We are confident, that together with Mary, we can build up Schoenstatt in Ohio

Schoenstatt Boys of Ohio Make History

Escudo de los jovenes The ideal of the young boys Das Ideal der Jungen auf ihrem Wappen dargestellt Fotos: Lis © 2006

USA, Teresa Bertke and Gordon and Carol Lis. In rural Ohio where church steeples dot the landscape and fields of wheat, corn, and soybeans are commonplace, harvest time brings a gathering of an abundance of ripe crops. The first three boys in Ohio to seal their covenant of love desire to plant seeds for a harvest of another kind. Their group name, "Harvesters for the Marian Father Kingdom," conveys their desire to seek a ripe harvest of new boys for the Ohio Schoenstatt Youth. They drew inspiration for their name from their love of farming and the words from Matthew 9:37-38. "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

Andrew speaks for the three boys when he says, "We are confident, that together with Mary, we can build up Schoenstatt in Ohio." To be able to do so, Justin Homan (age fifteen), Andrew Bertke (fifteen), and his brother, Nicholas (thirteen) sealed their covenant of love past November 20, 2005, on the Feast of Christ the King. As Harvesters for the Marian Father Kingdom, they are now working for their Queen’s harvest in Ohio.

The plow

The boys discovered the plow as their group symbol. The plow symbolizes their readiness to "till the soil" and make it ready for future Schoenstatt boys. Already their desires are being realized as a new group of ten to twelve boys has been formed with the hopes for another group in 2006. The boys are grateful to Father Jonathan Niehaus, who had visited the group offering spiritual talks and guidance, and to their group leader, Dan Kremer, who formed the first group three years ago and met regularly with the boys in the home shrine. The boys are also grateful for the sacrifices Father David Zink made for them that day.

The boys’ covenant ceremony took place on a warm, pleasant afternoon as family and friends gathered in the "Two Pillars" home shrine of Gordon and Carol Lis in Sidney, Ohio. Father Ray Seifert, a Precious Blood priest and member of the Schoenstatt Priests League, officiated at the covenant. He spoke warmly about Father Kentenich pointing out to the boys that Father had founded Schoenstatt with boys just their age. Dan Kremer, the boys’ youth leader, lit each of their covenant candles which were beautifully painted with their group name and covenant symbol. Each boy received an MTA medal and the gold star patch for their tilmas. The ceremony concluded as each of the boys signed the Ohio covenant book.

Four generations in the Covenant of Love

As Andrew, Nicholas, and Justin exchanged hearts with their Mother Thrice Admirable, they pledged their love and faithfulness to her as many of their family members had done before. The brothers, Andrew and Nicholas, are fourth generation Schoenstatt members. Their parents, grandparents, and great-grandmother were present. Each had previously made their covenant of love and dedicated their home shrines. Justin’s parents had also sealed their covenant and consecrated their home shrine. The younger children that were present filled the home shrine with childlike love.

Everyone present rejoiced at this most blessed event and looked upon it as a foundation for the future harvest of the Schoenstatt boys in Ohio and beyond.

 From: Schoenstatt Family Magazine, USA