South Africa

History of Mothers’ Federation Southern Africa

South Africa is a country with a dark history of racial discrimination, violence and struggles. For many years the peoples of this country were divided by ‘apartheid’- a policy of segregation and political, social and economic discrimination against the non white majority of South Africa. Apartheid created deep and lasting wounds in the country and all its people.

The people of this country are many and different, coming from all parts of the world – there are many races, cultures, and religions.

From Germany to Johannesburg and Cape Town

Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary were sent out to South Africa by Fr Kentenich and arrived in 1934. They worked very hard to build up the Movement. The Catholic population of South Africa is very small and it has always been a challenge to spread the Catholic faith. Over the years the Movement has mainly grown around two large cities, separated from each other by 1500km, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Our Mothers’ Federation was started in Johannesburg and later spread to Cape Town.

Barbara Kern brings the good news from Schoenstatt

We owe the foundation of Mothers’ Federation to Barbara Kern who was a leader in the Mothers’ League in Johannesburg. In 1993 Barbara went on holiday to Germany and spent a few days in Schoenstatt. There she met some German mothers who belonged to the Federation and they gave her an insight into their life as Mothers of the Federation. She was inspired by their love and enthusiasm. On her return to Johannesburg she shared with the Mothers what she had learned about Mothers’ Federation. Barbara did not rest until an application was made to the General Presidium requesting permission to begin Mothers’ Federation. This was granted on 7 February 1994 and Sr Marian Dunn was appointed to carry out the foundation of Mothers’ Federation in Southern Africa.

Heart of Infinite Love

On 18 July 1994, 18 Mothers, 16 from Johannesburg and 2 from Zimbabwe, a country which borders South Africa, started their candidature.

This first course found its ideal, ‘Heart of Infinite Love’, in 1998 and being the founding course pledged themselves for the growth of Mothers’ Federation in Southern Africa. Our MTA took their pledge very seriously. Barbara Kern was able to make her course consecration privately the day before she passed away due to cancer. Barbara offered her life for the growth of Mothers’ Federation in Southern Africa.

“Star of Unity” and “Sign of Light”

Meanwhile, a year later in 1995 some Mothers in Cape Town asked to join Mothers’ Federation. These Mothers came from very different backgrounds, and cultures, making it difficult for them to grow together and heal the wounds of apartheid. Through the Covenant of Love they were drawn into the heart of our Blessed Mother and their course ideal, ‘Star of Unity’ challenged them to be instruments of unity in diversity in their course, Church and country and to build bridges amongst all peoples.

In 2002 a group of 10 Mothers started their candidature in Johannesburg. They discovered their course ideal in 2006 – ‘Sign of Light’, which inspires them to be light bearers, bringing the Light of Christ into the darkness.

Helpers in Mary’s Garden and Instrument in the Father’s hands

In 2004 the first National meeting of mothers was held in Johannesburg and a second one in Cape Town, in 2008, after which an interest was shown by a number of Mothers and in 2009 two more courses were started in Cape Town, ‘Helpmates in Mary’s Garden’, who with our father and founder, the gardener, toil in Mary’s garden to bring it to full bloom, and ‘ Instrument in the hands of the Father’, instruments of service and love.

The Federation´s Mothers in southern Africa today

At present we are 36 Mothers in Mothers’ Federation, 12 Mothers have passed away. We have 2 Regions – the Western Cape (Cape Town) and Gauteng (Johannesburg).

We, the Mothers of the Federation in Southern Africa thank God and our MTA for the many blessings we and our families have received since joining Mothers’ Federation. Our lives have been enriched in so many ways and we have grown more deeply into our beautiful Schoenstatt world.

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We have found a home

We have found a home in Mary’s heart, in the heart of our father and founder and in the heart of each other. We thank all who have helped us and remember those who have died offering their lives for the Mothers’ Federation in Southern Africa.