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Annie Butler coronando a la Virgen Little Annie Butler crowning a statue of the Blessed Mother Die kleine Annie Butler krönt eine Statue der Muttergottes |
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La „comuna“ del fin de semana The “Weekend commune” Die “Wochenend-Kommune” Fotos: Vinje © 2005 |
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USA, MADISON, Sr. Marcia Vinje. For more than ten years the Schoenstatt family in the Diocese of Madison has had an annual family retreat. With up to 120 people participating this is more than Schoenstatt Heights can accommodate, so they pack up and take over the diocesan retreat center, Camp Gray, near Wisconsin Dells. Camp Gray contains a cluster of buildings including cabins, kitchen/dining room, and a chapel around a central black-topped play area.
It is a perfect place for the children to gather to shoot hoops, ride their bikes, swing, etc. Traditionally everyone gathers "on the blacktop" on Friday evening for some icebreakers followed by a campfire. Saturday morning the parents receive inspiration from a Schoenstatt Father and Sister while a children's program is provided. Everyone comes back together for Holy Mass. After lunch the children are watched so the couples can have a Schoenstatt Hour. The rest of the afternoon is family time which might include walks in the woods, fishing in a little pond, or visiting the horses at a nearby stable. Confession is also offered at this time. The afternoon events culminate in a cook-out. Saturday night is spent with skits or other activities in an outdoor amphitheater followed by another campfire.
Sunday morning, weather permitting, they have Mass at an outdoor "chapel" some distance away. The noon meal is the final gathering before everyone pitches in to clean up and leave camp better than when they arrived.
From the altar, living shrines
Of course, then there is Divine Providence and all the adaptations that go with it. In May 2005 the weather was unusually cold and scattered showers mingled with bright sunshine. Therefore they held all their activities indoors. The theme for the weekend was "From the altar, living shrines", the motto for the year. Father Langsch gave a presentation on living the Mass in daily life and Sister Marcia spoke on how we become living shrines of the Eucharist and living Schoenstatt Shrines.
A unique Eucharistic procession
A unique element of this year's camp was the afternoon Eucharistic procession. The first hour of family time was used to prepare for this event. Each family was given a box of items to use as catalysts for discussing the Mass. The box included a small "chalice" and crackers shaped like hosts and fish. Some families volunteered to prepare skits on Eucharistic Bible stories.
After an hour they gathered in the chapel. They had to give up the idea of processing through the camp as they had hoped because rain was threatening. The chapel was chosen as the alternate site. All the chairs were cleared away for an open space. The Blessed Sacrament was placed into the monstrance and venerated. Then they processed around the chapel in a circle as they prayed a decade of the rosary. The cross led the way followed by Father Langsch with the monstrance, children with candles, incense and bells and everyone else, big and small. Coming back to the altar they knelt or sat to watch one of the skits. A common prayer and simple Eucharistic song expressed the common adoration. Then we began the circle again. At the end they had a benediction.
This turned out to be a wonderful experience. Having to be inside helped the children to stay focused. The skits presented the stories of the Passover, Manna in the Desert, the Wedding at Cana, Multiplying the loaves and fishes, and the Last Supper. Thus a whole theology of the Eucharist was presented in liturgical form. Later on in the evening they had personal Eucharistic adoration where people could spend quiet private time with the Blessed Sacrament.
Share parenting tips and faith stories
The Camp Gray weekends are a blend of intergenerational fun and service (everyone helps cook and clean up after meals). Families share religious experiences that set the scene for religious conversations and memories. Many of the families come year after year and the children especially enjoy playing with one another. There are plenty of opportunities to informally share parenting tips as well as faith stories. The bonding that happens within the Schoenstatt family is tangible. It is a bit like a weekend commune! Best of all, we come to experience that our bond is in Jesus and Mary. We came together at the altar and left as living shrines.
From: Schoenstatt Family Magazine, USA