To Build the Schoenstatt Father Kentenich Dreamed

Interview with Luis Arocha from the Boys’ Youth, a Representative from Uruguay to the 2014 Conference

Frente del Santuario de Nueva Helvecia In front of the Shrine in Nueva Helvecia Vor dem Heiligtum in Nueva Helvecia
Juventud de Schoenstatt Schoenstatt Youth Schönstatt-Jugend Fotos: Arocha © 2009

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. The snow and fierce cold have left Schoenstatt, leaving behind the usual rain common to these months. One less worry – taking into consideration the pilgrimage from the Original Shrine to the conference room in the Father Kentenich House on February 2^nd. The entire Schoenstatt Family is invited to go on pilgrimage with the Conference participants; it will be aired live (Livestream) via www.schoenstatt-tv.de.

In the meantime, the first helpers arrived in Schoenstatt: Fr. Matheus Bernardes, director for the Boys’ Youth in Brazil is already working full-blast…..preparing folders with texts and information for the participants. Also working are Lea and Stephanie from the Girls’ Youth in Endel, Germany. During the past weeks, they have been working in the Press Office doing their education practicum. Cecilia Tre from the Girls’ Youth in Argentina arrived on January 18^th. She, along with 8 youths from Argentina and Chile who participate in the "Time in Schoenstatt" program, (she had met them at the Covenant of Love Mass) form part of the team of helpers for the Conference. Also working are 14 translators, editors and various other persons dealing with technical situations, finances, conference logistics, and three persons committed to the live broadcast for the opening at the Original Shrine (8:45 am/Germany time/Feb. 2^nd) and the closing Mass (10:00 am/Germany time/Feb. 7^th). These will be aired live via livestream on the Internet (www.schoenstatt-tv.de).

We spoke to Luis Arocha from Uruguay, one of the youngest participants at the 2014 Conference.

Luis, how do you prepare for the conference?

This is a great opportunity to reflect on Uruguay’s original mission and on all which Father Kentenich did and prophesied from these lands. Many have asked me to bring their petitions to the Original Shrine and to the tomb of Father Kentenich. So, in part, this time has also consisted in sharing with the people of the Movement and asking them to pray for the Conference and its fruitfulness. My prayer has mainly been in gratitude since this gift of being able to travel to Schoenstatt is gigantic.

This is the first time there is a conference which is so international, having representatives from 32 countries in Schoenstatt. What does participating in the Conference mean to you, especially since you will probably be the youngest participant?

It means various things. On the one hand is the proud feeling that Schoenstatt is able to have conferences of this type with representatives from so many different places and so many different cultures…..what a treasure this is when reflecting on such an important event as 2014. On the other hand, I think it means to build the Schoenstatt which Father Kentenich dreamed of, sharing the different forms of living the encounter with Jesus through Mary in the Shrine.

Personally, I find very interesting the possibility of meeting others whose lives and personal histories share the same meaning of family. Undoubtedly, one of them may be the enriching experience of encountering the realities, joys, and difficulties which Schoenstatt has in other countries, especially in those most distant and those we know so little. In like manner, I also travel to Schoenstatt anxious to tell others the history of Schoenstatt in Uruguay and to tell them about the first daughter shrine and the conquering of the shrine in Montevideo.

The Father Symbol for the Original Shrine and the International Auxiliary Shrine will preside at our Conference. What hopes and desires stay with you with their presence?

The presence of the Auxiliary Shrine reminds us that She is the great missionary and that She is in charge of miracles. It reminds us that we should live the "Nothing without us" with true mission consciousness but with the heart trusting in the "Nothing without You." Somehow the Auxiliary Shrine will also remind us of all those persons who support us prayerfully. Encountering the Father Symbol is always special because it is very attached to the history of the Movement in Uruguay. It automatically generates that spirit of family which we wish to embody and which we undoubtedly need to fulfill our great mission.

We will begin the Conference in the Original Shrine; each country will bring a symbol to the Original Shrine – as an expression on wanting to "enrich the origin" (as Joao Pozzobon said when taking the Original Pilgrim MTA to the Original Shrine). It is an expression of the returning home current. What do you expect of this?

It would be spectacular if each one of the symbols being brought faithfully represent the original expressions from each country. It is an original way of bringing together what God has dreamed for Schoenstatt at a world-wide level without leaving aside the particularities and accents which He has given to each local family. It will be a way of observing the different forms which Schoenstatt has taken in different parts of the world since its foundation and pre-experiencing somewhat what will take place in 2014. At the same time, it allows us to know each other better which is a fundamental factor in order to be able to work together in diversity while facing the future.

Concretely, what do you expect from the Conference?

That the spirit of family can be experienced intensely…..that these meetings can usher Schoenstatt into 2014 and for a daily faithful fulfillment of what God wants from It…..that this Conference enriches the Schoenstatt families from each country, reminding all that together we forge our way to the Father.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Schoenstatt Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 012009