Our Founder

Our connection to our founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, has distinguished our community in every period of its history. Endowed with a unique mission for our time, he passed on the riches of his God-given charism to us, in keeping with the words of our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II:

“By their nature, charisms are communicative and give rise to that "spiritual affinity between persons" (, n. 24) and that friendship in Christ which is the origin of "movements". The passage from the original charism to the movement happens through the mysterious attraction that the founder holds for all those who become involved in his spiritual experience. In this way movements officially recognized by ecclesiastical authority offer themselves as forms of self-fulfilment and as reflections of the one Church.” (John Paul II, Pentecost 1998 to Ecclesial Movements)

Father Joseph Kentenich was born in Gymnich near Cologne, Germany on November 18, 1885. He began his priestly life as a gifted teacher and educator in the Pallottine House of Studies in Schoenstatt, Vallendar. An extraordinary bond of trust developed between him and his students. They made his love for Mary their own and through his message learned to see her as a bridge leading to a deep, fervent love of God.

Alert to the signs of the time and listening attentively in order to perceive God’s will, Father Kentenich, together with a small group of students - entered into a covenant of love with Mary in the chapel (now known as the Original Shrine) at Schoenstatt. This was the beginning and the lasting foundation of today’s worldwide development of the Schoenstatt Movement.

In 1926, Father Kentenich founded our community, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, to be the soul of the Schoenstatt Movement. He allowed himself to be guided by everything the Holy Spirit worked in the individuals and groups of our community. Our form of life, our structure, the values and goals of our institute——everything unfolded gradually from inspirations that Father Kentenich took up and creatively developed.

During his lifetime our founder indentified himself with our sisters’ family to such a degree that he could say: “The family is my extended self.” We experience ever anew that our connection to him gives us creative strength and at the same time an authentic foundation for our being and mission. Throughout his life as founder, Father Kentenich gave his followers a deep experience of God’s fatherhood and led them into his own profound love for the Church. In this way he became a bridge for us toward a living relationship with the Triune God.

On September 15, 1968, the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, immediately after celebrating the holy sacrifice of the Mass, Father Kentenich was called home to the Heavenly Father. At his request, the words Dilexit Ecclesiam (He loved the Church, were inscribed on his tomb.

Father Kentenich’s process of beatification is underway in the diocese of Trier in Germany. Many have experienced his intercession from heaven, and turn to him in their needs as a spiritual father, guide, and companion on their journey through life. If you are interested in more information, or would like to report an answer to prayer, please contact us at the following address:

• Father Joseph Kentenich Secretariat
  W284 N404 Cherry Lane
  Waukesha, WI 53188

 

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