From the 27th of April to May 3rd 2004 representatives of the Scottish & English Schoenstatt families attended a European conference on the marriage and the family on Berg Schoenstatt along with 400 other delegates from all over Europe. As well as participating in the talks and workshops the Scottish families also made a presentation on the work of the Scottish family movement in the highly successful home shrine and Rosary projects at Campsie Glen. What follows are a few impressions and images prepared by those who took part.

Agnes Burns
As a guest who had been asked to speak at the Scottish presentation at the conference I felt welcome but perhaps a little out of place. John my husband and I have frequently visited the Campsie Glen Shrine, but as we are not members of a family group we felt a little awkward. Would we say the right things, would we be on lookers to all the different activities?

From our arrival at Hahn airport we were met and made to feel very much part of everything. I was there in my capacity as head teacher of a Glasgow Catholic primary school, to explain our involvement in the Home shrine project, and to relate one or two stories about Our Lady’s influence in the lives of Children’s parents and staff since then. My husband is a language teacher and these skills with French and Italian were extremely helpful at this European event. The warmth of all the couples and their families will stay with us forever. It was a wonderful experience being at the conference just as the new members from Eastern Europe joined the EU. For the very first time in my life I felt truly European. The honour of being in this holy and special place and to stand at Fr Kentenich’s tomb was inspirational. We have prayed so often to Fr Kentenich to intercede for us and never imagined that that one day we would actually be at Schoenstatt and at a European Conference.

It felt good to be part of a group of people with diverse languages, cultures, and customs but who all shared the same spiritual goals for themselves and their families.

.The Schoenstatt message about the importance of Marriage and it’s sanctity in the eyes of God was reinforced in such an encouraging manner, that we felt very much renewed in our Marriage to one another.We found the chance to renew our wedding vows to be a wonderful experience We shall never forget the sheer joy of the delegates from the New European countries, their devotion and enthusiasm for Our Lady and Jesus was magnificent to behold. It felt good to be part of a group of people with diverse languages, cultures, and customs but who all shared the same spiritual goals for themselves and their families. How peaceful and prosperous Europe would be if Jesus was at it’s head with Mary as the heart.

Leaving Schoenstatt I feel renewed and optimistic about the future. To have kissed the Altar where dear Fr Kentenich celebrated Holy Mass in the Concentration Camp at Dachau was a privilege. To have had a blessing in the Mother Shrine and to have walked the paths Fr Kentenich trod will stay in my heart. Father’s total trust in and love Mary as his mother brought him through so much suffering and still he triumphed, what need we fear if we continue. To have Mary in our homes use Father’s example how to live and rejoice in the Lord as Europe moves forward, Schoenstatt you have captivated us. We are yours forever.

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Susan Millar
After much preparation we at last ready to do our workshop on the homeshrine project We were honoured to have a beautiful room in Marienland with all the necessary equipment at our disposal.

There were 20 people present a mixture of English south African, Austrians Germans Italians and Czechs . We naturally felt nervous wanting everything to go perfectly. As the people came and took their places we began to relax because we were happy to see so many friendly faces.

We welcomed the people as they came in and before starting everyone introduced themselves. The presentation went like a dream, and if anyone was nervous it didn’t show. We were delighted at the applause and the enthusiasm of the audience.

We were asked many questions about workshops with the children. Patricia Lockhart the RE advisor and Agnes Burns the head teacher of St Judes primary school were exceptional in their responses to the people who wanted to know about the devotion of the children in the school and the effects it had on the lives of the pupils and the staff.

Sr Margareta was superb in translating the questions and responses back and forth. We were elated and greatly relieved at the end of our workshop of the home shrine.

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Nora & Michael Hartley
The congress opened with a fanfare and the representatives of each country processed into the auditorium with their national flags and then introduced themselves to the assembled representatives from all over Europe. Susan and Ian Millar stepped forward and Susan in her best German greeted everyone on behalf of Scotland, to great applause. After the formal introduction the children dressed in the blue and yellow of the European flag ran onto the podium and danced.

The mayor of Vallendar welcomed us all to congress saying Europe will come to gether through the unity of it’s citizens and communities. Professor Dr Maria Boehmer introduced the first theme, “Is Europe a worthwhile community”?

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Patricia Lockhart
(Patricia is a member of the Focolare and a Religious Education Advisor for Glasgow Archdiocese)
This is my first visit to Schoenstatt and it has been a truly enriching experience. Every moment of each day has been packed with different activities, talks prayers, listening to the experience of families from different parts of Europe, joyful celebrations of mass. One morning I was taken with some others from our group who have never seen Schoenstatt before, to visit various sites on the different hills around the area.

At each location are the houses of the various sections of the Schoenstatt communities and at each house we learned something more about the depth of the Spirituality that lies at the heart of this movement.

One of the highlights of our tour was the visit to the house of the Priests on Mount Moriah in which is kept the Altar which prisoner priests celebrated mass at Dachau. It was inspiring to hear the stories of the courage and commitment of Fr Kentenich.

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John Shalloo
The May procession began in the pilgrim Church with the national flags being carried by a couple from each country. This was followed by the clergy and Cardinal Sterzinsky from Berlin. Children dressed in the congress colours and carrying the 12 stars of the European flag walked in front of a large MTA picture decorated with flowers and carried by four men. Various couples processed behind the men carrying their home shrines and the women each carried a rose. The home shrines were then placed on the steps in front of the MTA picture. On the sanctuary was a large version of the congress symbol. During the service the Cardinal spoke of the place of Our Lady in salvation history and among our families today.

After the service in the Pilgrim Church we lit our processional candles and started to make our way outside. The cardinal the clergy led the way with the MTA picture to the original shrine. Along the way the rosary was prayed in different languages of the congress. At the shrine we formed a semi circle around a specially prepared altar. Just as the Cardinal gave us his final blessing the clouds opened and the Good Lord poured down his graces in large torrential raindrops. An impressive end to a spectacular procession.
The English and Scottish flags processed together and caused a smile among those of the congress who were aware of the old rivalries. Watching the many different countries of Europe mixing together including many former enemies, it was clear the MTA was drawing Europe together.

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