October 20, 2002, Mulgoa, Australia: the celebration began in front of the Shrine 20. Oktober 2002, Mulgoa, Australien: die Feier begann vor dem Heiligtum

Sr. Elizabeth thanks the Movement for initiating and carrying through the project of the Father Statue Sr.Elizabeth dankt der Bewegung für die Initiative und das Durchführen des Projekts Vaterstatue

Plaque Plakette

Balloons with messages to Father Kentenich - idea of the Marian Apostles Luftballons mit Botschaften an Pater Kentenich - eine Idee der Marienapostel

Holy Mass in the House Chapel Heilige Messe in der Hauskapelle

Representatives from Western Australia Vertreter Westaustraliens

The Webb family travelled 1,000 km to be present at the blessing of the Statue Familie Webb fuhr 1000 km, um bei der Segnung der Statue dabei zu sein

Representatives from Queensland and Western Australia Vertreterin von Queensland und Westaustralien

Representatives from Melbourne, Toowoomba, and England enjoying a potluck dinner at the conference Vertreter aus Melbourne, Toowoomba und Gäste aus England beim Potluck Dinner

Fotos: Foley © 2002

AUSTRALIA, Sydney, Sr. M. Helen. Undoubtedly the highlight of the tenth National October Weekend held on 18-20 October at the Joseph Kentenich House, Mulgoa, New South Wales, adjacent to the national shrine, was the unveiling and blessing of a life sized bronze statue of Father Kentenich on October 20.

Over the past three years the realisation of the need of a symbol of the presence of our founder, who never actually visited our continent but promised to ‘come from heaven,’ has taken shape and grown in all branches of the movement. Sister M. Aegidis and Sister M. Anita, from the initial group of four pioneering sisters who arrived in Australia in 1951, were delighted to be able to be present at the at the unveiling, together with the so many members of the movement from Melbourne, Perth, Canberrra, Toowoomba and Sydney - and their fellow sisters.

"Welcome, Father, in our midst!"

In the introduction to the ceremony outside the shrine, Fred Turner, leader of the family branch in Sydney said: ‘Our statue stands for the father and his family, his love for the church, his passion for freedom . . . We know that he is with us in the shrine, home shrines, in our communities and groups. We are happy to have him with us now in the symbol of the statue to always welcome us here and bless us, as we leave to live our covenant. We believe that from the shadow of the shrine he will help shape the destiny of our church and nation for which we undertake to form leaders, by way of our prayer, formation and sacrifice.’

Moving towards the veiled statue, a warm welcome in eight languages was enthusiastically given after the statue had been uncovered: "WELCOME FATHER, IN OUR MIDST!" Father John Evans then prayed the prayer of blessing. Hand in hand, all present renewed their commitment, offering themselves as instruments to Our Mother Thrice Admirable and renewed their covenant of love. This was followed by a reflection of our founder’s love for the Church - given by Shirley Hall of the women’s league.

With a joyous Te Deum the procession of four priests and altar servers followed by young, elderly, children, babies in pushers - made its way to the house chapel for holy Mass. A scurry was made to find chairs and more chairs but there were still not enough. Many just had to be content to sit on the low windowsill that runs along one side of the chapel, or to sit on the carpet.

Marian Apostles took slips to everyone at the conclusion of the holy Mass and invited each person to write a message to Father Kentenich. These were attached to the strings of brightly coloured balloons. Mind you, some did bang before they climbed progressively higher and higher into the brilliant blue sky!

Conquering the tyranny of Australia's distances by bringing into play the dimensions of feasibility and longing

This conference proved to be one rich in content, inspiration, community spirit and prayer. Father Kentenich seems to be accomplishing things from heaven that he never even achieved in his lifetime! The magic of his MPHC seems to conquer the tyranny of Australia’s distances, by bringing into play the dimensions of feasibility and longing.

Four of the delegates from Western Australia had their two four hour flights by plane paid by their fellow Schoenstatters, who in August sold hundreds of dozens of small cakes called lamingtons. The comment from one couple, originally from South Africa, was "We have found Father again." A young couple with a ten month old baby, who has only three heart chambers, dared the 900 kilometer trip from Melbourne – they left a quickly written note at the reception, as Matt needed to get back for work the next morning in Melbourne.

"Dear Sisters,
Thank you for your hospitality! God bless!
Matt. Bernadette, Noah."

Paul and Fiona Webb travelled 1000 kilometres with their seven children from Toowoomba, Queensland – James the youngest, being just under six months. Fiona shared what the weekend at Mount Schoenstatt has meant for her: "I’ve come closer to Father. His fatherliness, his gentleness and his desire to lead us to Mary is what I have gained from this experience."

Another of the Queensland delegates claimed with joy and conviction: "The Conference was for me: ‘Father’".

‘Family – A Culture of Life in Today’s Society.’

And it seems that it is our father and founder’s wish, that a new culture of life and love, of new hope will break into the new millennium. The moon was already high on Sunday evening when a Sri Lankan couple brought their five weeks old baby to the shrine. Having seen the statue on their way down, they returned to stand on either side; the baby’s feet a few centimetres above Father Kentenich’s outstretched hands. The couple then asked their friend to get his camera from the boot of his car to take a photo. To those who happened to see the event, it was as if our father was affirming all that Father Ivanhoe Allies had presented in his talk on the Saturday morning: ‘Family – A Culture of Life in Today’s Society.’ Yes, we are grateful for our founder’s intercession; for the great gift of Schoenstatt’s spirituality that is able to guide us through the complexity and confusion that often confronts us.