulties, (2) the insignificance of the instruments, and (3) magnitude of the success.
A prophet of Mary, a child of Mary, and as a father for the world of today
In the next presentation, Fr. Christian presented Joseph Kentenich as the priest and the father to many especially in the light of Father Kentenich’s belief in a practical faith in Divine Providence. Fr. Christian presented Joseph Kentenich as a prophet of Mary, a child of Mary, and as a father for the world of today. After the presentation, five groups formed for discussion on practical points of application.
Fr. Christian’s afternoon presentation addressed how there are milestones which change one’s life. He explained how God intervenes, how God is speaking, and how Father Kentenich wanted to give a response to God in the different Schoenstatt Milestones. Fr. Christian invited the retreatants to enter into the Schoenstatt Milestones and into the responses which Father Kentenich gave at those times.
Covenants of Love
The Holy Eucharist was celebrated at 5 PM. It was most significant because three of the couples from Brownsville sealed their Covenant of Love with our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. All of the couples present were also invited to renew their marriage vows. After our evening meal, all enjoyed a very meaningful audiovisual presentation on the life of Father Kentenich. Following an evening respite, several shared testimonies on what had touched them most during the weekend.
On Sunday, after Holy Mass, Fr. Christian’s presentation was on the practical side of marriage. He spoke about respect and love in marriage…..about what we receive from the father and what we receive from the mother…..about expressing love to one another…..and about how boredom is the open door to many problems in the family.
Fruits of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign
It was a truly beautiful and meaningful retreat and everyone parted with gratitude and joy in their hearts. Several either renewed their commitments as coordinators in the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign or received their commissions to be coordinators in the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Several of the couples in attendance are fruits of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. We are grateful to Fr. Christian, Sr. Daniela, Sr. Gloria and the other Sisters who provided us with heavenly music…..and how can we ever thank the good Sister who cooks such succulent meals for us!
