Our Way Leads Homeward to the Father

On behalf of the death of Sr. M. Edelgart Detscher, General Superior of the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary

La Hna. M. Edelgart Detscher, fallecida el 27 de febrero de 2008 Sr. M. Edelgart Detscher died Februray 27, 2008 Schw. M. Edelgart Detscher, am 27. Februar 2008 verstorben Fotos: Archiv Schönstätter Marienschwestern © 2008

SCHOENSTATT, Sr. M. Edelgart Detscher. General Superior of the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from 1974 to 1986, was called home into eternity on Wednesday morning, February 27, 2008 in the Mother House on Mount Schoenstatt. Her co-sisters were gathered at the same time in the house chapel at Holy Mass. Despite her advanced age – she would have been 97 in September – her death was unexpected. Up to the end, she was mentally vibrant and shared actively in the life of the community.

Our community, as well as the Schoenstatt Movement, owes much to Sr. M. Edelgart. She entered the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in 1935 and only a few short months afterward, Father Kentenich requested that she take over the responsibility for the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth.

Later, Father Kentenich named her as the Coordinator for the Women’s Movement and bestowed on her the responsibility of leadership for the group of sisters who work on a full-time basis within the Schoenstatt Movement. Over decades, she effectively contributed to the inner and outer development of this group, until in 1966 it was constituted as a Province. Sr. M. Edelgart became the first provincial superior of the "Dynamic Province".

For several years, Sr. M. Edelgart was also active as the Coordinator of the Schoenstatt Women’s Federation.

Giving answers to the questions asked about the Founder- his person and his charism

Throughout the years -- particularly during the time of Father Kentenich’s exile -- she was, together with Fr. Menningen and other leading personalities within the Movement, essentially involved in giving answers to the questions asked about the Founder-- his person and his charism.

For many years, Sr. M. Edelgart represented the concerns of the Schoenstatt Movement on the General Council of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. She was elected to the office of General Superior from 1974 until 1986 and brought her rich experience to the inner and outer development of the community. The years following the completion of her term of office were filled with documenting her many encounters with Father Kentenich -- her experiences and the knowledge that he had imparted to her -- for coming generations.

Through her faithful solidarity with our Founder, Sr. M. Edelgart gave much to our Institute and beyond it to the entire Schoenstatt work. Now 40 years after his death, her way leads homeward.

We thank Sr. M. Edelgart for all that she gave to our community and to Schoenstatt as a whole. May she now be granted what former Auxiliary Bishop Tenhumberg once wished her. In 1965, when representatives of the various Schoenstatt communities were gathered around our Founder in Rome, he mused:

"If he were to be asked one day by St. Peter where Sr. M. Edelgart should find her place in Heaven, then he would have to say that it had to be in the "closest possible proximity to Father Kentenich."

On Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 2:00 pm the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Sr. M. Edelgart in the Adoration Church. The Rite of Committal will follow at the Sisters’ Cemetery on Mount Schoenstatt.

• Mails to mutterhaus@s-ms.org

Translation: Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Mother House