Federation of Priests Tag

CHAD, editors • On February 23rd, Pére Nicolas Nadji Bab, a member of the Schoenstatt Federation of Priests in Chad, was ordained as bishop. For the past few months – since the appointment of his predecessor Miguel Ángel Sebastián Martínez (MCCJ) as Bishop of Sarh, Chad – he has been the diocesan administrator of the diocese of Laï, for which he was appointed by Pope Francis in mid-December. For the Schoenstatt Federation of Priests, it is a joy, honor, and obligation that one of its members was chosen for thisRead More
SCHOENSTATT COMMUNITIES, schoenstatt.org editorial staff • On Thursday, 22 August 2019, the feast of the Queenship of Mary, the International Schoenstatt Federation of Priests chose new leadership when Father Alejandro Blanco (La Plata/Argentina) was elected General Secretary. Other members of the International Secretariat are Father Hubert Vonlanthen (Switzerland) and Father Benno Riether (Germany). — Rector Egon M. Zillekens, who had represented the Community in the General Presidency for ten years, did not stand for election. For some years now, the Federation of Priests’ international leadership has been deliberately called theRead 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
Catedral de La Plata
ARGENTINA, Fr. Jorge González / María Fischer • We are sitting in a well-lit corner, in front of the living quarters of the new parish priest at the Cathedral of La Plata, Fr. Jorge González, of the Priests’ Federation in Argentina. He took up his position a few weeks ago and is already working at full steam to “enshrine the cathedral,” as he described it, referring to a famous expression by Cardinal Bergoglio, today Pope Francis. Without having planned it, María Teresa and Daniel Martino and I witnessed one ofRead More
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Fr. Rolando Montes de Oca • A fresh wind is blowing in the Caribbean and the Schoenstatt Federation of Diocesan Priests who second it. The reason for this was from July 23-27 the international delegates of the Federation gathered in Santo Domingo. They shared the life of their local communities; they posed challenges, and they took one more step toward the International Federation constitution. — The warm welcome was the gathering’s first gift, evidence of the Dominicans careful, down to the last detail preparation so that each delegateRead More
ARGENTINA, Fr. Egon M. Zillekens, Fr. Alejandro Blanco, Maria Fischer • “In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”Read More
ARGENTINA/SPAIN/ CHILE / CUBA, by Mercedes MacDonough and Maria Fischer • Precisely Cuba. Among all the possible places in the world, the historic encounter of 12 February – The embrace between Patriarch Kirill from Moscow and Pope Francis –actually took place in Cuba at the Havana airport. During the encounter, they signed a joint declaration. After two hours of intense conversation, the Pope and the Patriarch went to a hall in the airport, where President Raúl Castro waited for them to sign a joint Declaration. It is based on thirtyRead More
CUBA/SPAIN, Berta González Nogueira, Adela Nogueira, Rocío González Nogueira, of the Girls’ Youth from Spain • This summer the University Girls’ Youth from Spain carried out a missionary experience, Misión Cuba [Mission Cuba] at Fr. Bladimir’s parish, Santa Cruz del Sur. Fr. Bladimir and the parish hosted them along with three young men from Chile who were also there for Misión Cuba; Fr. Bladimir is a member of the Schoenstatt Federation of Priests. Cuba… For us Cuba is a before and an after story. Everyone who has been there willRead More
CUBA/ARGENTINA, by Mercedes MacDonough and Maria Fischer • The Holy Father and 10 Pilgrim Mothers arrived at the same time. “Do you need more Pilgrim Mothers?” the question emerged spontaneously at the conclusion of a conversation with Fr. Egon M. Zillekens about the founding of the Federation of Priests at Cuba, in the presence of the Pilgrim Mother…the one from the Original Shrine. The Chilean youths of Mission Cuba took five. Fr. Egon offered to give the three missionary priests some more Pilgrim Mothers, and Fr. José Gabriel’s response showsRead More
CUBA, Maria Fischer’s interview with Fr. Egon M. Zillekens • “We reap what others have sown,” Fr. Egon Zillekens said, summarizing his experiences in Cuba, at the founding of the Federation of Diocesan Priests on this island full of joy, hope, and eagerness for the Holy Father’s visit, along with the “encounter” between this country and the United States, fruit on a great part by his mediation. “To see people dressed in t-shirts and pants with the colors of the United States flag in the middle of Havana seems likeRead More