SOUTH AFRICA, Bob Cole. The Schoenstatt Family of Durban experienced a great celebration at the Cathedral in Durban. The group built a “Home Shrine’ at the foot of the sanctuary with lighted candles – very meaningful and most impressive, and also very Schoenstatt. Mass started at 10h00, Fr. Chris, an African Missionary working in the DRC focusing on the rehabilitation of child soldiers celebrated.
He is currently finishing a course on ‘conflict resolution’ at Durban University. Although he is French- speaking, he celebrated mass in English for the benefit of the locals attending mass. And he gave the Schoenstatt Family a rousing sermon on Mary – it was quite something and most enjoyable. At the end of mass, Bob Cole gave a short introductory talk on Schoenstatt. Afterwards he was tackled by a number of people who wanted to know more, and maybe there is some follow up work to do later. Fr. Chris may also follow up with Johannesburg when he visits later this year or early next year.
The Lay Apostolate and the demobilization of soldiers after war
Fr. Chris, in a private conversation, focused much on the Schoenstatt Lay Apostolate which started after 1918 with the demobilization of the soldiers from the front. Not only that, but Fr. Kentenich’s experiences after the Second World War with the demobilized soldiers would also be relevant.
Maybe nobody ever appreciated the Schoenstatt lay apostolate being an integral part of the rehabilitation and reabsorption of soldiers back into a social society as being an integral part of the Schoenstatt work and apostolate. But considering this, it makes complete sense why Fr. Kentenich was so adamant that the Church needed to change its ideas and attitudes to cater to a fractured and disrupted populace in the post-war environment.
In dialogue with the voices of time
This also has a very important bearing on the work that Fr. Chris is addressing with the rehabilitation of child soldiers in Central Africa. So the celebration in Durban had some unintended and unexpected consequences, and maybe the Burundian Centre can offer some assistance and guidance sometime in the future.
“Our Lady was definitely at work at our celebrations, but at present I don’t see the way forward. I am sure she will clarify her mission for us arising out of Saturday’s celebrations in due course,” commented one of the leaders.
After mass there was a braai for all those who attended – a good social get together, and the small Durban group worked wonders. All in all, a great day.
Thanks for such a beautiful article, Bob. It was wonderful to know that our Schoenstatt Family in South Africa was united in so many cities around the country to celebrate the 100th jubilee of our Covenant of Love. You were represented by 39 pilgrims who prayed for you at each of our holy places.
I really enjoyed reading the parallel made between Schoenstatt as a movement that helped to give some hope to the young soldiers on the front 100 years ago, and your work to rehabilitate child soldiers who face indescribable horrors in situations where they are forced to take up arms, often by the people who killed their friends and family. Truly, one can see how Schoenstatt can be a place where they again find a home in our Mother’s heart, a place where our fears and demons are laid to rest, so that we emerge as new people with a mission for this world, for our beautiful continent that has been ravaged by so much war.
These child soldiers are the same people who will lead our continent into a new future. Their healing will determine the kind of leaders we will have in the years to come. It would be beautiful to know that our MTA played a role in their healing, transformation and education.
Have you joined up with Mercy House in Johannesburg? It is a home that cares for refugees and gives a future to young men and families who leave war ravaged countries and come to South Africa. They are doing some tremendous work as well. Perhaps you could find common ways together to bring the healing that Africa’s children need.