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 published: 2006-01-24

Firm, Faithful Fathers, Servants in the Garden

January 20th brings a new generation of men to the Mariengarten

20 de enero, Milwaukee: Un grupo de hombres en el Jardin de María

20th of January, Milwaukee: Men decide themselves for the Mariengarten

20. Januar, Milwaukee: eine Gruppe von Männern wagt den Schritt in den Mariengarten

 

Bill Wierzbinski firmando

Bill Wierzbinski signing the declaration

Bill Wierzbinski unterschreibt

 

Chuck Liskens sellando su alianza

Chuck Liskens makes his covenant

Chuck Liskens schließt sein Liebesbündnis

 

P. Langsch con la foto de la tumba del Padre

Fr. Langsch with the Founder Chapel Greeting Card

P. Langsch mit dem Foto von der Gründerkapelle

 

Rito de la implantación

Implantation ceremony

Ritus der “Einpflanzung”

 

Todo el grupo, con el P. Langsch y la Hna Marie

The group with Fr. Langsch and Sister Marie

Die Gruppe mit P. Langsch und Schwester Marie

Fotos: Jentz © 2006

 

 

 

USA, Christi Jentz. It was a great moment for the nine men who were implanted in the Mariengarten on the commemorative day of Jan 20th at the International Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. "It is a historic day today," proclaimed Father Gerald Langsch. Father continued in saying that he only knew of a few men’s groups that have been implanted and this is the first one in the United States. They were setting a new high mark for future men’s groups.

He thanked Laura Lee Wierzbinski and her Mariengarten group for inspiring her husband Bill ‘Wierzbinski to form a Men’s Mariengarten group. In this offering, there are four covenant partners - our Mother Thrice Admirable, Father Kentenich, Saint Vincent Pallotti and each of the men. The garden, he explained is the kingdom and the kingdom we proclaim is Schoenstatt.

A photo of the Founder Chapel – taken that same day

This day was especially fruitful for Chuck Liskens. He made his Covenant of Love and was also implanted in the garden. Father Langsch joked with Chuck, who has been long time shrine pilgrim, that he thought this day would never come. An added surprise for the men was the greetings that they received from Schoenstatt, Germany through Sister Kornelia and her assurance that they would be remembered at Father Kentenich’s tomb on that night. She sent a beautiful picture of Father's tomb and a description that read "so here is a photo of the Founder Chapel tonight.... the Mariengarten!!! So this is what I see when I remember them there!!" From the picture, a holy card was quickly made and it was presented to each one of the men at the end of Mass. At the reception that followed, Bill Wierzbinski made a comparison with the US Army in his toasting remarks, "In the army, they say, that if you join you’ll be all that you can be, but here we have the truth. We will become spiritual, supernatural men and that is really the all that we can be. Now we can come together and form further". Sr. Marie Day, who has been a great aid to the men, summed the event up best in this way, "Here in the Exile land we have given a great gift to the entire Schoenstatt family".

 Milwaukee Mariengarten

Bill Wierzbinski shares: "Our men’s group had been meeting for a few years with mixed results, sometimes a lot of guys, sometimes only a few. In 2003, one in our group went on a pilgrimage to Schoenstatt in Germany, and of course found it to be very inspirational. What he also found was a need for the men to stand up and be counted, that there were many ways that families, couples, religious, professional women and others were contributing to our Schoenstatt mission, but there was nothing being done specifically by the Schoenstatt laymen. Feeling that our MTA was looking for the men to get more involved, he began to see if anyone wanted to be part of a Mariengarten. The response was "underwhelming". No one seemed to be the least bit interested.

Soon after, Father Niehaus gave a very inspirational talk at the 2004 Exile Shrine Jubilee, motivating us to want to be part of Schoenstatt’s mission for the church on the new shore, and he seemed to be saying that the time was now. Again the subject of Mariengarten was mentioned and still there was no response. After that, the idea was pretty much forgotten but then suddenly it began to blossom and the men’s group began to show some interest. Others found out and wanted to be part of it.

So we began the preparation about eighteen months ago. Sister Marie Day gave us a lot of the literature and encouragement, and we began to study. As time went on, our little spark was being fanned into flame and all nine of us decided to be implanted. We decided that we wanted our roots to go back to the beginning, so we chose January 20th as the date of our implantation. One of the strong impulses that we found was for a need to be the good fathers, something that is often missing in the present age. We decided that we should make it a major focus of our striving, to be these good fathers.

We chose as our name, "Firm, Faithful, Fathers, Servants in the Garden". Our symbol is the Shrine, pictured with the star of the holy night and a worker working in the garden. The star is a symbol of the original Holy Night, the true beginning of the Mariengarten, and it connects us to our roots. Likewise, the shrine is also a symbol of our roots and we are the workers. We feel very blessed to be called, and to be able to contribute to the mission as Our Holy Mothers’ men. We want to be "Firm Faithful Fathers, Servants in the Garden".

Working tirelessly for Mary, in prayers, sacrifices and endeavors

David Jentz shares: Mariengarten or Garden of Mary. It is an important lifestream within the Schoenstatt Family, rooted in the historic event of Christmas 1941. As we prepare to be implanted into the Mariengarten on January 20, 2006, we reflect on the importance of this historic day. January 20 is the Anniversary of the 2nd Milestone, Fr Kentenich’s decision to go to the concentration camp for the sake of the "inner freedom of the family". It is also the Anniversary of St Vincent Pallotti’s canonization of January 20, 1963.

Our men’s group consists of 9 men - Dick Magliocco, our Group leader and members Jim Dragoni, Dave Jentz, Chuck Liskens, Joe Mantyh, Terry Marincic, Jim Novak, Bill Wierzbinski and Ray Yank, along with our spiritual leader, Father Gerold Langsch.

We’ve known each other for many years, with most of us participating in men’s retreats, couples groups and Father-Son Weekends. Some felt there needed to be a stronger presence within our Schoenstatt Family here in Milwaukee for a men’s group; not only a physical presence, helping out at events or raising money for seminarians, but a spiritual presence. After discussions and prayers, it was decided that we should be implanted into the Mariengarten. We began to read Father Kentenich’s talks and with the help of Sister Marie Day and Father Langsch, we scheduled it to coincide with the 2nd milestone, January 20.

During the implantation, we will enter into a four-fold covenant; with Mary, our Mother Thrice Admirable, with our founder, Father Kentenich, with Saint Vincent Pallotti, and with each other. We will make our inscriptio, a total giving of one’s self, including all the crosses and sufferings, with the intention of making contributions to the Capital of Grace.

St Vincent Pallotti, founder of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, which became known as the Pallottines, promoted the idea of worldwide involvement of all Catholics, including the laity. Father Kentenich was a Pallottine Father and considered St Vincent Pallotti important for Schoenstatt.

We are striving to be "firm, faithful fathers", not only to our families, but also as leaders in our Schoenstatt family as well as leaders in our jobs and communities. We are "servants in the garden", working tirelessly for Mary, in prayers, sacrifices and endeavors.

The implantation is not the end of our mission, but really a beginning. We hope to continue to build our Schoenstatt mission here in Milwaukee and at the International Center, influencing other men to become more involved in the movement. In fact, some seeds have already sprouted. A second men’s group has formed and that has generated interest among other men to become more involved. As our motto for the year says, "Father, We Go With You".


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