News

Our first Polish family 15.10.2010

During the last meeting of the General Directorate the first Polish family was admitted to the postulate to the Institute of Schönstatt Families. Family Ramolla are spending their holidays with their two daughters in Schönstatt, and are staying at Haus Nazareth. During a solemn Mass at the Institute Shrine they were admitted to postulantship. It would be a dream come true to see more families living in Poland, or Polish families in Germany discover their vocation to the Institute. In his sermon, Fr. Marcel mentioned that many of the important things in our world had a very humble beginning. We are very grateful to all those who work towards the foundation of our Institute in Poland.

Birth of a Third Course 24.08.2008

The past July 4, 2008 was the beginning of the third course in the USA/Puerto Rico Delegation, a gift from God after 19 years of praying and waiting. We thank all of the other Regions and Delegations for their prayers and sacrifices to the Capital of Grace for this new beginning. Five couples, three from the United States and two from Puerto Rico, came together and met each other for the first time at the Shrine in Cabo Roco, Puerto Rico. The encounter was filled with much joy. Although a number of the couples had waited for many years and their physical distance is great, their yearning to begin was greater than the difficulties that seemed humanly too great. The five couples seemed to have known each other for life. It is impressive how grace flows in the hearts that are opened to our Mother Thrice Admirable and Queen who took perfect care and our Father and Founder who accompanied each one of them. The four days were short, but intense. They had time to get to know each other, to pray together, to talk and to share. Everything, in balance, the natural: there were games, a stroll to the ice cream parlor, as well as one bonfire night with songs and many marshmallows. At the end of each day, we met in the Shrine to give thanks for all the gifts that our good God blessed us with. On Sunday, July 6, we celebrated the beginning of their novitiate during Holy Mass celebrated by Schoenstatt Father Francisco Rojas from Milwaukee. Family Herbert & Margaret Beck, representing the General Council, joined us for this special occasion along with the Delegation Superior Family, Luis & Teresita Pérez. It was a very touching celebration for the novices as much as for the ones who had already had this experience. You were all present with us in a special way. Each couple left with what had been a very blessed grace-filled time, a time of hope, where life was renewed. A new generation said “Yes” to the MTA and our Father and Founder, to the mission, for the Church and the glory of the Blessed Trinity. In the Heart of the Father, Adolfo & Lourdes Hernández, Educador Family

30 years since the first course leader meeting 12.06.2008

On June 16 and 17, 1978 the first meeting of course leader families took place in Haus Nazareth, Schönstatt, Thus, this year we do not only celebrate the jubilees 60-40-20, but also a 30 jubilee !! Following couples were present at this time (from right to left): couple HIRSCHLE from Ancilla Patris-course; couple SCHNELLE from Filia Patris-course; Mr. KELLNER from Cor Unum-course; couple WEHRLE as General Course Leader Familiy; couple ZIMMERLI from Magnificat-course and Mr. DEFRANCESCO from Consors Christi Paschalis-course (his wife is not on the picture, maybe she was taking it). On this meeting Fr. Mosbach gave two lectures about official and free community and his mutual relationship. Let us thank our MTA for the commitment of these first couples and their fidelity and let us pray to the Holy Spirit for his assistance in our task as shepherds of our courses.

New Spiritual Assistant 23.05.2008

We thank Fr. Heinrich Walter and Fr. Mariano Irureta, provincial superior of the Chilean Fathers, for offering Father Marcel Mouras as spiritual assistant for our community. Fr. Marcel Mouras Herrera, born on 14 November 1955, comes from Viña del Mar, Chile. In the early 70s he makes first contact with Schönstatt and forms part of the male youth. There he becomes member of the group Castle of God and in 1975 he is incorporated as a postulant in the community of the Schönstatt Fathers. He starts his novitiate in Schönstatt in 1976 and then is educated in the Josef Kentenich Kolleg in Münster, Germany. He is ordained in Bellavista on 25 April 1987 by Bishop Manuel Camilo Vial. His first pastoral task is in Chile’s National Shrine, dedicated to the Carmen Virgin in Maipú. Later, he is entrusted with the pastoral care of the Shrine in Bellavista, and the youth and pilgrim movements. For a period of three years, he also takes care of the male youth in the Campanario Shrine. In 1997 he moves to Mexico to take care of the Schönstatt family in different locations. Finally, he settles down in Monterrey to give service to the Family Branch in the Northeastern region of Mexico. There he has accompanied the beginnings of the postulancy of the first Institute families in Mexico . Around Pentecost 2008 he becomes spiritual assis-tant of the Family Institute. We are totally convinced that our Mother and Queen and Father have chosen Fr. Marcel for us. We give thanks for the great gift of having a new spiritual assistant.

„Gott ist Liebe“ 23.12.2007

„God is love, and who abides in love, abides in God, and God abides in him“. Thus Father Horacio introduced the blessing at the end of each holy mass. The inner peace and concentration which accompanied these words, the strength of his voice and his upright position made a lasting impression on everybody. On Friday, 20 December, Father Horacio Sosa, the spiritual assistant of Institute of the Families of Schönstatt died at the age of 63. On the following day he was buried at the cemetery of the Schönstatt fathers in Argentina. At the same time (21 Uhr MEZ) the families living around Schönstatt met in the Founder’s chapel to pray for the deceased. In Argentina Father Horacio had already worked for a number of years for our community. As his suitability for the spiritual assistance of the Institute of Schönstatt Families slowly cristal-lised, in 2005 he took part in a meeting of the General Direction for the first time. During the VIth General Chapter 2006 he was elected spiritual assistant of the Institute. He took his course ideal „Verbum Patris“ as seriously as our family community expected it from him, and during the short time he accompanied us, he fulfilled this expectation to the fullest. During the feedback at the end of a meeting somebody said: „Now I have seen him I can bet-ter appreciate what Father Kentenich must have been like.“ He had an original charisma which quickly won him the hearts of many people. Whether young or old, man or woman, no matter the language and nation, people felt drawn towards him and always listened attentively to him, and his words came out lively and went in deep. He rests now in God’s love, and we are sure that he will go on accompanying the Institute of the Schönstatt Families with his blessing. (E&B.N)

Family Neiser Visits McHenry 29.07.2007

On Saturday afternoon, July 7th, Family Neiser and their son Johannes arrived in Chicago and traveled one hour to the farmland area of McHenry, the home of Michael and Margaret Fenelon. They were able to spend two quiet days of vacation. Although it was not too quiet since we did a number of fun activities. Within a half hour of arriving at our house Johannes wanted to go fishing in the pond in the backyard. He and Bernhard caught five fish – one carp and four bullheads. After dinner we talked for hours and shared some Mexican “cervesa” with a slice of lime in it. This was something new for Bernhard. On Sunday we went to our parish church St. Peter in Volo, had a big American breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, sweet rolls, coffee, and juice. The day was very hot, 94 degrees F., and we went to a Civil War reenactment at one of the Forest Preserves where Mike works. Johannes loved it with horses, guns, swords, soldiers and cannons. On Sunday night we had an outdoor barbeque with many different kinds of meat. On Monday we decided to visit a lake, that Mike built in a Forest Preserve, to have a picnic and go fishing and boating. After catching a couple of fish a huge lightning and thunderstorm came and we had to go under a picnic shelter for protection and have our picnic. On the way home we visited Mike’s office in the middle of a forest and had some hot chocolate, because it got cold when the rain came. All too soon it was time for Family Neiser to leave and go to Milwaukee. There is always a bed waiting for them the next time they come to McHenry.

A Surprise “paranda” 29.07.2007

At the conclusion of a beautiful July 18th Covenant Day, Marge and I were sharing a last drink of juice and beer (beer for the men) with our General Superior couple, Bernhard and Elisabeth Neiser, when Bernhard let slip that it was his birthday. All of a sudden different members of the delegation shook the idea of sleep from their heads when they heard the news and started to gather with guitar, maracas, guiro and tambourine and started a spontaneous late night “paranda”. Family Neiser was serenaded with native Puerto Rican music for the next hour. (Michael Fenelon)

Walking in Our Father’s Footsteps 29.07.2007

It was a great gift to receive the visit of Fr. Horacio for the USA/PR delegation’s annual convention in Milwaukee. It was even more special for this was Fr. Horacio’s first visit to Milwaukee and the Exile places of our Father and Founder. During the convention we planned a number of trips to the holy places of the Exile land to walk in the footsteps of Father. It was a special experience to be with Fr. Hoacio as he encountered Father at each of the Exile places: in Madison which is the first shrine in the United States; at the Exile Shrine in Milwaukee where Father Kentenich said more masses then any other shrine in the world; at the Movement House in Milwaukee where Father gave the Monday Night Talks in which some of our own Institute members participated; at the International Center in Waukesha where Father wanted to build an international training center; and at Grant Park on Lake Michigan where our Father relaxed, had picnics and threw stones into the lake. We hope that the graces of the Exile land go with Fr. Horacio as he travels to all of the other regions and delegations.

Marian Garden Implantation 29.07.2007

On July 16th on the anniversary of the foundation of our Institute, the Nazareth Filialis Magnanima course of the United States / Puerto Rico delegation was implanted in the Marian Garden in the Exile Shrine in Milwaukee. With almost the whole delegation present and after renewing our contract, the course presented the Blessed Mother and our Father and Founder the implantation of the course as a Living Home Shrine in the garden. Fr. Horacio Sosa accepted the implantation on behalf of our Father. The symbol of the Living Home Shrine will be represented in the garden as a flowing Spring. The course wants to take on the responsibility to protect the legacy of the home shrine that Father Kentenich developed with the couples of Milwaukee, New York and Puerto Rico. It is the source of daily grace and education in our marriage, family and home, thus represented by the flowing spring the continuing source of life in the garden. The course wants to be a Living Home Shrine with each family picking a symbol from their home shrine ideal and a virtue that they want to embody in their marriage and family and thus uniting each family of the course.

Together Once Again 29.07.2007

The USA/PR delegation held its annual convention from July 15 – 20, 2007 at the Schoenstatt International Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was the first time in 8 years that so many of the delegation could come together, due to the distance of delegation members living in Puerto Rico and the United States, the cost of have to fly in an airplane and the age and health of some of the older members. Only 2 couples were not able to attend due to age and health. Twenty-one members and 13 children, plus our General Superior couple, Bernhard and Elisabeth Neiser and Fr. Horacio, attended. Also, our newest postulant family came from Virginia, Family Rivera, and their two children. It was a joyous occasion to see almost all of the delegation members again and especially to get to know Family Neiser and Fr. Horacio. The official language at the convention was Spanish, English or German, depending who was speaking – a very international meeting. It was a great joy to hear from Family Neiser and Chapter delegates about a report on the life and decisions of last summer’s Chapter. On July 16th Family Neiser presented the new Family Book to the delegation after Mass in the Exile Shrine and then all renewed their contract using the new Family Book. And concluding this celebration the Nazareth Filialis Magnanima course was implanted into the Marian Garden. It was a grace-filled day. The convention ended with a renewal of the crowning of the delegation MTA picture for the future delegation shrine. It was truly a family-like and grace-filled convention.

A Holy Family for Switzerland 07.07.2007

The three families of the Swiss Delegation in the Schoenstatt Institute of Families received a visit from the General Superior Family, Bernhard and Elisabeth Neiser, on the June 8, 2007. Together they drove to the Shrine and Swiss Schönstatt Center in Quarten. Family Neiser brought a special gift for the families: a statue of the Holy Family molded from clay. Made by a Paraguayan novice family, it traveled from Asunción/Paraguay to Buenos of Aires/Argentina and then to Schönstatt. It should show the Swiss families that the novices from Paraguay and the families of all courses pray for new vocations in Switzerland. With joy, the families carried the small statue into the Immaculata national Shrine and into the founder room in the province house of the sisters. They took the unexpected gift, in the bright early summer day amid the wonderful Swiss mountains, as a sign to be able to awaken new confidence and give a cordial greeting to the Provincial Superior, Sr. Renata Maria Becchio and many sisters of the center,. The couples, whom God has called in Switzerland to the Institute, are admittedly still hidden, but however are already there. Family Marlies and Michael Fuchs (Switzerland)

Family Movement in Merville 07.07.2007

On the return from the rededication of the Memorial in Merville, Mr. Horst Meyer, from Paderborn and along with his wife are members of the 1st course of the Schoenstatt Institute of Families, gave a talk on the pilgrim bus of his personal experiences with Josef Engling and the Memorial in Merville. After numerous requests, we would like to make this talk available for interested persons. It is available as PDF file in the Download-Reports section. At this time we thank everyone that committed themselves to the renewal of the Memorial and the inauguration celebration. Above all the families from the German Family Federation strongly committed themselves to the restoration. It was a profoundly impressive experience of family unity of the League, Federation and Institute. Schoenstatt Institute of Families members were represented from Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain.

Obstacles to Beautification 22.10.2006

For the 35th jubilee of the Shrine of the Families on the Sep tember 19th there were some planned beautification works. The grass was mowed and the bushes were trimmed. Two peo-ple from Vallendar wanted to remove the vines that had grown up over the roof and the bell. They partially succeeded. The hard working helpers were prevented from completing their work, however, by displeased hornets. Hans Peter Pretz received some stings and wanted to continue working, if the hornets would leave their nest. A proposal was put to the authorities (ADD), since hornets are protected under nature regulations. An expert will then take care of the lodgers.

The Family as the First Apostolate 22.10.2006

From September 16 – 17, 2006 a symposium took place at the Catholic University in Londina (PUC) concerning the topic “Joao Pozzobon, evangelist for the family in the Postmodern time.” The symposium was under the leadership of Schoenstatt Father Alexandre Awi Mello and different Schoenstatt community members who prepared and made presentations. 180 persons attended the event from 5 different Brazilian states and 20 different cities. Marcelo and Gislaine Mafra of the Schoenstatt Institute of Families spoke about “Family as the First Apostolate.” For their presentation they showed pictures of home shrines of our Institute families. The pictures from around the world demonstrated the diverse life of the home shrine.

Family Abram finishes their task as Host Family 30.08.2006

During a "Rome evening" at the General Chapter, family Abram (Brazil) presented the Belmonte Rome Center and its meaning for the entire Schönstatt Movement. Father Bühler of the Institute of Diocesan priests thanked family Abram for the exceptional commitment that they had shown in Rome for our movement. Especially, their work in the parish was an important service for Schönstatt in Rome. At the end of the evening, Bernhard Neiser announced a secret as to who was going to be the future host family in Rome. After many conversations in the Council and with their children, family Nuño has agreed they are ready to take on this important apostolate. Mr. Neiser layed out the three important tasks that family Nuño will take on in the next two years: 1) host family for the shrine, 2) representative for our community in Rome, and 3) contact/care towards the significant people in the Vatican that should know about our community.

Rich Blessings for the Children 30.08.2006

More than 30 children and teenagers grew together as a community during the Chapter in the House of the Family. Original difficulties of language - culture - and age-fell away and a joyful togetherness developed. Family Kammann-Inda, who speaks fluent German and Spanish, gave up their summer vacation for the child care during the Chapter. Knowing the children were in good hands was a calming feeling for the Delegates, who could then concentrate completely on their task with the work sessions of the Chapter.

Master Plan for Mount Nazareth 30.08.2006

During an evening of the chapter, Professor Michelini introduced the master plan for Mount Nazareth, that he had worked on with his students in Mendoza, Argentina. He related that since some discussions took place in the home of family Michelini, the students could absorb something from our family-like spirit. The plan is a vision of what our mountain could look like in 50 or 100 years. It should lead our community to a lively exchange over our specific mission. Professor Michelini had also worked with students from the University of Koblenz on the project that produced master plans for Mount Nazareth.

Thanks to the House Parents 30.08.2006

Already some weeks before the chapter, family Michelini moved into the House of the Family in order to help there in the house. Especially during the General Chapter, they had adopted the task of the house parents. This was no easy task, since the "Children/Delegates" often went to bed late and so the last tour of Mr. Michelini took place in the middle of the night. They had an open ear for all of the small and large concerns of the delegates and were always ready for the many different ways to service. Their work in the background was an important contribution for the good atmosphere in the chapter. They were heartily thanked at the end of the Chapter.

Bishop Marx with the General Chapter 30.08.2006

On Thursday afternoon, July 27, Bishop Marx visited our General Chapter. In five short presentations, families of our community reported about a particular aspect of our way of life. Family Jensen spoke about the topic of the integral love. How the organic connection of sexuality and fertility is an important contribution of our community for the present day church and the world. Family Fenelon told of their experiences with the home shrine. Our bishop is particularly impressed with this form of our spirituality. In the home shrine, our belief becomes concrete, tangibly and alive. Mr. Stejskal reported on his commitment in poli-tics. This point also met the heart of Bishop Marx who is a distinct expert in social questions. Martina & Bruno Mucha showed, on the basis of their seven children, that we understand the education of our children as a service to each ones own, original mission. Family Busch ex-plained the meaning of the matrimonial dialogue. After almost one hour of intense listening, it was a challenge to get the attention of the bishop. Family Busch, succeeded through the men-tioning of some common roots in Paderborn, and the common friend "Hedwig" (a local beer), with which our bishop had celebrated in the restaurant of Albert's parents. How Bishop Marx had taken in the contributions became clear in the end as he summarized the essential points of each presentation.

Family Musolino in Rome 30.08.2006

After family Abram finished their service in Rome, the task of the host family for the shrine has been temporarily filled by family Musolino from Argentina. Family Musolino already spent some time in the past in Schönstatt, as a Nazareth time, in order to support our community there. Particularly during the World Youth days, they provided many young people in House Nazareth with family-like experiences. We are happy that family Musolino is ready to represent our community in Belmonte until family Nuño will take over the task.

A Small Gift given in Friendship 26.07.2006

The families from Paraguay prepared a small handcraft for all Chapter Delegates. These were given to the families solemnly in the evening. The Institute ideal was attached to typical embroidered handcraft on a card in Spanish and in Guarani, the second official national language from Paraguay.

Argentinian National Day 26.07.2006

In accordance with the custom of our community, there is a so-called "Landestag" or “National Day” during the chapter for each country. Our families from Argentina put up their flag from Argentina in the house chapel. Also the flag from Paraguay was displayed to see since our families from Argentina accompany the construction of the Institute in Paraguay. The tables in the dining room were decorated with Argentinian flags and colors. More delightfully, Argentinian red wine delighted the Delegates at dinner. In the evening, there were some typical folk songs with samba, tango.