COSTA RICA, Rudolf Sauter, Isidro Perera. An intense day of working and sharing experiences on November 9th brought the Second Ibero-American Congress for Schoenstatt Businesspeople and Executives (CIEES) to a close with this statement that summarises the outcomes of the congress: “The Schoenstatt businessperson or executive, strengthened by his covenant of love, models his company on the principles of covenant, solidarity and Fr. Kentenich’s teachings. Through Practical Faith in Divine Providence and courageous awareness of instrumentality, always strive to exercise authority with the attitude of the Good Shepherd. Therefore strive to be coherent, organic, generous and practice solidarity. Have an organic view of the company as a family or a community of hearts and destinies, daily fostering a covenant culture so that the profitable production of goods and services benefit the common good.”
An intensive and memorable weekend
Over November 8th and 9th, 106 businesspeople and executives from twelve countries met at the INCAE Business School to develop practical plans to take the “Culture of Encounter” — our covenant of love — into the business place, as yet another contribution for the creation of a new social order in this Jubilee Year.
During the Congress, eleven working groups were formed, allowing participants to discuss, deepen and – more importantly – share experiences around the four themes of the talks that formed the basis for group discussions: The vocation of a business leader; the virtuous exercise of authority and leadership; solidarity and solidarism as a path towards the well-being of the employees; the meaning of living a covenant culture in the company.
With the future goal of printing a “Kentenich Mark” and the organic management of companies, the participants discussed the principles of the Church’s social doctrine and Fr. Joseph Kentenich’s pedagogical approach, over the course of the two days both in the formal working sessions and the various informal opportunities to build relationships.
Common characteristics
The participants were able to determine that there are several characteristics that every Schoenstatt businessperson or executive should possess. Among them, the participants first and foremost recognise the God-given vocation to exercise leadership and authority, the pressing need to be coherent, transparent, have an attitude of service and the willingness to engage in a personal encounter with the other, so that like the Good Shepherd, they can “know, understand, care and guide those who have been entrusted to them.”
Other common characteristics among these businesspeople and executives were their ability to be courageous, creative, just and practice solidarity. They showed a great awareness for the needs of the collaborators, their holistic development, respecting their originality.
In particular, the Schoenstatt businessperson and executive is committed to being God’s collaborator in the development of creation, aspires as a leader towards sanctity, applies Fr. Kentenich’s exemplary fatherliness, and his life and work reflect the light that emanates from Practical Faith in Divine Providence.
A second stone has been laid in forming the foundations of what will become the great ideal for all Schoenstatt businesspeople and executives.
Texts of the conferences and complementary material on the official CIEES2013 website (in Spanish): http://congresoempresarioscr.comVideos of the homilies of the Congress Masses
08.11. Bishop Angel Sancasimiro of Alajuela
09.11. Fr. José María García, Madrid, SpainPhoto albums
Original: Spanish. Translation: Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Cape Town, South Africa
