Germany Tag

GERMANY, Project: Trust in God  (GOTTvertrauen), by Maria Fischer • Wonderful and profound experiences were had by the colourful group that set off from Cologne on Sunday 31 July under the banner and with the intention: Trust in God. Rain – “usually not too bad, but more at times” – tired feet, good conversations, many photos, completely new experiences, such as the open round of thanksgiving in the evening during which the participants opened their hearts and related personal experiences, small but intensive with hosts at the wayside stops. OnceRead More
URUGUAY, by Matías Cerviño • As part of German President Joachim Gauck’s visit to Uruguay, his partner Daniela Schadt visited the Providencia Educational Center, a social project of the Schoenstatt Movement in Montevideo. Daniela arrived to Providencia close to noon and the members of the Board, some of Providencia’s educators and mothers welcomed her. “We were very nervous before she arrived; we asked ourselves how we should greet her. The funny thing was that during the visit we gained confidence and were completely at ease, we bid her farewell withRead More
COVENANT SOLIDARITY by AICA and editors • In his words, after leading the Angelus on Sunday, the Holy Father reiterated his condemnation of the “deplorable acts of terrorism and violence” that have taken place in the last few days. Francis said he was “once again shaken by the sad news of the deplorable acts of terrorism and violence” in which “many innocent people lost their lives.” He expressed his closeness to the families of the victims and the injured, and invited them to unite themselves in his prayer, because thisRead More
GERMANY, from Heinrich Brehm, Press Office of the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany (schoenstatt.de) • On Friday, 15 July 2016, a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a reception in the area beside the Pilgrims’ House near the Pilgrims’ Centre in Vallendar, heralded the hand-over to a new “Pilgrimage Team”. For thirteen years the team composed of the Pilgrimage Leader, Sr Anne-Meike Brück and Sr Bernadett-Maria Schenk, and Fr Franz Widmaier (Photo), the Pilgrimage Director, have worked intensively “to connect many people with the working of God through the Blessed Mother andRead More
GERMANY, Wolfgang Fella • “Pentecost – what’s it all about?” This was the question given to the visitors on the eve of Pentecost at the beginning of a special service in the packed seminar room on the Marienhoehe at Wurzburg. Young and old squashed together early that Saturday evening. The room was dimly lit, the windows had been blacked out – no one knew why. We had had to move to the seminar room, because the hall was occupied and the shrine far too small to take in the manyRead More
GERMANY, Renate Immler • The guests of the Lenten Action at the Joseph Kentenich School, at Kempten-Leubas, were surprised at the incredible commitment of the students.  They voluntarily accepted selling tickets for food and drinks as well as delivering cakes.  Some students offered the visitors interesting guided tours for adults and little ones, and some school games.  “I am very impressed with the students.  It is evident they are very happy at this school and that they joyfully commit themselves.  They behaved very well at this event, despite being watchedRead More
GERMANY, by Maria Fischer • The coincidence is powerful: A few hours earlier the news was broadcast through the media that the route through the Balkans had been closed, the borders had been sealed, and refugees were standing in the open in the rain and cold. A few days previously Pope Francis had said at “America’s Lampedusa”, the deadly fence separating Mexico and the USA, “We cannot deny the humanitarian crisis which in recent years has meant migration for thousands of people, whether by train or highway or on foot,Read More
GERMANY, Schoenstatt Center, Würzburg Marienhöhe, Wolfgang Fella • This year, another retreat was held for families with children preparing for First Communion at Marienhöhe , Würzburg with the motto: “Jesus loves you!” Right from the start upon arriving in Würzburg, the participants’ places of origin in the diocese were made known by the many signs posted with the names of their cities. Families arrived from everywhere with their children to take the opportunity to prepare for the next celebration in a pleasant atmosphere. Straight from the heart First, they hadRead More
GERMANY, Sabine Merdes and María Fischer • “Dietershausen is facing its most sorrowful time since many decades – this coming Sunday the first Sisters of Mary will be leaving and the whole village is shocked. … Now it is certain and you can read it in the local newspapers…” That was the initial reaction at the beginning of October when the news reached the media and the Schoenstatt Family in the diocese of Fulda. As a result of combining provinces, the current provincial centre of the Schoenstatt Sisters of MaryRead More
By Maria Fischer • Thursday, 14 October, at the Original Shrine, “Who does not understand German?” asked Fr. Egon Zillekens at the beginning of the night blessing. Although this tradition is not established in Germany, it is something known and valued in other countries in the midst of the novena for 18 October: For many, who gathered in the Original Shrine on this night, there is a tradition that night after night for many years now has gathered youths and adults from different countries who happen to be at SchoenstattRead More