EL SALVADOR, Florencia Couto •
The Schoenstatt Movement in El Salvador is experiencing a boost in all the branches, and especially in the couples. Thanks to a series of activities, both spirituality and attachments have deepened. —
The visit of Father Raimundo Costa, a Chilean Schoenstatt Father based in Costa Rica and advisor to the movement for El Salvador, was a milestone in the Central American country. Each of the meetings was inspiring and the couples who belong to the movement have rekindled their commitment.
Group 3 of Couples with Father Raimundo Costa
A domestic church
On Tuesday, April 30, at the Divino Niño Parish, located in San Salvador, Group 4 renewed their marriage covenant in an intimate and emotionally charged ceremony. Father Costa invited them “to make their home a domestic church, a living presence of Christ’s love for his Church”. Cecilia Munguía, who along with her husband belongs to this group, in addition to the emotion of the ceremony, emphasized that “Father Costa reminded us that when we made our Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother we were also renewing our marriage covenant”.
Another highlight of this visit was the follow-up on the integration of new groups, said Fernando Gutiérrez, branch leader. The commitment to accompany these new groups, made up of young couples, eager to grow in their journey towards a solid and fulfilling married life is the fruit of the first Marriage Strengthening that took place in El Salvador last February.
“Our hearts overflow with love and happiness to see our Schoenstatt family grow”, said Celina and Eduardo Salavarría, leaders of the first Forta in El Salvador, who continue to be willing to respond to the Blessed Mother’s call.
Couples of the Schoenstatt Movement in El Salvador
An evaluation of the first Marriage Strengthening
In addition, they also took the opportunity to make an evaluation of Forta (Marriage Strenghtening) with part of the team, where they saw the opportunities for improvement and highlighted all the positive aspects of this apostolate. “We have to be thankful and celebrate the success of Forta and the family atmosphere we have,” Fr. Raimundo emphasized. The good news is that there is already a date for the second edition. It will be the weekend of May 23-25, 2025.
For Silvia and Billy Nasser, coordinators of the movement in El Salvador, Father Costa’s visit is of utmost importance to recover the values that have been lost in the society we are living in. “Schoenstatt wants to work with couples who are willing to walk hand in hand with God. That they are willing to go that extra mile, which many times we leave behind because of comfort,” explained Silvia de Nasser.
“These reflections resonated deeply with the participants, who were inspired to give the best of themselves to build a married life based on union, trust, admiration and mutual respect,” said Billy Nasser.
Meeting with internal and external Forta team
A renewed commitment
The momentum in the Marriage Strengthening branch in El Salvador does not stop here. The G2 and G3 are preparing to go through the vocational discernment process within the Family Work in the coming months. “They will review their history, their desires. What fills them the most. The task for which each couple is called by God’s commission, in the Church and in the world,” explained Father Raimundo, who encouraged them to continue to deepen the marriage spirituality that Schoenstatt offers.
This is how with a renewed commitment and a greater awareness of mission, the Salvadoran couples will continue to work on their road to sanctity, just as Father Kentenich has expressed it in this phrase: “We want to fulfill our mission as Christian couples, so let us have the courage to go to the bottom of things”.
New group of Couples, G6 with Father Raimundo, the Gutiérrez Flamenco couple, branch leaders, and the Aguiñada couple, coordinators of group 6.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Maria Fischer @schoenstatt.org
