"Whoever goes to Milwaukee, Comes Back Transformed!"

Milwaukee Pilgrimage of the German Mother’s League

En el Santuario de Exilio At the Exile Shrine Vor dem "Exil-Heiligtum"
En el cementerio donde el Padre Kentenich estuvo a menudo, paseando y rezando At the cemetery where Father Kentenich often walked and prayed Auf dem Friedhof, auf dem Pater Kentenich oft weilte
El matrimonio Gmeinder, Madison The Gmeinder’s, in Madison Ehepaar Gmeinder, Madison. Sie berichten, wie Pater Kentenich ihnen half, ihre Eheprobleme zu lösen
El matrimonio Horn The Horn’s, in their home shrine Ehepaar Horn, Milwaukee. Sie erzählen, wie sie Pater Kentenich als Seelsorger der deutschen Gemeinde erlebten
Lago Michigan At Lake Michigan Verweilen am Michigansee Fotos: Sr. M. Caja Bernhard © 2008

From August 28 through September 7, 2008 we followed in the footsteps of Father Kentenich in the land of his Exile. Our German Pilgrimage group was comprised of members of the Schoenstatt Mothers’ League consisting of 12 women, ten couples, a Schoenstatt Father, Fr. Theo Breitinger and Sr. M. Caja Bernhard. Our Milwaukee pilgrimage guide was Sr. M. Carol Winkler, who experienced Fr. Kentenich in her first years of being a Schoenstatt Sister. She shared her very vivid testimony with us.

The great longing to come to know the Founder of the Schoenstatt Movement during this phase of his life and to encounter him in the place where he lived through 14 years of exile, had been considerable for a long time. But just as significant – after finally being underway – was the openness and joy of those who were able to participate.

It was an intense and multifaceted program, which the pilgrims traveling to the United States anticipated:

To Rest Awhile at the Places Father Kentenich Called his Own

To rest awhile in the "Exile Shrine" -- the Schoenstatt Chapel -- that had been built just shortly after Father Kentenich’s arrival in Milwaukee and in which he celebrated almost daily the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. To rest awhile in the immense, park-like cemetery -- just a mere two minutes from his residence -- which Father visited almost daily, taking a stroll and carrying on conversations with his visitors. To rest awhile in the "Movement House" the place where the famous "Monday Night Talks" for couples were held. To rest awhile in the Founder Shrine in Madison where, during the first phase of his time in the States, he made frequent visits. To rest awhile at the shore of Lake Michigan and to stand at the approximate place that Father Kentenich did when he went there from time to time to enjoy the beauty of nature and relax with visitors.

Stories Shared by Eyewitnesses

Another important part of our program was the encounters we had with people who had experienced Father Kentenich in Milwaukee. Their descriptive accounts of him today – more than 40 years "after the fact"-- indicate just how deeply he left his mark on their hearts. "Every eyewitness we heard and saw reported the same: Father Kentenich was an incomparably kind man who listened focused and quite intently to each person before him, no matter who they were or what they were like. He rejoiced over every individual as a unique gift from God. Each person left him feeling that he or she was special and certainly the most important person for Father. With great skill and empathy, and yes, sometimes also with teasing, he knew how to encourage the positive from people and to reinforce it." (Monika W.)

We also had encounters with married couples who had experienced Father Kentenich and were guided by him. They shared stories of their acquaintance with him: be it from visits they made to him or he to them , conversations in which he showed them steps for sustaining a successful marriage and family life or suggestions by which he helped them to concretely live the Covenant of Love that they made with the MTA. And time and again the explanation of how a Homeshrine came to be and the development of the "Living Shrine" in which each family member selects a specific shrine symbol and then seeks to make it a reality in daily life.

"The visits to the homes of the eyewitnesses were very impressive. We were received warmly and with a self understood hospitality, from which we ourselves learned. During these visits, we heard over and over again about a ‘real father’. Yes, and then afterward we also understood why in America Father Kentenich is referred to only as ‘Father’..." (Maria P.)

It was Hard to Leave

There were other elements of our "Milwaukee adventure" that rounded out the experience for the participants: the broad landscape of the Schoenstatt Center with the inviting father statue standing a short way from the International Shrine of the Father Kingdom. The always open "Father House" where picture albums and documentaries about the life of Father Kentenich could be viewed. The common start to each day with a morning prayer of praise. The daily celebration of the Sacred Liturgy with valuable insights to help process all that we had heard throughout the day. The many times we spent together as a "car group" en route, sometimes sharing a jovial atmosphere and at other times sharing deep conversation. A visit to the Milwaukee Public Museum and Harley-Davidson Museum and a daytrip to Chicago. And last but not least, the good community spirit we enjoyed that became more perceptible from day to day. This was epitomized in the spontaneously staged "Project Kitchen" where, to the joy of all, one of the men grilled giant steaks made to order.

In the end, it was hard to leave…hard to be separated from the places and people that we were allowed to come to know, as well as parting from our pilgrimage group who, centering around the person of Father Kentenich, had become so familiar and affectionately united. But each and every pilgrim on the trip, left with a personal resolution in their heart . A resolution which vitally presses for realization. An example: "We must be sure that our father and founder is always with us. And because he has placed his mission for the Church of today with great confidence in our small, weak hands, it is our task to be instruments." (Maria P.).

"Whoever goes to Milwaukee, comes back transformed! This statement is also valid for me", concluded Angela Fischer. It also surely holds true – although highlighted in a personal manner – for all who participated in this pilgrimage.

Translation: Sr. M. Angela Macari, USA