Francis Tag

ITALY, by Federico Bauml and Pamela Fabiano • 18 September 2016, is an important date for the Schoenstatt Family since it marks the return of the Italian website to the International schoenstatt.org. Youths’ challenge for schoenstatt.org’s Italian website At the end of July, the Italian website was no longer up-dated due to an unforeseen shortage of translators of goodwill to translate news received in other languages and because of a lack of Italian news editors. Well, after many meetings, conversations, and above all, after the excitement of the World YouthRead More
Rome, Fr Rolando Montes • On Tuesday Schoenstatt is in Assisi. In covenant solidarity with Pope Francis. In view of Pope Francis’ urgent call to pray for peace this Tuesday, the Schoenstatt Family cannot remain inactive. While our Holy Father is in Assisi with many religious leaders to pray for peace in the world, we will build our own Assisi. Let us meet with friends for prayer, let us ask in our parishes whether there is a prayer for peace there, let us visit a shrine or have our meetingRead More
ROME/THE VATICAN, by Fr. Rolando Gilbert Montes de Oca Valero, member of the Federation of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests in Cuba, studying in Rome • The morning of 4 September 2016, in Rome, dawned differently.  There was a great movement of pilgrims towards St. Peter’s; they had come from all over the world.  Joyfully, I was able to recognize the Archbishop of Bujumbura, Burundi and many other Africans.  Flags from Australia and many European countries were waving.  I met Latin Americans from many nationalities that I was able to share with,Read More
GERMANY, Maria Fischer • Did you know that Jorge Mario Bergoglio tried on three occasions – and failed! – to get his favourite quotation of Isaac of Stella taken into an official Church document, so he had to become Pope in order to be able to mention it finally in Evangelii Gaudium? And did you know that he always has “the duster of our Lady of Luján” in a cotton bag under his soutane? Did you know that he has made an essential contribution towards making the picture of “Mary,Read More
WYD2016 by Sebastián Denis and Maria Fischer • “Very tired, very impressed.” This is how the Schoenstatt Boys Youth of Paraguay introduced themselves on their return journey from the World Youth Day in Krakow. For many of them, it was their first WYD, and it had a powerful impact on them when they say the large number of youth, the flags, testimonials, songs, joy in faith, shared with thousands of youth from every country. Some have been once, twice, or three times. It is always incredible. And it seems thatRead More
WYD2016, by Maria Fischer • “Lord, have mercy on your people. Lord, we ask pardon for such cruelty.” This was the message Pope Francis left in the visitors’ book in Auschwitz-Birkenau, the only words he pronounced in this place where horror surpasses words, the imagination, capable of human thought. It is a place that leaves us powerless, destroyed, afraid, horrified at what human beings were capable of doing to other human beings. The Pope did not say anything. He took his time. He simply remained there, in silence, in prayer.Read More
CELAM, by Marité and Ramón Marini, Paraguay • Over the years and with different life experiences, we have learned that God manifests himself and inspires the people who meekly open themselves to his plans, knowing how to interpret everything that comes from Him. There are many examples in our history…our Father and Founder was a clear example, with the witness of his life and his loyal giving of self to the Church. We can also “feel” God’s intervention with the election of our beloved Pope Francis. He is now theRead More
Before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of young people at the vigil of the World Youth Day in Krakow, Pope Francis gave an emotive and extensive talk in which he encouraged the youth to be signs of mercy, protagonists of history and to leave their mark on the world. Complete text of the Holy Father’s speech: Dear Young Friends, good evening! It is good to be here with you at this Prayer Vigil! At the end of her powerful and moving witness, Rand asked something of us.  She said:Read More
WYD2016, by Maria Fischer • More than a million young people braved the rain to welcome the Pope at Jordan Park in Blonia, at the first meeting between Pope Francis and the youth at this year’s World Youth Day.  “So far, I haven’t seen a single Schoenstatt flag in the live transmission,” commented an Argentinian collaborator for schoenstatt.org.  This was in part due to the programme of activities: a large group of the Schoenstatt Boys Youth in South America had been scheduled to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and becauseRead More
FRANCIS AT WYD2016 IN POLOND, by Maria Fischer • “God saves us, then by making himself little, near and real.” These were the three words in Pope Francis’ homily at the Shrine of Our Lady of Jasna Gora.  When Pope Francis visits a Marian shrine, he is at home.  She is his mother, as he admitted to Fr. Alexandre Awi in a long interview about his encounters with Mary.  But his love for Mary is always organic, it comes from God and leads to Him, comes from people and leadsRead More