To be witnesses of a living history

Three weeks from Conference 2014 – Interview with the Lavini’s, delegates from Argentina

La Casa Padre Kentenich, lugar de la conferencia The Father Kentenich House. The Conference will take place here Das Pater Kentenich-Haus, Ort der Konferenz Foto: Fischer  © 2009

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. In less than a month about 75 representatives from 32 countries, along with members of the General Presidency of Schoenstatt and some delegates from the Institutes and Federations will meet in Schoenstatt for "Conference 2014" to seek as a group what God, the Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich want for the centennial celebrations of Schoenstatt. We spoke with Joaquin and Marta Lavini, members of the delegation from Argentina, about their expectations for the conference.

At this time it is still snowing, and there only a few people who come to the Father Kentenich House. But in about three more weeks, the Schoenstatt Family from the entire world will meet here, represented by about 70 delegates from the countries. (23 Schoenstatt Fathers, 22 Sisters of Mary 23 members of the Family work, and one from the Mothers’ Federation, Boys’ Youth, Girls’ Youth and the Men’s Branch). Additionally there will be members from the General Presidency and some representatives from the Institutes and Federations that are not in the delegations from the countries. At the same time, some 35 helpers from Austria, South Africa, United States, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Germany, Canada, Ecuador, and England are preparing to serve as interpreters, translators, editors, secretaries, and for technical, infrastructure, media support…Recently it was announced that the opening of the conference in the Original Shrine will be transmitted live on the Internet, via "Schoenstatt TV on the web". We spoke to the Joaquin and Marta Lavini, regional superiors of the Institut of Schoenstatt Families, this conference.

How are you preparing for the conference?

Argentina will be represented by four people: Tte National Director of the Movemement, Father Javier Arteaga, Sister Cecilia Maria, representing the sisters who work in the Movement, and us representing the entire Family Work and the Movement in general. We are in constant contact and we have had meetings of prepartion to set criteria, to analyze the proposals from the other countries,and to respond to the requests of the organizing group by providing statistics and basically analyzing the fruits of the Covenant in the 75 year of life of Schoenstatt in our country. Furthermore, we are making contributions to the Capital of Grace and offering prayers to "fertilize the ground".

It is the first time that there is a conference that is so international, with representatives from 32 countries, in Schoenstatt. What does it mean to you to be able to participate in it?

Sincerely, we feel privileged by Divine Providence to have been chosen as representatives since this will allow us to be witnesses of a living history where we will be able to epxerience for the first time in the life of Schoenstatt the simuutaneous encounter of 32 countries at the Original Shrine where the seed of the Covenant was made fruitful. We have had an international experience on a much smaller scale in the General Chapters of the Family Institute where we have met with representatives from 12 countries.

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

When the Father and Founder traveled through our lands he left us the Patrocentric current which is what characterizes Argentina with its National Mission. "With Mary, Father’s Family", and in particular the Father Symbol has marked us all our life as the axis of the mission of our National Shrine; our hope and desire is that for the centennial we can return with joy the new patrocentric graces that have in emerged in our lands. In regard to the International Auxiliary, we immediately recall our beloved Father Esteban Uriburu, who took up the banner of the Rosary Campaign with heroic decisiveness, and he not only spread it throughout all of Argentina, but he was the instrument to make it international.

We will begin the conference in the Original Shrine; each country will bring a symbol to the Original Shrine – as an expresión of wanting to "enrich the origin" (as John Pozzobon said when he brought the Original Pilgrim MTA to the Original Shrine). It is an expression of a current of return. What do you expect with this?

God willing we will bring the Father Symbol which Argentina will offer so that a later time it can be placed above the front door of the Original Shrine, accompanied by the strong current of being guarantees for the liberation of the Original Shrine. We also hope to enjoy the expressions of each of the countries with their own richness. 

What do you expect from the Conference?

To be docile instruments in the hands of the Father to accomplish his will like Mary did. She is the great missionary. She will work miracles; We hope that a strong ímpulse of prayer and contributions to the Capital of Grace will emerge from all the Schoenstatt Family to accompany this centennial preparation. M.P.H.C. et V.

As of January 7th, the following have committed to accompany the conference with prayers and contributions to the Capital of Grace:

• Morning of February 2nd:Sisters of Mary, Northern Province of Germany
• Afternoon of February 2nd: Joseph Kentenich School, Trujillo, Peru
• Afternoon of February 4th: Boys’ Youth, Brazil

Next week:

• The first helpers will arrive
• Interviews with couples from Chile and Costa Rica

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, USA