About the Schoenstatt Communities
Communities of the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt
A person can belong to Schoenstatt by joining the Apostolic League, the Apostolic Federationora Secular Institute.The criteria for joining depends on the degree of the apostolic, ascetical and community obligations to which one feels called. But we all unite in the charism: The Covenant of Love with Our Lady of Schoenstatt which is linked to the Shrine and to Father Kentenich; on the aims, the pedagogy and the spirituality of Schoenstatt.
The Apostolic League
Organized on the diocesan level.
- It includes the followinggroups or branches: girl’s youth, boy’s youth, singleprofessional women, married women and mothers, men, couples and priests.
- Belongingto the League are people who, aspiring to sanctity, allow themselvesto be educated by Schoenstatt and in this way make efforts to carry out anapostolic activity service in their midst.
- Pilgrims are also associated to the Schoenstatt League: these are peoplewhoseal their covenant of love, do notincorporate themselves toa specific branch,but maintain regular contact with the Shrine and participate in various ways inthe spirit and life of the Apostolic Movement.
The Apostolic Federations
Organized on the national level.
- Members of the Federation oblige themselves to a permanent apostolic serviceand foster an established form of community. In the spirit of the evangelical counsels, they strive for perfection in keeping with their state in life.
- Father Kentenich founded the following Apostolic Federations: for men, for priests, for single women, for mothers and for families.
The Secular Institutes
International Institutes.
- The members of a Secular Institute oblige themselves to a permanent apostolate and to an established form of community. They assume the evangelical counsels and strive for perfection in keeping with their state in life.
- The Secular Institutes are communities with their respective Constitutions in which membership,a form of bonds, and of government are laid down.
- They belong to the form of Consecrated Life in the Church and are of „Pontifical right“.
- Father Kentenich founded the following Secular Institutes: Sisters of Mary, Brothers of Mary, Diocesan Priests, Our Lady of Schoenstatt, Schoenstatt Fathers. All these are institutes of pontifical right.
Communities & General Structure of Schoenstatt
Organs of coordination
At the International Level
General Presidium
Brings together the leaders of all the communities that are part of the Apostolic Movement, the General Presidium serves the unity and promotes team work in matters of common interest.
It bears the final responsibility for the spiritual legacy of the founder and for the authentic teaching in the spirit of his charism.
It represents the entire Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt. In its relationship to the Holy See, the General Presidium is dependent on the Pontifical Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, to which it periodically informs about the life and activities of the Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt.
International coordination of the Schoenstatt Movement
The International Coordination Office, instituted by the General Presidium, is responsible for operational tasks at the service of cooperation and inspiration for the promotion of the common apostolate of the Apostolic Movement.
Information
It maintains the Movement’s official online site. There, he makes known the events of international interest, as well as those that take place at the Church level. By means of a quarterly bulletin it gathers the existing life in different countries. Annually publishes the Movement’s annual report.
Coordination
In solidarity and mission consciousness, it collaborates in the unity of the Movement at the international level, gathering the existing life-streams in the countries, promoting reflection regarding the signs of the times and mutual support in order to respond to what God is asking of us. To this end, he regularly convokes the Pentecost Congresses.
Representation
It represents the Schoenstatt Movement in general before the Church and society.
Continental Coordination of the Americas
It has the same structure and tasks of the International Coordination
At the National Level
National Presidium
It is responsible for the spiritual legacy of Schoenstatt, for unity and for collaboration in common affairs. It represents the Apostolic Movement before the Bishops’ Conference of the country.
National Central Committee
- It has the mission to secure the charism and inspire the Movement in the Schoenstatt Apostolic League and Schoenstatt Pilgrims
- It is constituted by those who perform a service of inspiration: it promotes spiritual formation and education, as well as training for the apostolate; it also coordinates the apostolic initiatives in a specific country; it supports common initiatives and carries out events on a national level of the entire Movement.
- The Members of the National Central Committee are: The National Movement Director, who is appointed by the National Presidium, and the persons in charge of the branches – who are placed at the disposal of the above-mentioned tasks and are appointed by the National Director.
Diocesan Councils
- They have the immediate responsibility for the Apostolic League and the Schoenstatt Pilgrims in their diocese.
- They unite the community in the mission and diocesan ideal. They direct their strategy taking up the pastoral goals of the diocesan Church and coordinate apostolic activities and service to these goals.
- The members of a Diocesan Council are: The Diocesan Director (appointed by the National Movement Director), the diocesan leaders of the branches of the League existing in the diocese, the diocesan coordinator. The persons in charge of the diocese of the League branches may also be present, as also the representatives of the Institutes, Federations and Apostolic Initiatives present in the diocese.