Agathe Hug. From Rwanda to Swizterland – Schoenstatt’s recent presence in one country to an older affiliation in Europe. Switzerland has some particularities as a state that determines its character. Originally it was created as a federation of several smaller territories, called “confederations” as a means of defense. According to legend, this is shown in the oldest covenant document, the Federal Letter of 1291, the non-official mystified document of founding between the first cantons Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. The present modern and democratic state was created with the Constitution of 1848.
Switzerland is traditionally considered as a neutral country in foreign politics. As a result of this, there was and is a constant flow of refugees going to Switzerland – this also happened in relation to National Socialism in Germany.
Father Kentenich’s first trip to a foreign country
Switzerland can brag that the first trip that Father Kentenich made to a foreign country was this one from May 12th to June 2nd, 1924. This is the way it was: Father Franz Wagner, the Rector of the Schoenstatt Students’ Home during the First World War and simultaneously the spiritual director of the Marian Congregation, was the Rector of the Pallottine’s House in Gossau, Switzerland. He invited Father Kentenich to vacation in Gossau, and Father accepted the invitation. Presently there are still Schoenstatters in Gossau. An article on schoenstatt.org alludes to the 50th Anniversary of the Shrine on the grounds of school of Friedberg.
Later on, Father Kentenich was invited several times to Switzerland. This country belongs to the “oldest” countries where Schoenstatt has emerged, with a highly differentiated and diverse organization. You can read about this on the web site http://www.schoenstatt.ch
A bridge between the Original Shrine and Quarten
On the national web page of Switzerland of February 9th, you can read:
“In Covenant with 130 countries”
As of February 4, 2012, there is a poster in the Schoenstatt Shrine with a reference to Jubilee 2014: Schoenstatt’s 100th Anniversary!
Since March 13, 2010, the 7:15 a.m. Holy Mass is celebrated every Saturday in the Original Shrine for a country where Schoenstatt exists. This is a contribution to the preparation of Schoenstatt’s Jubilee and it is described with the words: IN COVENANT WITH…! Everyone is invited to give thanks and to pray for this country.
February 4th was Romania’s turn.
ROMANIA’s sign was kept up until February 10th, starting February 11th it was substituted by RUSSIA.
February 25th is SWITERLAND’S turn!
Family Branch
Like many of the “old” countries where Schoenstatt is present, the Schoenstatt Family in Switzerland has to face the problems of: lack of personnel, the need for new structures, and the search of creative solutions for the new conditions.
This is what Father Klaus reported to Father Germann on February 16, 2012:
“Future Forum of the Family Branch of Switzerland: the vacant positions (resignations within the Family Council, the announcement of Sister Mariza’s resignation this year as adviser of the Movement’s Family League, the notification of the Community of the Sisters of Mary stating that they will probably not have a sister available for this task) has led us to convoke a forum for the future. This was the reason a large number of couples met on January 25, 2012, in Quarten. The Jehles, a couple from Germany and leaders of the Academy of Family Pedagogy in Switzerland in Memhoelz, Germany, moderated this meeting. At this meeting, the following question was posed: what are the strong points and talents that the couples who attended see in themselves, and how can they contribute to building the Family Branch in Switzerland? After much conversation among the couples within groups, and in the general session, each couple shared what their contribution could be. Meanwhile, they not only discussed the forum of the future, but also a process for the future. The conversations will continue until March 25, 2012. At this time we want to spend more time on the subject of the future direction of the Family League”.
Projects
Schoenstatters in Switzerland -see the web site above – work on several large and small campaigns and projects. On February 16, 2012, Rita and Franz Schuler from Steinerberg reported about one of the projects:
“A night to feel good”
“Since 2011, at our parish, twice a year, we offer a night to feel good for couples”.
There is a good dinner with a romantic atmosphere; each couple can enjoy a night as a couple. A couple (Family Trainers) talk about their married life, and after the talk, the invited couples have an opportunity to exchange ideas about what was heard during dinner.
At the end of the night everyone can enjoy a delicious dessert.
“In 2011, we had the joy of welcoming ten couples for the first conference and five couples for the second one.
In 2012, this event will be held on February 25th.
Our parish community organizes and finances this conference.”
Although Switzerland is a neighboring country to Germany since to begin with it, it is not so far; however, it is a bit too far to get in the car and drive to attend Holy Mass on February 25th, live and direct…but perhaps some Schoenstatters in Switzerland will connect spiritually!
And this is how it will continue in March:
- 03/03/2012 Scotland – live through schoenstatt-tv
- 03/10/2012 Senegal
- 03/17/2012 Serbia
- 03/24/2012 Sierra Leona
- 03/31/2012 Singapore
Information and petitions for each of these Eucharists on the Friday before at “News 2014”
Celina M. Garza: Spanish/English translation – M. Peña-Janknegt: English edit
