Fr. Andrew Pastore. 24th January 2012. A day after the very emotional experience with the funeral for Fr. Jonathan Niehaus. Some thoughts …
What brings people together – people – there God is at work…
A large community gathered in the Adoration Church on Mount Schoenstatt, from many communities and areas of contact, to celebrate the requiem mass for Fr. Jonathan Niehaus (1960-2012).
His service to our community, the movement and the church was alive in our minds as we celebrated his life.
How far does Fr. Kentenich’s message reach. Fr. Jonathan was involved in passing on his message in India, Africa, America north and south and beyond.
Many were able to participate as the celebrations were transmitted by schoenstattTV, where simultaneously translation in English was provided for the first time. In this way the celebration continued the work Fr. Jonathan lived for in his translations and publications, his work in formation and his apostolate.
Our Schoenstatt family gathered around Fr. Jonathan’s family, his mum, sister Becky, brothers Mark (Schoenstatt Fathers), Tom (Diocesan Priest) as well as his brother David – unfortunately his sister, Sr. Deanne (Sister of Mary) could not be present.
In his Sermon, Fr. Peter Locher showed how each of us can grow and be transformed in the covenant and how important a covenant culture is today. He pointed to the significance of the date of his death between the 18th and the 20th of January – the challenges he faced in his life, his sensitivity for good and evil – his wish to serve the good as a priest of Christ. As we look at the events of the last months, we do not shy away from the question why… We look for God’s plan…
It was quite a sight to see so many members of the Community of Fathers, around 90, seated in the midst of the family – a family that gathered in the adoration Church and later on Mount Sion…
Moving was the witness of Fr. Jonathan’s brother, Fr. Tom. He brought a brown paper bag that Fr. Jonathan used any times to hold surprises for those listening to his sermons. From the bag he took a pack of yeast… This experience of the day was of how Fr. Jonathan had been yeast in the service of the Schoenstatt Movement and the Church.
Fr. Jonathan, remember – from heaven a mission continues.
I speak on behalf of our Schoenstatt family here in zimbabwe when I say we were deeply saddened to hear about Fr. Jonathan. His books were our first contact with him. and since we have had to depend on books which gave us most of our understanding of our Father and founder and schoenstatt, we owe him much. During these past two years we have been priveleged to read his books "Brushstrokes of our Founder," volumes 1 and 2 which increased our attachment to Fr. Kentenich and his mission. We met him on mt Zion in 2009 during the Union congress and so could put a face to the author. As you say, His mission continues from heaven. God bless his family and the Schoenstatt Fathers’community
We were honored to be present, welcoming Father Jonathan to the Lords table, on Mon. 1/24 Mass at the Providential House.
We will always remember Fr. and his wonderful brown bag homilies and his touching heartfelt books.
We look forward to celebrating with the Schoenstatt community again when the Fathers return from Germany.
Fr. Jonathan was a great teacher and a great disciple of fr. Joseph Kentenich.His writing assisted so many English speakers to understand the Founder of Schoenstatt. We will greatly miss his contributions in Africa. We will miss him in Nigeria. We love him. May God rest his gentle soul in eternal kingdom.