Apostolate for Family Consecration
Encyclopedia
The Apostolate for Family Consecration is a U.S. Roman Catholic lay movement headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ohio
. Founded in 1975 by Jerry and Gwen Coniker, it was given Pontifical Status in 2007.
The Apostolate describes its mission as being called "to consecrate families to the Holy Family and in the truths of our Faith in the spirit of Pope John Paul II, thus enabling them to live their baptismal vocation and be effective evangelizers and people of faith in the parishes and movements they belong to." Its motto is "All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus; all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary; all in union with St. Joseph." The group is much influenced by St. Louis de Montfort
and Pope John Paul II
.
, for what he called "a two-year retreat." Coniker had founded Coniker Systems, which manufactured communications, time management, and sales control systems for Fortune 500 companies. A pro-life activist concerned for the family, Coniker decided he "couldn't succeed politically without bringing people back to God."
Upon their return to the U.S., Coniker became the executive director of a Franciscan ministry, the Militia Immaculata
, in Wisconsin
.
In 1975, the Conikers founded the Apostolate for Family Consecration, which received official approval from the Catholic Church later that year. Among other works, they began producing television shows for EWTN.
In 1990, the ministry borrowed US$1 million to buy an abandoned seminary property from the Diocese of Steubenville, and began to restore the buildings, many of which had not been used in two decades, and expand the property. It paid off the debt in 1996.
In 1999, the Conikers were named by Pope John Paul II as one of twenty couples who advised the Pontifical Council for the Family
. In 2004, the pope named Coniker a consultor for the Council. In 2007, in a "Decree of Recognition and Approval" issued by Pope Benedict XVI through the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Apostolate was declared "a private international association of the faithful of pontifical right, with a juridical personality, according to canons 298-311 and 321-329 of the Code of Canon Law." . Referring to one of the Apostolate's slogans in his statement at the occasion, Bishop Josef Clemens said that "‘Families evangelizing families’ is not only a beautiful Christian ideal, it is an urgent need in society today, so that the human and Christian values of the family might be promoted in their fullness."
Gwen Coniker died of cancer in 2002, and in June 2007 the Bishop of Steubenville let the cause for her canonization proceed. The initial investigation, into whether she showed "heroic virtue," began that September. Part of the evidence presented was her refusing to abort her eleventh child, Theresa, when her doctor said the pregnancy would burst her uterus and kill her. The baby was delivered safely, and she had two more children.
Headquartered at Catholic Familyland in central Ohio (established 1990), the Apostolate has several international branches: the St. Joseph Asian Center, located in the Archdiocese of Manila (established 1994); the El Apostolado para la Consagración de la Familia en México (1999); Belgium (2000); Myanmar; Russia; Nigeria (2004); and Portugal. It also runs the Familyland Television Network
, whose studios are located at Catholic Familyland.
Among the Apostolate's supporters are Cardinal Francis Arinze, former President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (1984–2002) and then the prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship (2002–2008), when he retired.; Blessed Mother Teresa
of Calcutta, who joined the advisory council in 1976 (the Conikers were invited by Fox News to offer commentary during her funeral); Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo
, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family (1990–2008); and then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
Cardinal Mario Luigi Ciappi
, O.P., who had served as the papal theologian for five popes, including John Paul II, became the Apostolate's theological director.
Bloomingdale, Ohio
Bloomingdale is a village in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The population was 221 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Founded in 1975 by Jerry and Gwen Coniker, it was given Pontifical Status in 2007.
The Apostolate describes its mission as being called "to consecrate families to the Holy Family and in the truths of our Faith in the spirit of Pope John Paul II, thus enabling them to live their baptismal vocation and be effective evangelizers and people of faith in the parishes and movements they belong to." Its motto is "All for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus; all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary; all in union with St. Joseph." The group is much influenced by St. Louis de Montfort
Louis de Montfort
St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort was canonized in 1947. He was a French priest and known in his time as a preacher and author, whose books, still widely read, have influenced a number of popes....
and Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
History
In 1971, Jerry Coniker (b. 1938) sold his business and with his wife Gwen (b. 1939) and their eight children moved to Fátima, PortugalFátima, Portugal
Fátima is a city in Portugal famous for the Marian apparitions, recognized by the Catholic Church, that took place there in 1917. The town itself has a population of 7,756 and is located in the municipality of Ourém, in the Centro Region and Médio Tejo Subregion...
, for what he called "a two-year retreat." Coniker had founded Coniker Systems, which manufactured communications, time management, and sales control systems for Fortune 500 companies. A pro-life activist concerned for the family, Coniker decided he "couldn't succeed politically without bringing people back to God."
Upon their return to the U.S., Coniker became the executive director of a Franciscan ministry, the Militia Immaculata
Militia Immaculata
The Militia Immaculata, or "Army of the Immaculate," is a worldwide Catholic evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 in response to protests against the Pope by Freemasons in Rome...
, in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
In 1975, the Conikers founded the Apostolate for Family Consecration, which received official approval from the Catholic Church later that year. Among other works, they began producing television shows for EWTN.
In 1990, the ministry borrowed US$1 million to buy an abandoned seminary property from the Diocese of Steubenville, and began to restore the buildings, many of which had not been used in two decades, and expand the property. It paid off the debt in 1996.
In 1999, the Conikers were named by Pope John Paul II as one of twenty couples who advised the Pontifical Council for the Family
Pontifical Council for the Family
The Pontifical Council for the Family is part of the Curia of the Roman Catholic Church. It was established by Pope John Paul II on 9 May 1981 with his motu proprio Familia a Deo Instituta, replacing the Committee for the Family that Pope Paul VI had established in 1973...
. In 2004, the pope named Coniker a consultor for the Council. In 2007, in a "Decree of Recognition and Approval" issued by Pope Benedict XVI through the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Apostolate was declared "a private international association of the faithful of pontifical right, with a juridical personality, according to canons 298-311 and 321-329 of the Code of Canon Law." . Referring to one of the Apostolate's slogans in his statement at the occasion, Bishop Josef Clemens said that "‘Families evangelizing families’ is not only a beautiful Christian ideal, it is an urgent need in society today, so that the human and Christian values of the family might be promoted in their fullness."
Gwen Coniker died of cancer in 2002, and in June 2007 the Bishop of Steubenville let the cause for her canonization proceed. The initial investigation, into whether she showed "heroic virtue," began that September. Part of the evidence presented was her refusing to abort her eleventh child, Theresa, when her doctor said the pregnancy would burst her uterus and kill her. The baby was delivered safely, and she had two more children.
Organization
Today, the Apostolate operates Catholic Familyland, a 950 acres (3.8 km²) Catholic resort and retreat center in central Ohio. It offers several catechetical and educational programs for families and parishes. It has also published a two-volume Apostolate's Family Catechism, which was approved by the American Catholic bishops.Headquartered at Catholic Familyland in central Ohio (established 1990), the Apostolate has several international branches: the St. Joseph Asian Center, located in the Archdiocese of Manila (established 1994); the El Apostolado para la Consagración de la Familia en México (1999); Belgium (2000); Myanmar; Russia; Nigeria (2004); and Portugal. It also runs the Familyland Television Network
Familyland Television Network
Familyland Television Network is a Catholic-oriented religious channel, owned by the Apostolate for Family Consecration in Bloomingdale, Ohio....
, whose studios are located at Catholic Familyland.
Among the Apostolate's supporters are Cardinal Francis Arinze, former President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (1984–2002) and then the prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship (2002–2008), when he retired.; Blessed Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
of Calcutta, who joined the advisory council in 1976 (the Conikers were invited by Fox News to offer commentary during her funeral); Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo
Alfonso López Trujillo
Alfonso López Trujillo was a Colombian Cardinal Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church and president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.-Youth:...
, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family (1990–2008); and then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
Cardinal Mario Luigi Ciappi
Mario Luigi Ciappi
Mario Luigi Ciappi, OP was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as personal theologian to five popes from 1955 to 1989, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1977.-Biography:...
, O.P., who had served as the papal theologian for five popes, including John Paul II, became the Apostolate's theological director.
External links
- Apostolate for Family Consecration
- Journey of an Unknown Soul by Lindsey Larson