From February 21-23, 2025, members of the six Schoenstatt Secular Institutes came together
for the eighth time for a study conference on Mount Moriah in Schoenstatt, Germany.
After the previous conferences in which the evangelical councils were the focus, this time the focus was on the calling to be secular institutes in a digital world. Father Joseph Kentenich’s instructions from the Pre-Founding Document of 1912 have lost none of their relevance, even in the age of smartphones and artificial intelligence:
“Either forwards or backwards! Well then backwards! So, let us return to the Middle Ages; tear up the railroad tracks, cut the telegraph lines, leave the electricity to the clouds, return the coal to the earth, and close the universitites! No, never. We do not want that; we may not and we cannot do that. Therefore, forwards! Yes, on with the exploration and subjection of our inner world through dedicated self-education. The greater the exterior progress, the greater the deepening of our inner life.”
Already at the beginning of the Schoenstatt Movement, Father Kentenich raised the question of a responsibility that holds true today: How can our inner spiritual life keep pace with the external development of the times? It’s not a matter of turning back the wheel of time, but of discovering what has been our mission from the very beginning. This question occupied the minds of the participants of the conference during these days.
Living our vocation as secular institutes in a digital age
The meeting began with time together in the Founder Chapel, the final resting place of our founder. The participants gathered intentionally with Father Kentenich to be inspired and reoriented in his spirit for their service to the Church and to society.
On Saturday morning, the circle was widened allowing other members of the secular institutes to join the study groups online. Sister Francine-Marie Cooper, Brother Roberto Gonzales of the Brothers of Mary and the married couple Francisco Fernández and Tania Pederson from the Institute of Schoenstatt-Families gave us an insight into their experiences when dealing with digital media within their communities. It became clear that the enormous technical developments of recent and coming years are almost impossible to keep track of. As secular institutes, whose members are firm, free personalities anchored in God, we are challenged to develop a lifestyle that prevents us from being dominated by the media, but allows us to use it for our mission.
Finding a balance – relgious formation in view of the media
In the second half of the morning, Father Manuel Lopez ISF spoke about his experiences in Paraguay as Novice Master of the Schoenstatt Fathers. According to his observations, it is important to be attentive to the “nutritional quality of our media consumption.” Young people, at the beginning of their spiritual journey, should be supported in acquiring a healthy approach to the media by critically reflecting on the effects the use of media has upon their lives and their mission. In this process, freedom and guidance have to complement each other.
In the afternoon, working groups explored the topic in greater depth by reading together texts of our founder and exchanging ideas.
The media in the service of the apostolate
In the evening, with her project “Beyond the Ordinary, Sister Francine-Marie Cooper illustrated how video and social media can be used for the apostolate.” For almost 5 years, she – together with Sister M. Anrika Dold – has been posting regularly videos and short articles about Schoenstatt spirituality on various online platforms. She reported on her positive experiences of using the media to bring people into contact with Schoenstatt’s message and to open a door to life with God; maybe Instagram-Kanal or “Jenseits des Gewöhnlichen”.
Dealing with the media – from the inside
On Sunday morning Sister M. Nurit Stosiek gave a talk on the theme “Education of the Gemuet (heart, mind, and soul) as the key to personality development in the digital society.” She explained how core processes of Father Kentenich’s pedagogy are key requirements for personality development in the digital world.
Experiencing Schoenstatt Family life
As a spiritual family, the members of the secular institutes didn’t convene this weekend solely to study but also to encounter God and each other. In the common celebration of Holy Mass and in the prayer times, the discussions, unanswered questions, hopes and various perspectives were brought to God.
There was no shortage of happy get-togethers at this conference. The participants came to know each other better over meals, and there was plenty of laughter. In the evening, the fireside lounge was the perfect place for a family like get-together – in a very analog way: from person to person.