On September 8, 2025, the International Apostolic Federation of Schoenstatt Mothers commemorates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the community worldwide, as well as its birthplace in Germany. It is a significant milestone that marks the history of Schoenstatt.
From the Apostolic League in about 1946, there were groups of women in the German diocese, including married and widowed mothers, who met under the leadership to collaborate to find a way of life. Father Kentenich recognized a great need, and a er discussing it with the women, he organized a retreat from September 4 to 8, 1950, for the leadership circle of mothers. Mrs. Maria Maud Wiesmann, the representative of the diocesan leaders, informed the founder of their situation.
During the retreat, a er listening to talks from Father, the Federation of Mothers in Germany, rooted in the Covenant of Love, was founded on September 8, 1950, as envisioned by Father Kentenich. He stated in his closing speech (J.K.: Uns gesagt Vol. 3, pg. 130):
“A er all that has come into existence (in Schoenstatt), we now have a course of federation in the Mothers’ Work. … If the federation has been held here, it must also emerge abroad.” (Ibid., pg.141.)
New courses come to life
With a strong desire and faithfulness, during the time of Father Kentenich’s exile, six courses came into existence, and their Federation consecration is sealed as the original Federation. The mothers recognized their responsibility to form a solid foundation for further development and remained faithful to their founder. After his return from Milwaukee, Father considered the Mother’s Federation experiment a success and commissioned Sr. M. Vita Großmann and Father Rudolph Mosbach to work out statutes together with the mothers.
In place of the deceased founder, Father Alexander Menningen assumed the constitution of the Mothers’ Federation in Germany on August 22, 1970. The Official Community came into being, divided into five regions, which, along with the core community, realized the principle of tension envisaged by Father.
An important international step
On September 8, 2022, God the Father initiated a new divine initiative and, with Mary, gave birth to the International Apostolic Federation of Schoenstatt Mothers, a core community within the Schoenstatt Family. Globally, we also celebrate this date, marking the third anniversary of our founding, a significant milestone in the development of the Mothers’ Federation. The Federation was established, with its founding chapter originating in Germany. It fulfilled Father Joseph Kentenich’s wish that many women and mothers would become “a little Mary”; a reality that is reflected in the emergence of communities of the Mother’s Federation in various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the United States, Paraguay, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, Spain, and Costa Rica.
As a Mothers’ Federation community of married women, mothers, and mothers with or without children, we are called to see our ideal in the person and mission of Mary, the Mother of God—a reflection of our times—in our families, churches, and society. Our leadership is guided by the principles of Schoenstatt, which emphasize generosity and inner freedom, in accordance with the Magisterium of the Church, serving as the foundation of our married and family lives. Additionally, a high degree of cultivation of the spirit in the Covenant of Love is our source of strength and inspiration, guiding our vision of humanity that we aim to realize in our own lives and through our shared mission to work with and for one another. We found a common motto through constructive dialogue and respect for the originality of each country, “Mary, whoever sees me should see you!”.
Looking to the future
As the Mothers’ Federation, our hope and mission are to establish an international, intercultural network of autonomous territories, fostering unity in diversity and working for the benefit of families and women around the world. Our efforts are rooted in the origins of the Mothers’ Federation of Germany and are realized through the establishment of a global network that connects us across different cultures.
The International Mothers’ Federation celebrates the 75th anniversary with joy and gratitude for the founding generation, whose faith and hope on September 8, 1950, our founding day, have blessed and guided us in our shared heritage as sisters and daughters of the same Father regardless of the language or distance that may separate us. Through instrumentality, we are fulfilling the task that Mary entrusted to us. We are committed to the charism and mission of the Founder with a universal apostolic spirit where childlikeness is central, both personally and within the community. We form the pars motrix of the Schoenstatt Work together with the institutes and other federations. It is the Blessed Mother’s work; it is she who invites us.
“Mary, whoever sees me should see you!”
Kathleen Colunga
International Leader
International Apostolic Federation of Schoenstatt Mothers