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6 de julio de 2003: 40 aniversario de la ordenación sacerdotal del Padre Michael Marmann (centro). July 6, 2003: 40th anniversary of the ordenation of Fr. Michael Marmann (center) 6. Juli 2003: 40-jähriges Priesterjubiläumvon Pater Dr. Michael Joh. Marmann (Mitte) |
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Unos de los concelebrantes: P. Josef Fleischlin, P.Heribert Niederschlag SAC, P.Michael Marmann, P. Peter Wolf, P. Matthias Leineweber (Sant' Egidio) Some of the concelebrants: Fr. Josef Fleischlin, Fr.Heribert Niederschlag SAC, Fr.Michael Marmann, Fr. Peter Wolf, Fr. Matthias Leineweber (Sant' Egidio) Einige der Konzelebranten: P. Josef Fleischlin, P.Heribert Niederschlag SAC, P.Michael Marmann, P. Peter Wolf, P. Matthias Leineweber (Sant' Egidio) |
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Sermón: Monsignore Peter Wolf, Monte Moriah Sermon: Monsignor Peter Wolf, Mount Moriah Festpredigt: Mons. Dr. Peter Wolf, Berg Moriah |
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P. Michael Marmann aceptando los saludos Fr. Michael Marmann receiving congratulations P. Michael Marmann beim Beglückwünschen |
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Representantes de los Movimientos: Severin Schmitt, Focolare; P. Matthias Leineweber, Sant' Egidio; P. Gottlob Hess, Focolare; Sigrun Mai, Schoenstatt; P. Friedrich Aschoff, Renovación Espiritual Parroquial; Gerhard Pross, CVJM, P. Lothar Penners (de izq.) Representatives of the Movements: Severin Schmitt, Focolare; Fr. Matthias Leineweber, Sant' Egidio; Fr. Gottlob Hess, Focolare; Sigrun Mai, Schoenstatt; Fr. Friedrich Aschoff, Spiritual Parish Renewal;; Gerhard Pross, CVJM, Fr. Lothar Penners (from left.) Vertreter der Bewegungen: Severin Schmitt, Fokolar-Bewegung; Pfr. Matthias Leineweber, Sant' Egidio; P. Gottlob Hess, Fokolar-Bewegung; Sigrun Mai, Schönstatt; Pfr. Friedrich Aschoff, Geistliche Gemeinde-Erneuerung; Gerhard Pross, CVJM, P. Lothar Penners (von links.) |
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Saludantes jovenes Young well-wishers Jugendliche Gratulante |
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Fotos: POS, Brehm © 2003 |
SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "That they may all be one", this word from the high priestly prayer of Jesus was the motto that Father Michael Joh. Marmann had chosen for the celebration of his 40th ordination anniversary, setting the tone for the festive Holy Mass on July 6, 2003, in the Adoration Church in Schoenstatt. In his sermon, Father Dr. Peter Wolf highlighted unity as a matter of Father Michael Marmann's personal interest especially during the past 12 years of his work as President of the General Presidium: unity of the Schoenstatt family in the diversity of its branches and national families, unity with Ecclesial Movements and New Communities, including spiritual communities in the Lutheran Churches. The assembly in the Adoration Church, with Schoenstatt members of all generations, and branches, representatives of the Focolare Movement, and Sant' Egidio as well as from Lutheran Communities, relatives, parishioners, mirrored and at the same time promised what Father Marmann has worked for: That they all may be one.
"When you come to Schoenstatt, you sense something special, a certain irradiation of spiritual life," Severin Schmitt, from the Ecumenical Life Center of the Focolare Movement in Ottmaring, Bavaria, said after the Mass. "And when we start to communicate with each other, we sense that unity in the spirit, the spiritual life that you live, and that we live according to our very own charisma. But living a spiritual life, that is what unites us, because that is what makes the difference." He was standing in front of the Adoration Church, talking with a Schoenstatt member he so far only knew via e-mail, while Fr. Matthias Leineweber, Würzburg, of the Community Sant' Egidio, Fr. Gottlob Hess, also from the Ecumenical Life Center Ottmaring are talking with Siegrun Mai, Schoenstatt Mothers' Federation, and Fr. Friedrich Aschoff, president of the Lutheran "Spiritual Parish Renewal), and Gerhard Pross, Esslingen, president of the CVJM (Christian Association of Young Men) and head of the "Meeting of Responsables" of the Lutheran Spiritual Movement, are in conversation with Father Lothar Penners. For the leading representatives of these Movements - working together in the preparation of the Ecumenical Meeting of Spiritual Movements in Stuttgart 2004 - it was no question to come to Schoenstatt on this Sunday and join in the celebration of Father Marmann's 40th ordination anniversary. More than many words and speeches, this fact mirrors one of the characteristic aspects of the 12-year-term of Father Marmann as chairperson of the International Schoenstatt Movement: his working for a growing unity of the Ecclesial Movement and communities responding to the Pope's impulse at Pentecost1998 and the subsequent initiatives of Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement. "That all may be one" - the motto of the Festive Mass is grown from an experienced reality and continues in this reality.
A celebration of priesthood - centered in the One and Only Priest, Jesus Christ
It is not only in view of the friendship or brotherhood with the Ecclesial Movements, that makes the motto "That all may be one" so credible and at the same so attractive. "Where do you see that?," a young woman comments in awe. "Over sixty priests processing into the church, in festive white vestments - and each one with joy written in his face!" Paging through the priest novels of the last decades, Monsignor Wolf would later say at the beginning of his sermon, leaves you with the impression that a successful version of this profession cannot be expected; priests in modern literature are pictured as tragic or broken figures, supposed to perform the impossible in a world that does not care about God, or in structures inconsistent with modern realities. Therefore, he would say, it is worth and fitting to join and celebrate forty years of blessed and "successful" priesthood of Fr. Michael Marmann. And they came. First of all, priests in a "breathtaking number", as one young man put it, and with them, approximately 20 students and novices of the Schoenstatt Fathers on the road to priesthood. In the ranks of the concelebrating priests, you saw Schoenstatt Fathers not only from Germany, but from Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, India, Nigeria; and Schoenstatt diocesan priests from all communities, Pallottine Fathers Matthias Rummel, and Heribert Niederschlag; Fr. Matthias Leineweber from Würzburg, of the Community Sant' Egidio. That all may be one: the general directors of the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests, of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, of the Institute of Ladies of Schoenstatt, were present and stood by the altar with Father Marmann.
Father Marmann in his opening speech pointed as Jesus Christ, the one and only priest, who "is in our midst and is our center". He expressed a special welcome to the representatives of the "areas" of his priestly work during the 40 years of his priesthood: his first parish in Cologne, the diocese of Regensburg, where he worked during his doctorate studies, Schoenstatt Girls' Youth (now mature adults who experienced some surprise re-encounters), Family Movement, Mothers' League, priests, the Schoenstatt Fathers, the representatives of the Ecclesial Movements - and of course his relatives.
That all may be one: highlights of Father Marmann's work in the light of biblical texts
The celebration of the Mass was festive and simple; the Sisters' Choir provided the songs, Sr. Michele played the organ. Father Dr. Peter Wolf, Director General, in his sermon offered a biblical meditation of the characteristic features of Father Marmann's priestly work.
Each priesthood, he said, has a prophetical dimension, is sharing the prophets' service, called to help the people of God to find God's presence, God's will, and God's way. Committed to the prophetical charisma of Father Kentenich, Fr. Marmann had served Schoenstatt and his community. . In this context, Father Wolf mentioned the prophetical commitment to the "Covenant of Love for Germany", that Father Marmann, as movement director, had promoted at a time when the unity of Germany on both sides of the Iron Curtain was regarded no more than a nostalgic illusion, and when not only on the Eastern, but also on the Western side of the deadly border someone who spoke of unity and of "the German people" was easy to be regarded "reactionary" and politically incorrect. Almost to the day five years after the "Covenant of Love for Germany" was sealed, on October 18, 1989, the end of the Communist "German Democratic Republic" was rang in with then Minister President Honnecker forded to step down. The process was completed with the fall of the Berlin wall on November 9, 1989, and the formal unification on October 3, 1990.
The key to the confidence that Father Marmann was granted by many lies in the reality that is marked by the word he chose as motto for his ordination: "…and where is no love, bring love, and you will win love." (John of the Cross). Father Peter Wolf emphasized the Faith in Divine Providence, the confidence and ability to give love as fruit of the conviction that God is an ever-loving, all-loving, merciful Father. Here, Mons. Wolf mentioned the silent work of Father Marmann for unity, reconciliation and mutual confidence in the Schoenstatt Family.
The High Priestly Prayer is prayed for each one, prayed for each priest especially. The work for unity - here Father Wolf mentioned the Ecclesial Movements moving closer together - is, beyond and with each human effort, embraced by Jesus' prayer "that all may be one".
The prayers of the faithful were spoken for the relatives of Fr. Marmann, his deceased relatives, for the Sion Community of the Schoenstatt Fathers and the upcoming General Chapter, the Schoenstatt Family, and the Ecclesial Movements.
At the end of the Mass, Father Marmann invited all to renew the Covenant of Love, praying "My Queen, my Mother…". He said, that he owed his priestly work totally to her, to her, who leads all of us to Christ.
After the Mass, people stood in lines to congratulate Father Marmann. In the meantime, the novices of the Schoenstatt Fathers offered refreshments and snacks. Father Marmann said that he wanted to thank all those who had extended their wishes and prayer promises via Internet. That all may be one - it could also be experienced during this hour at he place in front of the Adoration Church!