You are the Hope of Schoenstatt!

Schoenstatt Youth Festival in Swider, Poland

Tiempo de oración en el Santuario Prayer time in the Shrine Zeit zum Gebet im Heiligtum
Coronación de la Mater Crowning Krönung
Heroes de Schoenstatt presentes en la Misa Schoenstatt heroes present in the Holy Mass Schönstatt-Helden als Beispiele für geglücktes Leben aus dem Liebesbündnis
Taller Workshop Arbeitsgruppe
Recreo Fun and games Auch Spiel und Spaß kommen nicht zu kurz! Fotos: Drop © 2006

POLAND, Ewelina Drop. The Polish Schoenstatt Youth Festival took place in Swider, near Warsaw between 24^th and 27^th of August. Young people, encouraged by the great success of the Youth Festival in Schoenstatt in 2005, gathered to show their love to the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, and learn how to be saint in everyday life. There were more than 180 young people from whole Poland and Belarus gathered around the Shrine of Fidelity. This Shrine, the first one in Poland, was dedicated 25 years ago, on September 12, 1981.

The Festival was full of fascinating and interesting events. There was time for prayer and adoration as well as for singing, dance and sport activities.

The Schoenstatt Heroes were in the limelight of our meeting. The youth could hear the story of young people, whose lives showed that everybody can become a saint.

They learned about Blessed Karl Leisner. Although he was imprisoned in Dachau and seriously ill, his great dream came true – he became a priest and had the opportunity to say Holy Mass – his first Mass also being the last one in his life. Joseph Engling, whose life and activity was inspired by his Covenant of Love with Mary, is an example for young people how to head toward sanctity in everyday life and unite with Mary. Barbara Kast became the model of real and true friendship – she had time for everybody to support, accompany and console in difficult situations. She carried Jesus Christ to all people. Her personal ideal was – "to be a living Tabernacle of God".

These young heroes showed that sanctity does not mean miracles but ordinary, daily life with problems and worries.

Crowning the MTA – 75^th anniversary of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth

The culminating point of the Festival was the coronation of the picture of the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. In this way young girls and women from Poland and Belarus wanted to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth in Poland. At the same time girls vowed to be the "Living Crown" of the Queen of Heavens, to unite with Her, bring God’s love to people and inflame the world again.

At midnight on 27^th of August they united with the "Night of Shrine" celebrated in Schoenstatt and in over 70 Shrines of the world. Along with the all the Schoenstatt Youth of the world they renewed the Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable for the youth of the world.

The Festival has finished, everybody came back to their home full of spiritual strength. "These three days were a break from the daily grind, school and work. They let me realize that I can become saint as well. I do not need to be a martyr to achieve it"- said Marcin, a student from Warsaw.

Welcome to the next Schoenstatt Youth Festival in one year!