Bearer of the Founder's charisma to the Church and to the world

A family celebration: Mass with Monsignor Ignazio Sanna in the Adoration Church

Mons. Ignazio Sanna: la primera vez como obispo en Schoenstatt Mons,. Ignacio Sanna, in Schoenstatt for the first time since his ordination Mons. Ignazio Sanna: zum ersten Mal als Bischof in Schönstatt
Un encuentro familiar en la Iglesia de la Adoración A family get-together in the Adoration Church Ein Familienfest in der Anbetungskirche
Toda la familia presente The whole family present Die ganze Schönstattfamilie war vertreten
Prédica Sermon Predigt
Saludando... Greeting... Begrüßen...
Saludando... Greeting... Begrüßen... Foto: POS Fischer © 2007 Album de fotos – photo album – Foitoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "On December 29^th, 32 years ago, I consecrated my life as a priest to the Mother Thrice Admirable and this is how I began my priestly road in the Schoenstatt Family. Today I come here to Mount Schoenstatt to consecrate my life as Bishop to God of the Trinity, and to pray at the resting place of Father Joseph Kentenich", said Monsignor Ignazio Sanna, Archbishop of Sardinia, a member of the Institute of Diocesan Priests, during the festive Mass that was celebrated on December 29, 2006, at the Adoration Church. It was truly a family celebration.

Everyone was invited and everyone came: the participants of the General Congress of the Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt that recently started, all the delegates of the Boys’ Youth, who were participating in their annual journey, volunteers from several South American countries (who were thrilled to have a copy of the homily translated into Spanish), girls from the Girls’ Youth, who were participating in retreats at House Sonnenau, the youngest course of the Federation of Priests, as well as representatives of the other Institutes, Federations and branches. The Church, decorated with a Christmas touch, was filled to capacity when close to 50 priests entered, accompanying Monsignor Sanna, who as a manner of greeting blessed everyone who had gathered to enjoy this family time together. In the musical aspect, Father Josef Treutlein masterfully played the organ, while a small group of priests of the Institute formed a choir, adding a festive touch to the celebration of the Mass.

The first Schoenstatt bishop in Italy

"I wanted to travel this road as a pilgrim in order to drink from the fountain of love for the Church that flows from the message and the life of our Founder. As the first Schoenstatt bishop in Italy I feel called to take the charisma of Father Kentenich to the heart of the Church, to Italy and to the entire world, Monsignor Sanna stressed at the beginning of his homily, explaining the main reason for his visit to Schoenstatt and for the celebration of this Mass. On the other hand, it was also an opportunity to celebrate the Episcopal ordination of Monsignor Sanna, since very few were able to attend his ordination in Sardinia last year. "When I found out that Monsignor was coming to Schoenstatt after Christmas I immediately asked him to celebrate a Mass for all the family", commented Monsignor Peter Wolf. "I thought that it would be a joy for everyone". And it was. Monsignor Sanna’s homily awakened a great enthusiasm among the youth as well as in the adults – it was a unique testimony of priestly giving of self, of love for the Church and for Schoenstatt, following the example of Father Kentenich.

Key points of the Schoenstatt mission for the present world

Towards the end of his homily, Monsignor Sanna stressed the key points of the Schoenstatt mission for the present world.

• In a world dominated by technology, in which there is no room for God, Schoenstatt brings a providential interpretation of the history that frees modern man from the anguish before the future.
• In a global world where no one feels at home in spite of being able to "navigate" through all the virtual networks, Schoenstatt comes with it proposal of a home and of a living shrine
• In a masculine world in which the woman is in many ways subjected to

• In a world where all the authentic values disappear more and more each day and where what history has given us as a treasure is forgotten, where mechanistic acting infiltrates the corners of everyday life, Schoenstatt comes with its pedagogical proposal to form a free man, a responsible man who is conscious of his mission.

The sound of ball point pens quickly writing notes manifested the great interest that all the participants had in these words.

"I heartily invite you to build the future"

After Mass there was an opportunity to greet the archbishop in a completely informal and spontaneous manner. Karl-Heinz Blumers and his wife Teresa – who moved from Venezuela to Moscow in December told him about the campaign of "One million children praying the rosary"; he also received a greeting from the couple, who are the General Superiors of the Institute of Families, Bernhard and Elisabeth Neiser, as well as greetings from several members of the Girls’ Youth, while the volunteers from Argentina and Chile seemed intimidated…As it is customary during family encounters, greetings and news were exchanged in the midst of the bustle that made the cold and darkness of this winter night disappear…while the words of Monsignor Sanna’s homily continued to resound: "I heartily invite you to build the future, and to generously think about placing our sight on heaven. Our confidence should be transformed, according to a phrase of Pope Benedict, in patience and in humility (Deus Carita, 39). Our hope is in the confirmation that heaven and earth touch that the world will only believe in heaven when this illuminates our earthly life, not when heaven hides the earth".

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA