org. “The thought of Fr José María García and Team 2014 leaves us no peace.” These words were written by Sabine Merdes (nee Wehner), who was the moderator of Conference 2014 in 2009, and who continued to support the preparations for 2014 afterwards, and they reflect what many felt who heard that Fr José María García has had to give up the leadership of Team 2014 on health grounds. On Friday a Holy Hour will be held at 8 p.m. in the God the Father Church in Dietershausen for all who continue with the preparations for 2014.
Gabi Wehner, a member of the Schoenstatt Mothers`League in the diocese of Fulda, took the initiative and is conducting a Holy Hour for Fr José María García. The Schoenstatt Family in Dietershausen has been invited. “We hope that our prayers will support him and the Team in his spirit,” was the comment of Sabine Merdes and her mother, Gabi Wehner.
Via schoenstatt.org the instigators invite everyone in the worldwide Schoenstatt Family to join them in this time of prayer in the spirit of the covenant of solidarity suggested by Fr José María, and which he personally supports.
United, connected, in solidarity from heart to heart – that feels like 2014 …
The initiative from Dietershausen, Germany, has given great joy especially to the “Aliados 2014”. Since 20 February collaborators with schoenstatt.org – in the meantime around 100 people – have been praying the Pilgrimage Prayer 2014 and the Rosary (from three Hail Marys to three complete Rosaries) for Fr José María García and all who bear his vision and mission into the future. This is connected with the commitment to continue the pilgrimage and to work “with the same attitude and the same goal”. They also see to it that in every Holy Mass “on the way to 2014” in the Original Shrine this intention is placed along with the petitions from all over the world into the jar.
People from more than the number of countries represented at the Conference continue to leave messages of their solidarity. They are really practical. Someone who is held up by the slowness of an ageing computer consciously offers up everything connected with it for all that progresses more slowly than planned, and for all who suffer under it. Another one uploaded Fr. José María`s photo to the MTA mosaic 2014.
“That is Schoenstatt from its best side”, someone commented. “United, connected and in solidarity from heart to heart. That really feels like 2014 already …” And we can be certain that the Holy Hour on Friday evening in Dietershausen feels very much like 2014.
Translation: Mary Cole, Manchester, England
