church Tag

GERMANY, Maria Fischer • “What impresses me is Fr Kentenich’s far-sightedness. Much is so exciting and topical”, Petra Stegemann remarked. Since the foundation of the Friends Association of Fr Kentenich’s birthplace in 2005 she has been an active member, and also on this 16 November 2019 she was present when the Friends Association, parish and Schoenstatt Movement celebrated the birthday of “the greatest son of Gymnich” (Ludwig Schlömer, member of the Friends Association). — “More have come than were announced”, Fr Pikos, the parish priest, said as more chairs andRead More
SYNOD ON THE AMAZON – material from various agencies • This 20 October 2019 will go down in the history of the Church as the day on which the “Catacomb Pact for our Common Home” was signed. — As on 16 November 1965, at the same place and in the same sprit, the Church is renewing the same obligation that was signed a few days before the end of the Second Vatican Council. On that day 42 Council Fathers celebrated the Eucharist in the Catacombs of St Domitilla in orderRead More
VATICAN/ARGENTINA, Maria Fischer “Mary – Church: The Mother of a Missionary People”. That is the title of the Doctoral thesis in Mariology recently completed by Fr Alexandre Awi Mello, Schoenstatt Father and Secretary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, at the International Marian Research Institute of the University of Dayton, Ohio, USA. — This study, which has been published by Agape Libros in Buenos Aires, deals with the life and Marian activity of Jorge Mario Bergoglio. It show he learnt a Marian spirituality of the people through hisRead More
HOERDE – AND NOW WHAT?, Prof. Dr. Alejandro Blanco Araujo, La Plata, Argentina • Dear Schoenstatt Family! Today ́s reflection begins with our experience in the Federation of Priests, which today has reached a goal for which we all have longed for a long time. —   Today, exactly 100 years to the day after the foundation of the first Apostolic Federation of Schoenstatt – and only now – the priests of various regions of the worldwide Federation of Priests have formally and officially decided to found the International Federation ofRead More
HOERDE – AND NOW WHAT? Fr. Martín Aversano • The Schoenstatt Priests’ Federation have taken a historic step by founding the International Federation, a process that has taken many years. The centenary jubilee of Hoerde in the Original Shrine together with all of the Schoenstatt Federations was an important step in this initiative. — Unity is a gift and a task. The Holy Spirit performed an incredible miracle on Pentecost. It made people who spoke many languages understand each other. The fire of the Spirit that touches hearts is theRead More
Sermon at the Pontifical High Mass on 18.08.2019 in Schoenstatt, Bishop Dr Michael Gerber, Fulda •   “We live in serious times, and the people are often unable to remain strong through this process of purification that is taking place now. They fall into complaining against God and the good, they lose their faith in the good and in mankind.”[1] —   Dear Sisters and Brothers,   This quotation seems to come from a current commentary on events in our times. “We live in serious times …” We think ofRead More
CHILE, Bárbara Brain • So much excitement! Everything was so beautiful! What an impressive testimony! What joy! Thank you, thank you! … These are some of the comments from the people who gathered for the Pentecost vigil on 8 June at Paseo Bulnes, in downtown Santiago.— Perhaps it was not a crowd in the literal sense of the word, but there is no doubt that the fire of the Holy Spirit touched each of the more than 3,000 souls that gathered in the streets to express their hope in theRead More
CHILE, Gonzalo Díaz and Barbara Brain • “We invite you with great hope to unite with us in mobilizing yourselves this Pentecost. At such crucial moments in the life of the Church, we want to ask the Holy Spirit to renew us with his light, warmth, and strength and to make of us credible witnesses to the gospel.” – This simple and direct call, from a small group of Schoenstatt members in Chile, grew from a trickle of enthusiasm among various groups of our downcast Chilean church. Wounded by casesRead More
NIGERIA, Okpala Michael I. • The priesthood is a gift from God to the Church and the world. Through the ministry of the priesthood, the sacrifice of Christ, and Christ himself, is made present in the sacred Body and Blood of Christ, God meets humanity in its utter miserableness, and, humanity is drawn up into the mercy of God. Heaven thus meets earth, and, earth is led heavenwards. This is the ministry that our four brothers have undertaken today. — Anointed with the Holy Spirit On this day, 25 MayRead More
CHRIST IS ALIVE. The Pope’s letter to youth, editorial team • “Christ is alive. He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world. Everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!” Thus begins the post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Christus Vivit” (Christ is a live), signed by Pope Francis in Loreto, in the Marian shrine of the Holy House on 25 March, and published by the Vatican on 2 April.— The exhortation follows from theRead More