The General Government of the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers recently held its annual meeting in Rome, with important meetings and activities. Father Ignacio Camacho summarizes some notable experiences that have brought Schoenstatt closer to other charisms and institutions of the Church:

A week’s work in Rome

As usual, the general government, accompanied by the treasurer and the general secretary, had a week-long meeting to review and plan our management’s life, work, and challenges at the service of the whole Community and the Movement.

On this occasion, we were in Rome from November 8 to 14. It is always a unique opportunity to have more direct contact with the life of the Church and, in particular, to meet and exchange with other communities and dicasteries.

A special place

Something very symbolic was that our lodging took place in the general house of the Pallottine Fathers (SAC). We were able to celebrate the Eucharist every day at the altar of the church, where Vincent Pallotti’s body is kept, share a table, and discuss various topics with the general leadership of the Pallottines.

We were also able to visit the Focolare Movement. They are located in Rocca di Papa, on the outskirts of Rome. It was a very fraternal, open, and profound meeting. To talk about challenges, share joys and sorrows and renew ourselves in our common accents, which have to do with Marian spirituality and the Covenant (what they call “pact”). We also remembered the visit of their foundress, Chiara Lubich, to Schoenstatt and the covenant they sealed with representatives of Schoenstatt and other movements at this time directly at the tomb of Father Kentenich.

– Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, receives the Schoenstatt Fathers

We were also able to visit the dicastery for the clergy. We were received by its prefect, the South Korean Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik, and then we were able to have a fraternal exchange and discuss various topics with Bishop Andrés Ferrada, secretary of the dicastery and former professor of some of our younger fathers at the theological faculty in Chile.

Just before the meeting at the dicastery, we experienced a very simple but significant moment. The postulator of the process of João Luis Pozzobon, Dr. Silvia Correale, gave Father Alexandre Awi, Superior General of our community, a copy of the Positio, the official document for the study of the virtues of the candidate for beatification by the experts.

On another occasion, we were welcomed by the Claretian community (Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) in their general house. After an open and frank conversation, we were able to share with the rest of the community. We were marked by their clear option for the mission and how such a painful fact, the surrender of numerous martyrs in Spain at the time of the persecution of the Church, was integrated as a central element of their charism.

We also had time to meet with our community brothers who work in the Parish “Santi Patroni” in the Tras Tevere neighborhood. At the moment, the community consists of three Argentinean Fathers and one Paraguayan.

Along these lines, we only want to share what we have experienced over the past few days. We thank God for the abundant and varied life in his Church.

We have so much to contribute to the Church and learn, to complement and enrich ourselves with the life of other charisms.

Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías