USA, Sister M. Victoria Heiderscheidt. With great joy, on Monday evening, June 17th, the Schoenstatt family of Milwaukee welcomed the Father Symbol for the Original Shrine to the Movement House which is located in close proximity to the Exile Shrine. Members of the Schoenstatt Secular Institutes, Federation, League, and pilgrims’ branch gathered at 7:00 pm in the large room on first floor – where Father Kentenich often gathered with the couples for the well-known “Monday Evening Talks” during his time in Milwaukee.
Among those present were three members of the Milwaukee pioneer couples’ group to whom Father gave the original Monday evening talks: Mrs. Bridget (Johannsen) Moen, Mrs. Mary Fenelon, and Mrs. June Mayer.
The historic talk
The program began with a welcome followed by a prayer in which all went with the Father Symbol on a short pilgrimage to the nearby Father-encounter rooms. Next, all listened to a fifteen minute excerpt from the historic talk Father gave in the Movement House on November 18, 1963. This talk has commonly come to be known as the “Founding Document of the Home Shrine.” All listened to our father and founder as he explained three essential terms, one in relation to the other: Original Shrine, daughter shrine, and home shrine. He stated that everything which holds true of the Original Shrine and daughter shrine holds true of the home shrine, if the members of the family fulfill the six demands of the covenant of love as we find them iterated in the Founding Document.
“Yes, it makes us want to cry!”
After listening to the tape, the three pioneer mothers were given time to answer questions and share their experiences. Someone in the audience commented that it must be a powerful experience for them to hear Father’s voice again, at the very place where they encountered him so often during the exile years. One of the mothers responded simply and spontaneously: “Yes, it makes us want to cry!” Again and again, they emphasized that they were simply drawn to Father because he presented the truths of our faith and the pedagogy of marriage and family in a manner that touched and formed life. Out of love for him in his noble humanity, one wanted to put into practice what he or she learned and, become a better person.
Strength for the entire week
At one point, one of the mothers also shared that as a young mother, she liked to attend Father’s German Mass in the basement of St. Michael’s parish on Sundays. Although she didn’t understand German, just the experience of being in Father Kentenich’s presence and experiencing the power of his preaching and inner zeal was enough “to give strength for the entire week.”
After refreshments, the Father symbol was brought to the Exile Shrine. There adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which continued through the night and following day as it does on every 17th and 18th of the month, was initiated with a prayer service. The meeting closed with the renewal of the covenant of love.
We believe our father and founder was truly present with us on this meaningful “Monday Evening” and that it must have given him much joy.
