From May 16th to the 18th, 2025, representatives of the Schoenstatt Family Work from seven European countries gathered at the Schoenstatt Swider Center in Warsaw, the capital of Poland.
“We thank you for the warm atmosphere and fraternal hospitality,” said the Hungarian delegation as they said goodbye. “One of the highlights was the sharing of experiences about sources of hope in the lives of our families,” emphasized the Swiss couple.
The result of the work in small groups came to the following conclusion: “For today’s families, the Home Shrine is important.” And “it is not only a place to pray at home, but it keeps us connected to other Shrines. There we are rooted in the Covenant of Love. Our goal is to be a living Shrine ourselves and to spread God’s love to others.”
“The experience of the Home Shrine is very important,” explained the Spanish representatives. “We have a lot of contact with families who do not belong to Schoenstatt, and when they come to visit, they are impressed; they consider it something special. In the evenings, we usually pray freely in the Home Shrine. What attracts people is probably the connection between the natural and the supernatural. For us, God is not far away, but in the midst of everyday life. This organic aspect in the Schoenstatt spirituality fostered by Father Kentenich brings a lot of hope.”
Home Shrine… where God’s hope rests on earth
Two other working groups emphasized that they consider it a challenge for families to live in two worlds: the real, normal world of school and work, and the spiritual and religious world. “How can we encourage each other to deal with the different worlds and live our own world in the midst of them?”
These topics could shape the next European Family Congress, to be held at the end of April 2028 in Madrid, Spain. The participants of the European Forum are enthusiastic about brainstorming ideas and plan to meet again in 2026, this time at the Schoenstatt Center in Hungary.
Getting to know Poland
The visit to the “Temple of Divine Providence”—an imposing church that houses a collection of multimedia documentation on Pope Karol Woytila (St. John Paul II) and Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski (Blessed)—gave the participants in the European Forum the opportunity to delve into the soul of the Polish people.
The visit to the two Schoenstatt Shrines in the capital allowed us to experience the strength and vitality of the spiritual and Schoenstattian life in Poland. The grounds and houses are welcoming and well cared for. Polish food is rich, nutritious, and tasty. The Polish hosts gave their all. Some participants extended their stay and took a trip to Prositten, the birthplace of Joseph Engling.
Embarking on the transformation of the world
After being warmly welcomed and deeply moved, most of the participants returned home on Covenant Day. In addition to many encounters and rich experiences, they left hoping that from the Shrine of Faithfulness in Swider, Warsaw, graces will flow to their countries and their Home Shrines.
The Home Shrine is the most important place in the Schoenstatt family home. It is where they experience God’s closeness and where the Christian atmosphere is shaped. From there, families receive the strength to transmit life in different worlds and overcome challenges—as Schoenstatt composer Wilfried Röhrig sang years ago: “Our home… a sacred place, where God’s hope descends upon our earth.”
Translation: Maribel Acaron
