There are so many couples wanting to come to the Family weekend retreat – we had to have two this year. The ‘older’ couples had their weekend in September and now in November it was the turn of the ‘younger’ couples. This is a sort of artificial division as in Schoenstatt we are all young – at least young at heart.

Seven couples and thirteen children spent the weekend together from 4th – 6th November. Fr. Brian Cunningham of the Schoenstatt Fathers directed and guided the adults through workshops and discussions while the children were cared for and guided through their programme by the ‘older’ couples.

The theme for the adults was ‘Risk and Adventure’ – not money matters or politics but Marriage. The following is an extract from one of the worksheets:

Properly looked at marriage and family life is more about risk and adventure than we could ever imagine. Marriage is about sharing my life with one person for a lifetime. Marriage is about representing God’s love for creation. Marriage is reflecting Christ’s love for his Church. Marriage is about creating space for our children. Marriage then becomes the invitation to become the unpaid minders, educators, carers, nurses, counsellors, housekeepers and cheerleaders for those we call “our children.”

This means that marriage is about giving up your social calendar for your child’s. Attendance at a football match depends if your child is playing or not. Toothache and tummy ache have priority. There is a saying that investment into the small worries of small children helps avert the onset of the big worries of big children. To this extent marriage and family life is a great risk and an even greater adventure.

For the school age children there were stories, arts and crafts activities, a treasure hunt with a difference, lots of fun and the formation of our very own orchestra that accompanied the singing at Mass. The under fives were cared for in the crèche

No Schoenstatt weekend would be without its very important social side. Sports on Saturday afternoon, the bus to Balamory, Fireworks in the evening and after the younger children had gone to bed there was a Murder mystery evening.

The weekend was a great success. The couples, some meeting each other for the first time this weekend, gelled together and the children all got on well and had a great time.

Mary Fyvie, Scotland

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