The Schoenstatt Family Federation has been preparing for its 75th anniversary celebration for more than a year. The couples and children of the Federation want to do their bit to address the current issues of the Church, Schoenstatt, and society. The preparation for the jubilee began at Easter 2023 with the spiritual awakening of “Pilgrims of Joy” at the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine in Rome. It reached its climax at the jubilee celebration in Schoenstatt.
The Schoenstatt Family Federation was founded on Trinity Sunday, 1950, as an international community. Thus, from June 13-15, 2025, 588 women, men, youth, and children gathered at the Schoenstatt Jubilee Campus. Many families had already traveled to Schoenstatt on Pentecost as pilgrims of hope, passing through Rome for the Holy Year. The community is even happier that the Holy Year coincides with their Jubilee. So the families continue their journey together as pilgrims of hope and joy!
Welcome – Herzlich Willkommen – Benvenuti – Bienvenidos
On Friday evening, international pilgrims had the opportunity to arrive at Schoenstatt’s place of origin and immerse themselves in its palpable joy, which was evident throughout the night. At the reception, a joyful confusion of voices in the languages of the 17 participating countries filled the air. Internationality was present at all times and was evident from the beginning, when the children entered, carrying the flags of their countries. The families quickly interacted with each other, presented their ideals, and played “Schoenstatt Bingo”.
The official closing was marked by the evening prayer, which included the blessing and the Jubilee song, “Vamos familia” (Let’s go, Family), which became a hit with young and old alike. On the mild early summer afternoon, the pilgrims lingered long at the Jubilee Campus, sharing their joy.
Motivations of joy
Saturday began with a moving and inspiring Holy Mass on the miracle of Cana. One of the central reflections of Fr. Ludwig Güthlein ISch, priestly assistant of the Schoenstatt Family Federation in Germany, was: “The strength for the future depends on the depth of gratitude. In his homily, he addressed the Blessed Mother’s request to her servants: “Do whatever He tells you”. Fr. Güthlein interpreted this in the sense that Schoenstatt should not be understood as a human work, but as a divine intervention. Looking to the future, he left the following message for the Family Federation: “Without many miracles of Cana, it will not be possible. We need many miracles of Cana for a wonderful journey, and so that we can send you in body and soul.” During the Mass, internationality was evident in many moments, especially when couples from all countries brought prayers and offerings to the altar.
The Jubilee Band of the Federation of Families accompanied the mass and delighted the pilgrims with their passion, skill, voices, and instruments.
The Holy Mass was a joyful celebration marked by gratitude. After the Holy Mass, there were testimonies and contributions from Federation members from all over the world that entered into the spirit of the jubilee motto. Particularly motivating were the words of the director of the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany, Fr. Felix Geyer ISch, who was visibly delighted with the liveliness of the celebration and referred to the Covenant of Love as our common source.
Origin, present, future
Saturday afternoon’s theme was “Origin, Present, and Future”. A workshop on the origins of the Family Federation was held at the Covenant House, focusing on the first conference, held in 1950, and addressing the question: What is the meaning of Father Kentenich’s talks for families in the 21st century?
At the Pilgrims’ Church, an overview of the worldwide apostolate of the Federation of Families was presented at the current time. Projects for couples and families from different countries were presented.
What does the Federation of Families hope for the coming years? What does it want for the future? These topics were discussed in various conversation groups around the Original Shrine.
Due to the storms and thunderstorms, the renewal of the consecration as Federationists took place in the Pilgrims’ Church. There, it was possible to hear Father Kentenich’s voice through sound recordings. The joint recitation of the consecration prayer in the different languages made evident the bond between people and the common foundation of the Covenant of Love. The celebration of the Covenant of Love was a profoundly spiritual experience.
Night of the Nations – Shared Joy
The Jubilee Campus hosted a fascinating mix of cultures from around the world at the “Night of Nations”. The different countries performed in an original and lively way, winning the hearts of the spectators. There was a lot of laughter, singing, and dancing: from salsa to polka to Viennese waltz, nothing was lacking – pure joy!
Libertate Family – Cor Unum in Patre
The center of the International Federation of Families, the Josef-Kentenich-Hof in Hillscheid, was the scene of joy and hope on Sunday. One of the highlights of the celebration was the Holy Mass of Sending Forth. The leaders of the Family Federation in Germany, Diana and Dr. Lukas Schreiber, as well as the international leaders of the community, Silvina and Raúl Viñas, welcomed the attendees, among whom were honored guests from Schoenstatt and the German Bishops’ Conference. In his homily, Monsignor Dr. Michael Gerber stressed: “The Family Federation helps couples and families very concretely to become a ‘small Church’ and to live what they promise in the sacrament of marriage, that is, “to assume co-responsibility in the Church, in Schoenstatt and the world”.
He also described the Josef-Kentenich-Hof as a place of hospitality and as “endless” work. “Endless work” is the expression, the means, and the protection of inner work, of permanent self-education as individuals, as a couple, or as a family.
Bishop Gerber said, “Synodality is one of the great processes in the Church today. When I look at the Family Federation, I have the impression that there is a lot of experience here about the relationship between the hierarchical principle and the synodal principle in the Church. The hierarchy has, as its name indicates, the mission to link us to our origins and the mission to integrate us into the universal Church”.
The closing ceremony was not the end, but the beginning of a new mission for the future of the International Federation of Families.
Sunday ended with the blessing of the pilgrims in the Original Shrine, from where the families were sent out to the whole world.
Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías
Photos: Eugenio Minici
Source: schoenstatt.de
