From 19 to 21 September 2025, the Lay Marists of Germany gathered in Osnabrück in the house of the Missionary Sisters of Mary for their second meeting of the year and held a retreat on the theme: ‘God writes straight on crooked lines’.
On Friday, Fr Georg Galke, SM introduced the theme with a profound and humorous slide presentation, which made it easy for the group to get started and already elicited some reactions on the first evening, which were further explored the next day. Rieta Schnitker (preparation team) explained something about the centrepiece and the decorated candle, which Lisa Neitzel had designed. She was unable to attend but was present for us through this light.
On Saturday, Eva Romanovski (preparation team) and Fr. Bernd Kordes, SM then gave a historical overview of the Marian Apostolate in the Marist Order during and after the French Revolution (1799-1848), the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) and the return of German novices to what is now Emsland in Lower Saxony, bringing our own history as lay Marists to life. After a break, Rieta led a meditation. In groups of three, participants were able to share their personal experiences with their own crooked lines, which were straightened by God. The rosary was prepared by Corinna Münch with texts and prayers by Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot and prayed by everyone in the house chapel.
In the third part, Eva and Bernd explained how it is possible to live a Marist life with crooked lines on which God is writing and pointed out the opportunity for conversation and confession that many took advantage of during the weekend. The evening was combined with a small celebration of the birthdays of Fr. Wilhelm Tangen, SM (85) and Eva. Corinna and Urszula Wlottkowska presented the results of a digital project they had worked on. Corinna reminded everyone of the intercessory prayer network with the Norway Marist community and their mission. She was elected as the contact person for the Marist Laity in Germany with the European Province. Sunday began with feedback and concluded with Holy Mass and a sermon by Father Georg Galke, SM.
Corinna Münch, Lay Marist, Meppen
For more information visit: https://maristenpatres.de/meppen.html
