Fundada por amor Founded in love In Liebe gegründet

A group of couples visiting Dachau Familiengruppe in Dachau Foto: Peter © 2002

Fr. Joseph Kentenich, talk in Dachau on behalf of the 25th founding anniversary P. Josef Kentenich, Vortrag in Dachau beim 25jährigen Gründungsjubiläum Foto: Archiv © 2002

Each day at 3:00 PM, the bell tolls in Dachau Immer um 15.00 Uhr läutet die große Glocke von Dachau Foto: Peter © 2002

Our Lady of Dachau - the statue of the Blessed Mother from the priests' chapel on block 26, now in the Carmelites' chapel Die Muttergottes von Dachau - Marienstatue aus der Kapelle des Priesterblocks, jetzt in der Karmelkapelle Foto: Badano © 2002

Symbol of the celebration on July 14 Symbol der Feier am 14. Juli

SPECIAL, Francisco Nuño/team. On Sunday, July 14, 2002, the Schoenstatt family movement will celebrate the 60th founding anniversary at the site of the former concentration camp, Dachau. On July 16, 1942, Father Kentenich, along with other prisoners, founded the "still missing" communities of Schoenstatt: the Family movement, and the Brothers of Mary. The Brothers of Mary will join the celebration in Dachau on July 14.

In the infernal world of the concentration camp, Father Kentenich, the founder of Schoenstatt, imprisoned there by the ruler of the "Third Reich", together with Dr. Fritz Kühr, prisoner as well, planted a seed on July 16, 1942: the great idea of marriage life as a way to live with and for God as a vocation equal that of the vocation to the religious life.

A big idea, and a big, challenging project –

• marriage as experience of God's love in the mutual love of husband and wife
• marriage as place to encounter God by encountering each other
• marriage as a way of walking with God in the small steps of confidence in the shared daily life.

An idea turning into reality in families

In the hoirzon of the time that Father Kentenich spent in Milwaukee (1952 ­ 1965), the idea turnied into reality, became concrete with couples who opened themselves up to the idea, resulting in

• proved marriage pedagogy
• a supporting marriage spirituality
• a living marriage culture.

In gratitude and co­responsibility

The families of the Schoenstatt Family Movement want to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding by

• ascertaining these roots
• promising creative faithfulness to live their marriage, and family life in hope and proved faith.
• feeling called to be for the world witnesses and constructors of a new social order.

The celebration begins at 10:00 AM in the former concentration camp; after a celebration of block 14, the founding place, and various programs at different places of the site, the day climaxes in the Eucharist at 3:00 PM under the title: Founded in love.