How can we accompany families into the Schoenstatt Family Federation, just as Joseph Kentenich has accompanied people into Schoenstatt since 1914? This was the question posed by a European Congress that took place from October 31st to November 3rd at the Joseph Kentenich Farm in Hillscheid. From nine European countries in which the Schoenstatt Family Federation exists, about 80 people came, in addition to the couples, Schoenstatt Fathers and Sisters of Mary, who are involved in such accompaniment processes.

Many of the couples are active in their territories as accompanying families for candidate courses, others belong to Territorial Leadership Councils. The Schoenstatt Fathers and Sisters of Mary, but also two of the couples, are helping to build up the Family Federation as Foundation Delegates in their territories. Also present were the four couples of the Leadership Council of the International Schoenstatt Family Federation from Argentina, Paraguay, Germany and Austria. For the American continent, there was already a so-called “Iberoamerican Accompanying Families Meeting” in Costa Rica in February, so that this year all the territories of the Family Federation had the opportunity for this exchange.

Thanks to a motivated international team of helpers and above all thanks to the participation of seven translators from four different Schoenstatt communities, who made simultaneous translation into several European languages possible, an intensive working meeting with impulses and alternating working groups with plenty of time for exchange and in a beautiful atmosphere was possible in the Josef-Kentenich-Hof.

Accompaniment, a complex task that touches on many questions

Accompanying young families into the community of the Schoenstatt Family Federation was described as a complex task in which many questions arise:

How can the situation, concerns, problems and needs of young families be taken seriously and addressed during the first conferences, meetings and group sessions of the candidate courses? How can the time together be organized in such a way that it is profitable for the couple, the children and the course community? How can the accompanying team take up longings that are perceptible in the couples and answer them from the spirituality of Schoenstatt? How can the candidates be supported in the search for their “personal ideal”, their “marriage ideal” and the courses in the search for their “course ideals”? And finally: How can the community support the demanding service of the accompanying families?

Accompaniment, encounters and bonding enable growth

The image of a treasure chest describes the pedagogical process: starting from the questions and longings of the young families, the accompanying families as well as the spiritual assistants and accompanying Sisters of Mary reach into the treasure chest of Schoenstatt spirituality and offer these educational tools, life processes and the necessary knowledge to the candidates.

Because all the central themes that shape the community are discussed in the course of the candidacy without a “sequential curriculum”, so that inner growth can take place, this methodology is demanding: its prerequisite is the opening and creation of a resonance space that allows each person on the course to express themselves freely and in an atmosphere of trust.

The participants at the meeting agreed that, above all, this requires good mutual relationships. Father Kentenich had offered to accompany the boys entrusted to him, whom he had accompanied as a spiritual director, with all his ability and inability, his knowledge and ignorance, “but above all to make my heart” available to them. In this attitude, the attending couples agreed, accompaniment can be successful, encounters and bonding can happen and growth can succeed.

Networking and joint international follow-up work

Several accompanying couples from different countries contributed ideas on both broad topics and very practical and concrete issues, which were discussed further in fruitful exchanges in working groups. In a fraternal, synodal atmosphere, networking grew and ideas emerged on how to continue working together at European level.

The program also included common times of prayer, Eucharistic celebrations and a joyful festive evening, as well as a celebration of light on All Souls’ Day, during which the participants brought candles to the “heroes’ graves” at the Original Shrine and commemorated the deceased from the first Schoenstatt generation, from the Schoenstatt Family Federation and from their own families. During a visit to the Founder Chapel, the participants renewed their bond with Father Joseph Kentenich.

Bishop of Fulda, Dr. Michael Gerber, who himself grew up in a family belonging to the Schoenstatt Family Federation, celebrated the festive Mass at the end of the meeting. In his homily, he referred to the Synod on Synodality, which had ended a week earlier, and reminded us that every family is a domestic church in which the future of the Church is shaped.

A sustainable further cooperation in many possible formats will ensure the solidarity and mutual exchange among the accompanying families of the different territories in the future.

Source: schoenstatt.de

Translation: Raul Viñas