17 December 2020 · 2020-12 newsletter
The conclusion to Father Kentenich’s Christmas Letter which he sent on 13 December 1965 (before his return to Schoenstatt) contains words that were relevant for the Schoenstatt Family in 1965, and are still relevant for us today as we strive to fulfil our mission as members of the Schoenstatt Family: “When I now send heartfelt wishes for Christmas and the New Year to every member and every branch of the Family, we understand what I mean by it: [I wish] all of us God’s blessing in the spirit of the past years and our mission for the future”.
Father Kentenich has passed on this mission to each and every one of us and continually challenges us to fulfil this mission into the future.
On this December Covenant Day we might reflect what his words mean for us today as we look back on what has been for most of us a very difficult year and contemplate the future and what it might look like for us individually, for our own family and for the Australian Schoenstatt Family.
In the light of the discussion at our October Mini Conference we agreed that for the coming year we would focus our striving specifically on:
Family, be what you are: Domestic Church.
(Note: “family” may include not just the natural family or our particular family circumstances at the moment but also our Schoenstatt Family.)
In this coming year we want to deepen our understanding of the Domestic Church. We are also challenged to find new ways of sharing the richness of Schoenstatt and not be fearful about taking new initiatives. We want to work on developing a deeper sense of community and revitalizing our Home Shrines. We want to:
- Go where we are needed
- Take Our Lady with us and
- Trust blindly in Divine Providence.
We are a Family of Mary
With our helplessness and limitations, we are a family of Mary.
With our abilities and possibilities, we are a family of Mary.
With our diversity of background and longings, we are a family of Mary.
With our mission – great and small, we are a family of Mary.
With the Shrine as our home fire and our lighthouse, we are a family of Mary.
With one another and with all our hearts, we are a family of Mary.(Fr. Jonathan Niehaus – Preparatory pray for 2011 National Conference)
Father Kentenich once said; “Our hearts belong to all the members of the family. My heart belongs to you, your hearts belong to me, and our hearts belong to one another. If we are thus a community of hearts, in a union of hearts with God the Father, then we have the most solid foundation for the history of the family in times to come… (25.12.67)
We see this union of hearts most appropriately expressed through our Covenant of Love.
In our unity in our Covenant of Love, the members of the NCC (National Central Committee) thank you for your continued support, prayers and work for the mission of Schoenstatt here in Australia during this year. We look forward to working together with you again in the coming year.
We wish each of you a very happy and holy Christmas season and many blessings and graces from the Shrine.
NCC Members
Sr. M. Elizabeth, Sr. M. Thomasine, Sr. M. Isabell, Sr. Luisa Maria, Angela Benson, Shirley Hall, Michael King, Pat & Terry Pate
Filed underNewsletter · Reflections