Love leads us to serve

Aurum Patris Weekend Retreat for families in Johannesburg

SOUTH AFRICA. For the Family League of Johannesburg, the Aurum Patris weekend retreat has become an annual event and a highlight that goes back many, many years. Each year without fail, the participants arrive at the Centre like excited children sure that something wonderful is going to happen – and it always does.

This year, sixteen people attended, and all were delighted to welcome a couple from the Family Union and other younger couples. They participated eagerly and added value to all the discussions, the Schoenstatt Family at its best. This year’s theme was Love Leads Us To Serve, and there was also a special emphasis on the lives and times of some of Schoenstatt’s amazing heroes – several who are in the process of canonization and other model personalities for the entire Schoenstatt Family: Joseph Engling (1898 – 1918), Barbara Kast (1950 – 1968), Gertrude von Bullion (1891 – 1930), Sr. Emilie Engel (1893 – 1955), Gilbert Schimmel (1906 – 1958), Mario Hiriart (1931 – 1964), Franz Reinisch (1903 – 1942), Karl Leisner (1915 – 1945), and John Pozzobon (1904 – 1985).

Jesus identified Himself as being the servant of servants, and these unbelievable men and women understood, and in some cases really early in their young lives, that leadership is about serving and nurturing life. Through intimate association with Schoenstatt, through the school of Fr. Kentenich’s teaching and the Covenant of Love, they evolved to become dynamic leaders who were able to master their purpose-driven lives. Fr. Kentenich once wrote: "Through selfless service to individuals, Schoenstatt came into existence, [and] in the same way it must continue to grow." Servant leadership is best expressed in "our Schoenstatt Saints" as some love to call them.

The Personal Ideal

Sealing a Covenant of Love with our Blessed Mother and allowing Her to educate us leads us to discover that God – from all eternity – knew each one of us by name, and consecrated us. Sr. Edith Raid explained: "He has put into us elements and gifts that would make us the persons He truly meant us to be. The essence of the personal ideal is God’s blue print within us, helping us to live out our lives with (sure) knowledge and understanding of who we are. Then too, understanding, that all gifts given to us (so generously), we are meant to share with others. Again Fr. Kentenich’s words resound, "through selfless service to individuals, Schoenstatt came into existence, in the same way it must continue to grow." Through our Covenant of Love, we place ourselves at the disposal of the Mother Thrice Admirable; She in turn uses us as her instruments for the renewal of the world. We are Christ bearers for our time!

Upcoming Ordination

These last ideas from the talk given at the Aurum Patris Retreat Weekend may resound in many members of the Schoenstatt Family as a beautiful event is just around the corner: during the Year of Priest proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, and as we prepare to celebrate the centenary of Fr. Kentenich’s ordination, the Schoenstatt Family of Johannesburg is preparing for the Ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Simon Donnelly on September 13, 2009 in the Cathedral of Christ the King. Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale OMI of Johannesburg will ordain him. The new priest will celebrate his first Mass on Monday, September 14^th at Holy Trinity parish, and next at a Mass of thanksgiving on Tuesday, September 15^th at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Bedfordview – and then on September 25^th at the Shrine in Constantia, Cape Town.

Many will accompany Simon Donnelly, long-time collaborator of Schoenstatt.de, during these last weeks of preparation for the sacred priesthood!