With the Holy Year of the Church, the jubilee meetings of different groups have begun in Rome. The first big meeting took place from January 24th to 26th, with the Jubilee of the World of Communications. Some Schoenstatt communicators were present and participated in different activities.

Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper, head of international communications for the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, says: “Being in Rome this time and for this jubilee didn’t only embrace my Catholic identity, but also my identity as a communicator. I was able to take the intentions of all Schoenstatt communicators with me through the holy door of St. Peters Basilica. I asked the Lord to guide us in our mission to spread the message of Schoenstatt in the digital continent“.

Regarding the event, she said: “The speakers on the panels during the event were very inspiring. They encouraged us to tell the “good news”, to share stories of hope with the world, even if we only reap misunderstanding and even hate. The experience of being a great number of Catholic Communicators was inspiring in itself and very encouraging.”

Bringing Schoenstatt to Rome

Enrique and Martin Soros, from the United States, also traveled to Rome for the event. For Martin, who is a volunteer with Schoenstatt’s international communications, what had the greatest impact were the workshops and the testimonies of experienced communicators: “It was a beautiful experience to be in Rome for the Jubilee of Communications. Among the participants there were many who work in communications in dioceses, in movements, in religious congregations… These journalists spoke of the importance of always, always telling the truth, of keeping a good relationship with the press and not regarding it as an enemy. It was also wonderful to be able to meet spontaneously with people from the world of communications: priests, lay people, religious men and women from all over the world, to share experiences and to bring Schoenstatt to Rome – to show that Schoenstatt is present, to see what we can learn, how we can open ourselves even further to the Church.”

Meeting with the Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication

The Schoenstatters had the opportunity to meet Monsignor Lucio Adrián Ruiz, an Argentine priest who is Secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

“He was very interested in the work that Schoenstatt was doing in the realm of communication and encouraged us continue together with the universal Church,” said Sr. Francine-Marie.

Seizing the opportunity, Monsignor Ruiz sent a message to the whole Schoenstatt Family, especially to communicators:

“Dear evangelizers, Schoenstatt missionaries, what a joy to share this moment with you! The truth is that I feel very happy and I want to invite you to open your hearts and your eyes to this reality in which we live today, which is the digital culture, so that you can be true missionaries in this digital era. And being a digital missionary means speaking the language of others, putting yourself in their shoes, going to the places where they are, with their dynamics, because it is important, as it was at Pentecost, not only to preach, but also for them to understand us and then open their eyes. Let us be a Church that reaches out, so that everyone may receive Jesus’ message. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, may we truly communicate that hope which fills our hearts with joy. Reach out, reach out to the ends of the earth. Reach out to the ends of the earth, where there is always a hand held out so that we can preach the love, the tenderness and the mercy of Jesus.”

Translation: Maribel Acaron