POLAND, Paweł and Mirosława Kwas. Between the April 30th and May 4th, 2014, at the Zion Shrine in Józefów near Warsaw and in the center of Poland’s Schoenstatt Movement in Otwock-Świder, at the Shrine of Fidelity, also located near Warsaw, the First Territorial Chapter of the Apostolic Federation of Families in Poland took place. Norbert and Renate Martin (German Family Federation) were the special guests. In 1995, they began the work of organizing the Federation of Families in Poland. At that time, they came to Poland as representatives of the General Presidium, and for a long time, they have been caring for the Federation of Families in Poland.
The result of the chapter was, among other things, the approved statute of the Federation community in Poland. The families trust that it will be a good instrument in its functioning and further spiritual development. The chapter also elected the first Territorial Direction, thus the Federation of Families became the next autonomous territorial community (the others: Germany, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Austria).
In June 2014, the International Direction of Schoenstatt’s Apostolic Family Federation will meet in Poland and will hold its session. The Direction also will officially accept the Apostolic Federation of Families in Poland into the International Apostolic Family Federation; this will take place on the 22nd of June 2014 at the Shrine of Entrustment in Bydgoszcz (north part of Poland).
The Chapter and its fruit is the gift of the Polish Schoenstatt Family on the 100th anniversary of the Covenant of Love. The families realize that it is also a gift of Divine Providence for them. Therefore, trusting God they sing with joy: Gloria in excelsis Deo!
As to the future of the Apostolic Federation of Families in Poland, they put in the hands of the Mother and Queen. They also ask for help from John Paul II, the new saint, the Pope of Families, and Founder, Father Kentenich. After the Chapter, they entrusted the first Territorial Direction and all Federation of families in Poland to them.
Original: English. English proofreading: Melissa Janknegt, Elgin, Texas, USA
