GERMANY, mkf. Some ideas are so brilliant that one is amazed at how the world actually did without them for so long. Such an idea has increasingly taken shape in the last weeks and months. At first a few, then more and more people became enthusiastic, until the magic point was reached during the working conference for Schoenstatt support associations and institutions in Fulda in April this year. Here it became infectious and a trend. We are talking about the Father Saying, statements of Fr Kentenich that are so to the point that one would like to print them on every empty wall. You can do just that with them. Pictures without a frame or nails, directly onto the wall, at home and in the office. It is an idea that has just flown over the Atlantic to Europe. It can be done with the sayings of Fr Kentenich.
Behind the idea is Franziska Jehle, 21, graduate of the Design Academy in Berlin, who is a Kentenich fan and is at home in the Schoenstatt centres in Aulendorf and Memhölz. There she is developing her creative idea and transforming unused corners in the storeroom with hundreds of printed rolls in which the Father Sayings will soon find their way into homes, offices, Schoenstatt centres, cafeteria, etc.
In the middle of all this activity, Franziska answered three questions:
Why Fr Kentenich?
I grew up in the Schoenstatt Movement. My parents studied Schoenstatt’s pedagogy very intensely, and listened to many talks about it. It was applied as far as possible in the education of us children, that is to say, Fr Kentenich has accompanied me throughout my life and has fascinated me. I think it is amazing how he sees people and “teaches” about the formation of strong personalities.
Why Father Sayings?
Well, I needed a subject for my thesis. I soon knew it would have to do with typography.
One thing followed another. I think the quotations from Fr Kentenich’s works, which were written down in the course of his life, are simply brilliant. The message contained in these sayings is clear, deeply meaningful, and touches so many people. So it is time for the whole world to discover them and to be addressed by them. Of course, as a designer I would like to make a contribution towards making the homes of many people attractive, more beautiful.
The title “Father Sayings” comes from my time in the Schoenstatt Girl’s Movement. Every time we visited the shrine, we were allowed to draw a saying from the “Fr Kentenich Telephone”. At some stage we girls began to call it a “Father Saying”.
What is your favourite saying?
It is, “Be what your are, but in the best possible way!” What matters is not to be at our best all the time, and always to do our best. What is far more important is to achieve something that corresponds with our selves, and for which we can stand up with a good conscience. At a time when only achievements are considered in so many spheres of life, I think this statement is a lovely saying that takes off the pressure and again gives us the possibility to enjoy what we do.
An apostolic project: Our country needs Father Sayings
It is fitting that the degree work had to be written just in the year of the Father Trend in our preparation for 2014, and that the Father Sayings have become marketable still in this year. What still remains is: How to get them? The best thing would be to take a holiday in Memhölz and take some along afterwards. Or wait until they can be ordered on the Memhölz website.
And if – exactly like Fr Kentenich – you think: Hurry, or you may be too late! You can apply for a catalogue and then order a saying. There are 17 to choose from in three sizes and two colours, and they can be ordered from: patersprueche@schoenstatt-memhoelz.de. Franziska is already working on English versions.
Of course, the Father Sayings are not just meant for Schoenstatt. As someone said, I know already which saying I would like to stick to someone’s door.
