Towards 2014

February 2013 – Number 15

“In this heavy confrontation of the mighty ones of the earth, the event, the covenant which Joseph Kentenich sealed, appeared totally insignificant, concealed, a personal course of action that could never have changed the way in which the world had begun to destroy itself. But it was just this covenant that created new life, … the family of Jesus Christ which grew beyond the borders of those nations who mutually threatened each other. It created a family over the entire globe, weaving a net of love, a net of goodness right across the boundaries which still separate us today. “

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, 1985

Dear Pilgrims

This text from Pope Benedict XVI seems appropriate the beginning of our newsletter in February, the months in which is to resign. It’s also a month that saw a general presidium travel Milwaukee in the footsteps of the “man of the covenant”. It’s a months in which the news of the halt of negotiations around the purchase of the pilgrimage area of the shrine is echoed around the world.

Our family has responded to these events. Consciously, or unconsciously in a way I think you would. There is a beautiful talk from Fr. Kentenich given on 6th March 1941, which fell in my hands this week. The text revolves around this biblical quote “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the leaders of Judah…” (Mt 2,6). He looks at the importance of the original shrine, the family around it, its history in connection with Vincent Palloti and the Palatine’s and many other things. What is interesting for me is how he interprets the feast he is at and the challenges ahead.

He looks at things with three simple steps: we bring blessings, we receive blessings and we carry those blessings into the whole world. Very simple, very true.

As a family we haven’t, and cannot cease to count our blessings. We don’t come to our shrine, to the Jubilee 2014 empty-handed. We’ve seen the fruits of 100 years of history, a covenant culture alive in our family. Of course we are in need of blessing. But in faith we come to the shrine expecting Grace 2014. In this year faith, our year of mission, we are more and more aware of the need to share those blessings with others.

It’s a great response. A response like the one of the “man of the covenant”. We continue “with every step on our pilgrim way”.

God bless
Fr. Andrew

Due to the feedback we have been receiving over the last months, certain changes are underway in our newsletter. This section will, from now on, be written by menders of  the Central Team 2014 with information necessary for the preparation of the Jubilee. From next month the newsletter will also be available in a printable form. As well as this, there will be a page on the website where the latest newsletter is always available. This should assist webmasters and newsletter publishers in linking to the latest content Hopefully these changes will be helpful for the circulation of information among our international family.

Central team 2014 meeting
Each month a central team gathers, normally the covenant house, to bring together development of the month. The next meeting is on 19 February. Around those dates other members of team 2014 also gather to consults on the various issues.
Recently, work has continued concerning catering arrangements, infrastructure and security as well as further negotiations with the travel agents IQ-incoming. The meeting with the travel agents took place on 15 February here in the Covenant House. Revisions to travel and accommodation arrangements, as well as size of deposits are being considered. In the coming month a second info pack will be sent to the country responsibles and more information will be available.With the upcoming conference of Tents of Covenant Culture responsibles, much preparation has been needed.

Live Transmission of Events
Negotiations are ongoing as to how best enable as many as possible to participate in the events. Nothing can replace being at the Original Shrine on the day – but many, for various reasons, will not be able to come. We have been developing the infrastructure here in Schoenstatt to cope with live transmission and are in conversation with EWTN who are assisting us in finding the best way forward.

Collaborators, helpers and volunteers
differentiated program for young people, is in the process of being developed. The sense of place, and finances are hampering fast progress in this area. We are in need of qualified collaborators in certain areas – for example we are still searching for responsible is for the “Mission social order tent” –  we are also on the lookout for professional journalists who could help with our publicity.

We are always grateful for suggestions and offers of help

Fr. Andrew

Someone had gone the extra mile working for an apostolic project – working many hours under difficult circumstances. When the coordinator of the project thanked her, a short mail with just one sentence was the simple reply: “I go on pilgrimage in covenant solidarity for the Original Shrine.”  A couple from Switzerland decides to finally make a difficult phone call postponed for weeks. “We make this call as our first step of the pilgrimage to the Original Shrine, in covenant solidarity.”-  A woman from Germany needs to walk  each day for health reasons. “I walk as a spiritual excercise around the holy area of the Original Shrine, praying the rosary, the prayer of confidence and others, offering each step for the Original Shrine…” – “May my Lent be for your and our Original Shrine”, writes a young man in a letter to the Mother Thrice Admirable in the Original Shrine.

The news of the halt of the negotiations on the area around Original Shrine becoming property of the Schoenstatt Movement had a deep impact, creating a growing current of renewed commitment and solidarity on the pilgrimage towards 2014. Different ideas, thoughts and activities all centre on one main conviction: it is our task to demonstrate vitally and apostolically that this small place is our common home, and our source of specific graces without which we cannot exist or act.

Without the Original Shrine we can neither be Father’s Family nor as an Apostolic Movement at the service of the Church and society. In 1941, Fr. Kentenich said. “You, Bethlehem, in the Land of Judah …” Schoenstatt, little, holy land, you may be largely unknown, you may be small and insignificant, yet how powerfully God’s blessing rests on you, how powerfully God’s redemptive intentions are connected with this little place. You, Schoenstatt, in the big, wide world, are by no means the least! How many people today speak out the name of the Mother Thrice Admirable! How many people centre and gather today around our shrine! “

The month of February in the Year of Faith began with the news on the Original Shrine, (Fr. Mariano Irurreta from Chile writes) and ends with the resignation of Benedict XVI on the 28th. In this special moment of the history of the church, the missionary dimension of the Covenant of Love becomes our gift – ever more. And therefore, we need the Original Shrine, we need  to “make it our own”, as someone said., with each step of our pilgrimage. A member of the Boy’s Youth from Chile writes: “The jubilee will happen anyway, we will come, this is an even a stronger motivation to be there and show the world how much we love and how much we need the Original Shrine

This section will be dedicated to transmit the life that has developed and continues to grow in the different countries. It is an invitation to the National Movement Directors to share with the entire world the way in which each country lives already the Jubilee 2014.

Since this is the first edition with this new section, we will start by sharing the life of “our little country within Schoenstatt: The Covenant House – Office 2014. After a year of its re-opening, the life in the house has evolved and the “Ice Palace” – as it was once called – has turned into a warm place of life, work and encounter, where people from different countries and communities get together to form a home.

A certain “style” has developed for those of us who live and work here. During the day the offices are filled and one notices a lot of movement and activities (and the internet gets very slow). The presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the small house chapel invites us to come together in prayer. We start each day with Morning Prayer in the chapel; praying the Pilgrimage Prayer 2014 daily is a constant reminder of our mission and the importance of our work… everything is offered to the Capital of Grace! Once a week we celebrate Holy Mass as “Bundesheim Family” followed by breakfast.

Germany, England, India, Poland, Chile and Ecuador; 9 people from 6 countries that come together every day to form a “land” where 2014 is already a lived reality!