A Step into the Future

The addition of the Brazilian Family Federation into the International Family Federation and Meeting of the International Leadership of the Family Federation in Santa María, Brazil

La Federacion de Familias en manos del Padre The Federation of Families in the hands of the Father Der Familienbund in guten Händen Fotos: Martin © 2006

BRAZIL, Norbert and Renate Martin. On Sunday, June 25, 2006, the Tabor Shrine in Santa María, Brazil witnessed a transcendental event: for the first time in the history of Schoenstatt and its Federations, the International Leadership of a Federation carried out the solemn addition of a territory to the general community.

It has been the grand finale of a development by which the territorial community of the Family Federation of Brazil now forms part of the International Apostolic Family Federation with the same rights of a full member. The condition for arriving to this decision was the constitutional chapter – which took place in May in Santa María – of the Family Federation of Brazil with its three regions. With this chapter, where its own leadership was elected, the period of foundation was concluded.

Presently there are five autonomous territories of the Family Federation

The "Apostolic Territorial Family Federation of Brazil" was founded in 1988 by the General Presidium. It quickly spread in the Southern states of Brazil ( Río Grande do Sul, San Pablo and Paraná, with headquarters in Porto Alegre, Santa María, Santa Cruz, Londrina, Curitiba, Atibaia, and Brasilia).

Henceforth, from the solemn addition taken place there, the Family Federation in Brazil no longer belongs to the circle of 13 territories which are still in the foundation stage and now belong to the circle of autonomous territories of the Family Federation: Germany, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay. The document of addition was solemnly placed on the desk where Father Kentenich wrote the letter to the families in 1948.

An important step in the development

Many Brazilian families from the Family Federation and also invited guests from the other Schoenstatt communities of the area participated in a holy Mass in the Shrine along with the Leadership of the International Family Federation: the Martin family (Germany), the Martino family (Argentina), the Marini family (Paraguay), and the Rivera family (Chile). Gratitude to the Blessed Mother was expressed for this step in the development of the Brazilian Family Federation which is also important for the International Family Federation and for all of Schoenstatt. During holy Mass, the international hymns resounded with the cultural variety of this strongly federative community.

At the conclusion of holy Mass, the Martin family, leaders of the International Family Federation, greeted the Toaldo family, leaders of the Brazilian Family Federation and read the main paragraphs of the document composed by the International Leadership of the Family Federation, indicating how Father Kentenich intended this process.

The historical development of all of the Schoenstatt Federations determined that such a process of addition, actually for the first time, took place by lay leadership, therefore no longer being the responsibility of the General Presidium. It is a promising step in the development not only of all the Federations but for the entire Schoenstatt Work in general. This means that from now on the voice of the Family Federation in Brazil sounds with the same rights above all in the international chapters and in their elections.

Meeting of the Leadership in Santa María

As a sign of the direction the Leadership of the Family Federation has, the International Leadership gave to the territorial leaders a scepter: it is the Blessed Mother who guides and leads the Federation. Through election, She solemnly designates instruments for this task.

For the International Leadership – elected one year and a half ago – to be able to fulfill this act of recognition was a highlight which until now had not been experienced, and it was the cause of great joy. It was the grand finale of a week of deliberations – basis for this meeting in Santa María. Although no family from the International Leadership lives in Brazil, the city of Santa María was chosen as a meeting place partly because of the addition, but also because of the transcendental founding meeting which took place there. At that time, Father Kentenich offered important indications for its direction to the Schoenstatt Family. For all Schoenstatt families, the letter from Santa María is the foundation for their personal and community vocation. Also from there came forth the victorious Campaign to the whole world which began with the offering of the life of Don Joao Luiz Pozzobon. In the federative structure of the Federation, experiencing the richness of the place is the most beautiful expression of unity in diversity to which the Federation and the whole of Schoenstatt are called.

A "gaucho" lunch – as God permits – which brought together the Brazilian families with the International Leadership after the celebration in the Shrine, was another world goal. While it rained cats and dogs outside, inside a friendly climate grew in the hall. A marked, original family unity was experienced there in this federative community which accompanied the leading international family in the following days throughout the regions and courses of the Family Federation in Brazil, not only in the many conversations, but also in the typical festivities of the month of June in Brazil. The marked, original family unity should also henceforth characterize the profile of the International Family Federation.

Translation Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA