In Community
We are an international family
Charisma
About the Schoenstatt Communities
A person can belong to Schoenstatt by joining the Apostolic League, the Apostolic Federation, or a Secular Institute. The criteria for joining depend 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.
Our branches
The Apostolic League
Organized on the diocesan level
It includes the following groups or branches: girl’s youth, boy’s youth, single professional women, married women and mothers, men, couples, and priests.
Belonging to the League are people who, aspiring to sanctity, allow themselves to be educated by Schoenstatt and try to carry out an apostolic activity service in their midst.
Pilgrims are also associated with the Schoenstatt League: These are people who seal their covenant of love, do not incorporate themselves into a specific branch, but maintain regular contact with the Shrine, and participate in various ways in the spirit and life of the Apostolic Movement.
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Our communities
The Apostolic Federations
Organized on the national level
Members of the Federation oblige themselves to a permanent apostolic service and 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, priests, single women, mothers, and families.
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Our communities
The Secular Institutes
International Institutes
The members of a Secular Institute oblige themselves to a permanent apostolate and an established form of community. They live according to the evangelical counsels and strive for perfection following their state of life.
The Secular Institutes are communities with their respective Constitutions in which membership, a form of bonds, and 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, and Family Institute. All these institutes are of pontifical right.
Get to know our communities:
Our Movement has various groups and different types of vocation. We are an international family, rooted in the Covenant of Love