Schoenstatt Family Institute

Father Kentenich regarded these encounters as a message from God to him and he came to the conviction that the Catholic Church also needs such
families. His response to this message from God was the foundation of our community as a kind of a Secular Institute of Catholic couples with the
aim that, in the course of time, they also should equally become the supportive and inspiring core of the whole Family Movement. He envisioned a community dedicated to safeguard the ideal of Catholic marriage and family and to live this ideal in a modern way.

The Institute of Families is guided in this objective by the Evangelical Councils. The lifestyle of marriage and family is naturally different from the celibate life style of the religious. The goal, however, is the same: to live one’s calling in a purposeful way and resolutely follow Christ.

“For this reason the Institute of Schoenstatt families, faithful to the Founder’s vision, sees itself as a community of dedicated life for married couples with juridical ties. It endeavours through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, and by virtue of the covenant of love with Mary, to realize the ideal of the Holy Family of Nazareth in a modern way and to live as perfectly as possible according to the Evangelical Councils.

It is its task to contribute to the formation of a new order of society by the Christian renewal of marriage and family. Together with the other Schoenstatt Institutes it assumes the responsibility as defender and inspiring core of the entire Movement.” (Being and Mission-Definition of the General Chapter 2018)

Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain and Portugal
The Americas: USA, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, México, Ecuador, Perú, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil