Schoenstatt warmth conquers the cold

Opening of the Conference 2014

El Padre Heinrich Walter da la bienvenida a los participantes Fr. Heinrich Walter welcomes the participants Begrüßung der Teilnehmer durch Pater Heinrich Walter
Participantes en la Conferencia 2014 Participants of the Conference 2014 Teilnehmer der Konferenz 2014
La cabina de los traductores simultáneos The cabin of the simultaneous interpreters Kabine der Simultandolmetscher
Participantes de Burundi Delegation from Burundi Delegation aus Burundi
Familia Montero de Costa Rica The Montero’s from Costa Rica Ehepaar Montero aus Costa Rica Fotos: G. Schick © 2009
Servidoras de la Juventud Femenina de Schoenstatt de Argentina y Chile Helpers of the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth of Argentina and Chile Helfer aus der Mädchenjugend von Argentinien und Chile Foto: A. Santos © 2009 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

CONFERENCE 2014, Angie Santos. On Sunday February 1, 2009 a light snow marked the weather of the day, but only exteriorly. When the delegates to Conference 2014 began to arrive at House Marienland, on Mount Schoenstatt, warmth invaded the halls and meeting room of the house.

There a group of young volunteers from the Schoenstatt Youth waited for the participants with a smile, a folder with the materials for the conference and a valuable badge for the participant of this event, which was profiled as an important moment in our Schoenstatt history as an International Movement. Many would have liked to be here at this Conference, but only a few were chosen, only 100 people from 33 countries.

There were three official languages for the Conference: German, English and Spanish; therefore, the badges were color coded according to the language that was implemented at the work sessions. But that night many languages could be heard in the halls in Marienland; those who knew each other exchanged greetings and those who did not know each other introduced themselves enthusiastically, and if they did not share a common language they still could communicate without problems.

Besides the color coded badges, there were some orange colored ones: these were for the General Presidency, the organizers in charge of the Conference, who worked hard to organize the Conference in a relatively short time. Through their contacts and acquaintances they convoked dozens of volunteers from at least 10 countries who helped with the logistics, simultaneous translations, recording of minutes, etc. etc., and they felt privileged to be able to make a contribution to their beloved Schoenstatt at this very decisive time.

After the greetings there was a Holy Mass in the House Chapel followed by a dinner. An excited Latin American participant asked that a photo of her table be taken, since there were people from Africa, Asia and Europe. Another Sister was surprised to see her General Superior seated in a corner eating with the people.

The Father Kentenich House was converted into a Cenacle

After the dinner, it was time for the opening of the Conference that took place in the auditorium of the Father Kentenich House. There were three cabins for the translators of the three main languages. It is important to mention that there were only two or three professional translators; the rest depended on help from the Holy Spirit. It is the first time that this kind of effort has been made thanks to the vision and insistence of Sister M. Kornelia, from the Schoenstatt Press Office, who has tried for years to promote this so that the people who arrive at Schoenstatt can have the beautiful experience of receiving all the information at the Masses as well as all events in their own language. The participants who did not know any of the three languages received an audiophone so they could choose a language for the translation.

A picture of Father Kentenich with his arms crossed presided in the hall; it was a gift from the Family of Ecuador. This picture depicted Father Kentenich in a position of authority, but it was also challenging, as if to impel the participant to participate and to give themselves totally to define the most concrete contribution that Schoenstatt wants to give the world of today, it is an apostolic strategy to follow. The Third International Auxiliary was also present, which recently arrived with the representatives from Burundi – after an "official visit" to this country – they had "dressed" her with the originality and colors of their culture.

A week of federation leadership of our Movement

After the presentation of the organizers of Conference 2014 with Father José Maria Garcia in charge, Father Heinrich Walter, president of the Schoenstatt General Presidency gave the welcome on behalf of the General Presidency with a talk that truly marked the direction of the Conference.

"We are beginning a week of federation leadership in our Movement. The authority of the Founder, the manner in which he formed life and guided us does not have a successor. We do not have a President with the same authority of the Founder. The General Presidency has the ultimate authority over the Schoenstatt charisma and the unity of the Family. However, it does not have the right to act. It is your coordinating body with its Movement centers that moves it forward. We know that our federation structure sounds very good, but it is a great challenge. It can block and paralyze life, instead of generating vitality and dynamism. During this week we can have more direct communication among ourselves; this prepared the ground so that the General Presidency can plan what we have experienced together: the ideas and suggestions that have been worked on and to clarify uncertainties".

How can we mark, seal, our society

Then there was a video greeting imparted by Monsignor Robert Zollitsch, Archbishop of Freiburg, Diocesan Schoenstatt Priest and President of the Episcopal Conference of Germany. If anyone thought they were coming to an encounter to prepare for the celebration 2014, they realized at this moment that this was about something else…Monsignor Zollitsch posed it very well:

"In reality we are not standing before a jubilee, rather we standing before decisive questions for our own Movement. It is clear that a movement of renewal that will celebrate a centennial cannot remain with only old forms and word games. Renewal means that we must always ask ourselves anew, what exists in the present time; we must ask where are we going, how we can mark, seal, our society. This basic task of our Founder must be always transplanted anew. He gave us the example with words and deeds: today we can continue his work: what an honorable task!"

And perhaps the most important question that we may ask ourselves was posed by Monsignor Zollitsch: What do we give the Church, what contributions can we give the Church in the world?

The MTA is Italian…and other surprises

The Josef Wieland, Leader of the Family Federation, took the baton, and the representatives of the countries met briefly to think about the answer to the following question: "Why are we happy about 2014?"

One by one the countries came forward by continents to share what made them happy. The African were contagious with they happiness, we are part of Schoenstatt! We are witnesses for our Father and Founder! The Asians were happy for the gift of the Covenant of Love and for the gift of self-education that was given to their countries. Many coincided in the happiness for the Shrine and the Covenant, for the opportunity of being renewed and to mark the coming 100 years. And of course there were anecdotes. Father Ludovico and Sister M. Fernanda, who work for the Movement in Italy and who speak Spanish and Portuguese respectively, placed the translators on the hot seat when they began to speak in Italian. In an amusing way, both of them, who of Italian descent, commented on the important contribution of Italy to Schoenstatt, for example, that Father got the idea about the Shrine from Pompeii, Italy, that the Madonna in the MTA picture was painted by an Italian, among other things. Others like Nela and Manuel from Costa Rica, shared the happiness that although the Schoenstatt Family in Costa Rica is still young, it is growing, while other delegates, where the Schoenstatt Family is already very extensive, such as the case of Chile, manifested their happiness that Father is "alive" and they expect Schoenstatt to serve the Church even more. The presentation concluded with the representatives from Germany, and Father Penners clarified to Sister M. Fernanda, from Italy, that although what she mentioned was true, the MTA chose a piece of land in Germany to establish herself, and that everyone was very welcome at this place of grace.

That is how the first day concluded and the participant went to rest. But not the organizers, who continued to work, like little ants throughout the night when everything was over. The prayers that members of the Schoenstatt Family from other places offered were felt. The spirit of unity and of Father’s presence were present, and now the very profound work had to be carried out to make decisions and to start initiatives that will mark the next 100 years of the Movement.

Translation: Celina Garza, San Antonio, TX, USA