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Around the Original Shrine
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2008-11-11

Tell me faith

Presentation of books; circle of ecumenical work; annual retreats, a trombone concert and priest retreat at Schoenstatt…

 

November in Schönstatt, ein ruhiger Monat (Foto: Baum vor der Anbetungskirche)

Mes de noviembre en Schoenstatt, un mes tranquil... (Foto: Frente de la Iglesia de la Adoración)

November in Schoenstatt, a quiet month (Photo: In front of the Adoration Church )

November in Schönstatt, ein ruhiger Monat (Foto: Baum vor der Anbetungskirche)

 

Ökumenischer Arbeitskreis bei seiner Sitzung in der Marienau

Circulo ecumenico

Ecumenical Group

Ökumenischer Arbeitskreis bei seiner Sitzung in der Marienau

 
Wolfgang Helbach, Bürgermeister von Vallendar, bei der Buchpräsentation im Vallendarer Rathaus  

Wolfang Helbach, alcalde de Vallendar, en la presentación de libros en la municipalidad de Vallendar

Wolfgang Helbach, mayor of Vallendar, during the book presentation in the Vallendar Town Hall

Wolfgang Helbach, Bürgermeister von Vallendar, bei der Buchpräsentation im Vallendarer Rathaus

 
Im Gespräch mit Autor Christoph Kloft  

En conversación con Christoph Kloft, autor

Talking with Christoph Kloft, author

Im Gespräch mit Autor Christoph Kloft

 
Ein Buch voller Geschichten...  

Un libro lleno de cuentas...

A book full of stories

Ein Buch voller Geschichten...

 
Danke und auf Wiedersehen, Adriano Paz  

Adios, Adriano Paz ...

Bye, Adriano Paz...

Danke und auf Wiedersehen, Adriano Paz

Fotos: K. Fischer © 2008

 
 

SCHOENSTATT, MKF. The month of November in Schoenstatt is very peaceful, it is a month for "looking inward", with large annual retreats for the Mothers’ and Family Branches of the Schoenstatt Movement. It is the month of spiritual exercises for priests and preparation for the ecclesiastic and Schoenstatt year –about to begin.

In the Press Office, the annual calendar of Schoenstatt activities in Germany is being made. At the same time, a very motivated (virtual) team of youth from several countries is working on remodeling schoenstatt.de, to transfer the site to a CMS system. It is hoped that it will be completed by Christmas; it will be a Christmas gift for the International Schoenstatt Family made in Italy, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, and the United States…

The Mothers’ Federation in Germany is about to carry out the second part of their chapter. On Mount Schoenstatt, the provincial superiors of the Sisters of Mary are in session; last week they traveled to Rome along with a delegation from all the provinces to participate in the installation of the Father symbol in the Cor Ecclesiae Shrine. On Mount Moriah and at House Marienau, spiritual exercises for priests are taking place. The annual retreat of the Mothers’ Branch formulated the motto for this year: You are led (see the respective article). In the Family Branch, the motto is totally in tune with the era: Let us invest in the family. An ensemble of trombones practiced for several days at House Marienland, the conference of deans from the Diocese of Trier also met for two days. The general administration of the Institute of Families deliberated at the Family House for a week and the youth who participated in World Youth day in Sydney returned to Schoenstatt for a meeting. (Article yet to be translated into English). From now on, we look to the future: World Youth Day Madrid 2011 (When will the celebration be held in Schoenstatt? "Undoubtedly we will be there"…read a message that was sent from Brazil) and perhaps in Brazil in 2015….

Adriano Paz, from the Boys’ Youth of Brazil who collaborated for several months at the Pilgrims’ Church, returned to his country on November 5th in time for the National Forum of the Boys’ Youth, which is called JUMAS in Brazil. Adriano commented that October 18th was one of his most beautiful experiences in Schoenstatt, since he was able to spend a lot of time in the Original Shrine, where he was able to stamp the pilgrim card, which was given to each pilgrim who that day came to Schoenstatt.

Circle of Ecumenical Work

There has been a Circle of Ecumenical Work in Schoenstatt since 2004. This circle met on November 5th and 6th at House Marienau. The aim of the encounter was to introduce the Movement more forcefully – and in order to do this to sensitize - the subject of ecumenism which during the encounter of movement "Together for Europe, has become something totally real for Schoenstatt. Fathers Wolfgang Muller, Christian Lohr, Josef, Treutlein (all from the Schoenstatt Diocesan Institute) Mrs. Siegrund Mai (Mothers’ Federation), Father Michael J Marmann (Schoenstatt Father and Father Egon Zillekens (Federation of Schoenstatt Fathers) consider that it is desirable –also in the ecumenical view- to strengthen and broaden the pilgrimage stream to the Original Shrine, just as it began on October 18th.

"And to do this, we ourselves have to be pilgrims", said Father Zillekens. Just as more and more Christian evangelicals go on pilgrimage through the Marian Road in Franconia; that is how the representatives of the circle envision the ecumenical work towards Christians of different denominations coming on pilgrimage to the Original Shrine. Well, maybe this will be accepted or not, this depends on Schoenstatt. A time for holiness was also a ecumenical motive, so the forum had a happy ending.

Father Marmann affirmed, as a Movement in Germany we can no longer continue to simply exist as we have up to now: we have to enter into the ecumenical stream. On November 15th the ecumenical prize, "Unita dei Cristian" was warded to the administrative committee of "Together for Europe". On this occasion the president of the Pontifical Council, Cardinal Walter Kasper, along with the bishop of the evangelical church, Frank Otfried was in Stuttgart on November 15th to promote the unity of Christians. An Ecumenical Liturgy was celebrated at 11:00 a..m. at the Stiftskirche Church of Stuttgart. Father Marmann and Father Muller represented the Council of Ecumenical Work.

Collaboration in preparation for the first Marriage Week in Germany next February is a concrete step for ecumenical collaboration in which Schoenstatt is totally involved, stated Father Marmann. And there is enthusiasm about the idea of having an "Ecumenical Pauline Night" at Schoenstatt on January 24th and 25th.

Tell me about faith: a story book for children for Christian celebrations "In the light of the candles"

Not only children, adults also like to hear or to tell (and not only during the Christmas time) some story, it is a proven experience at all times, not only about Christmas. During the early times the Church was a community of oral transmission, as such, writes an expert in Catholic communication, Father Dr. Eckhard Bieger, SJ. This tradition of telling a story –said Father Bieger- has in a large part been lost in the Churches and Christian communities, because the Church no longer believes in its own religious stories.

The key condition that have placed these (biblical)l stories in doubt is due to the critics of religion and because of a scientific-technical cosmovision; the foundation of the tradition of religious stories has crumbled. Along with this the religious communities have also crumbled. Theology was totally occupied with the conflict with the critics of religion and the recuperation of the biblical tradition. The intention of what the Bible wanted to say (…) was analyzed and it was argued, with a scientific method. As a response to the threat of cutting the transmission of faith, the Church resorted to the methods of Illustration. It not longer trusted its own traditions of narration; rather it trusted the method of teaching (…) The community of narrations was transformed into an educational project".

For several years, not only in the new journalism rather also in the Church the strength of narrations and the communities of narratives have been valued again. Father Kentenich, Founder of the Schoenstatt Movement focused on this and gave it impetus since the year 1916. In relation to this subject the Editorial Patris of Schoenstatt is now offering the book of children’s stories "In the light of the candles: The authors, Manuela Lewentz-Hering and Christoph Kloft, relate in concrete stories, what Christians truly celebrate when they light candles: Saint Martin, Christmas, Easter, First Communion…

The presentation of the book, "Kevin the beggar" in the town of Vallendar was a lively narration of the Feast of Saint Martin and "a very beautiful motivation for Advent", not only for the mayor, Mr. Wolfang Helbach.

The second book, " The Biblical Advent and Christmas", that was presented that afternoon to an enthusiastic public, offered a good incursion into Advent, with a biblical reference: "a branch shall grow… During this strong time of the ecclesiastic year, the author Father Rudolf Ammann, leads the reader through a biblical road through Advent with readings from the Old Testament. Well known Advent songs are presented for the four Sundays of Advent in a historical context and with a biblical background…A book about the covenant within the framework of a Movement with Covenant spirituality. The composer, Gertraud Wackerbauer was in charge of the musical accompaniment, which made the afternoon very enjoyable.

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, TX,. USA/amj

 


 

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