17 November 2023 · 2023-11 newsletter
‘Walking Together – Loving the Church’ — Australia’s Schoenstatt National Conference
Our National Movement Conference held over the weekend 21-22 October 2023 saw many of us gathered in person at Mulgoa and at Mount Richon in Perth as well as many other individuals joining via Zoom from WA, Qld, Vic, and NSW. This ‘hybrid’ offer for our Conference this year allowed a greater participation for all Schoenstatt members across Australia.
Pope Francis’ visions: Fr Pawel
With the theme “Walking together – Loving the Church” we first listened to Fr. Pawel Barszczewski OP unfold Pope Francis’ view of a renewed Church, as he explained the three key elements of a synodal process: Encounter, Listen and Discern and how we as the Church go along this synodal process through Communion, Participation, Mission.
Schoenstatt a ‘synodal’ Church in miniature: Fr Ivanhoe
Fr. Ivanhoe, whom some of you will remember from the time when Father was working with us years ago (he himself mentioned that it will be 17 years since he left Australia), unfolded how Schoenstatt has been a ‘synodal’ Church in miniature since the beginning through a video presentation.
He showed us how, without using the vocabulary of ‘synodality’, our father and founder used the method of ‘walking together’ throughout Schoenstatt’s history. Fr. Ivanhoe illustrated this by highlighting examples from the first three milestones. For many it was a joy to experience the wisdom of Fr. Ivanhoe once again – it was only sad that we could not engage with him in person.
Synodality in our history, structure, and spirituality: Sr Thomasine
In the third and final session of the first day Sr. M. Thomasine explained the aspects of synodality in the history, structure, and spirituality of Schoenstatt, using as a base an article in “Regnum 2023” by Dr. Maria Pelz.
This presentation was an excellent supplement to Fr. Ivanhoe’s input and we were all proud to recognise that using a ‘synodal’ approach has been Fr. Kentenich’s way of leadership from the beginning: the “WE, not I” but together with the governing principle of “Authoritative in principle, democratic in application”.
In a summary of this part of the Conference Sr. M. Elizabeth commented:
“As Pope Francis has rightly said: a synod is not a parliament. As in any family there will be a last principle / authority, but not without first having taken time to listen, pray and discern. The Holy Spirit will speak to us, guide us as long as we empty ourselves of our own selfish wishes to be open for what God wants to tell us.
We have learnt anew that we have to listen ‘deeply’ so that a real encounter takes place. This means education on our part. How often when we are listening, our actual attention is focused on what we may answer to what has been said, instead of listening first to what the person is telling us. The Holy Spirit will prompt us with what we should respond – often silence will be the best response.”
The second day
The second day of the conference took on a more ‘practical’ approach as we listened to three statements, one each from a Schoenstatt member from WA, VIC and NSW. They shared with us their personal experience, answering the question: “How has belonging to the Schoenstatt Movement helped you to walk with and love the Church on the new shore?” There was a great diversity in experiences but a common gratitude for the Schoenstatt spirituality in the way each one is able to share their faith and experience in their family, parish and community.
Throughout the Conference, following each session, there were group discussions and the opportunity to share thoughts and experiences with the wider group.
These times were greatly appreciated and helped us to reach a final conclusion that, in the midst of the turmoil of our times, whether in Church or society, we are being called to ‘walk together’ in the sense that we ‘diligently bring our contributions to the Capital of Grace’. When we are serious about our contributions, our Blessed Mother will be able to intercede the graces we need to love and serve the Church in our own particular situations.
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