Father Joseph Kentenich (18 November, 1885 - 15 September 1968), a priest, was the founder of the Schoenstatt Movement.

Kentenich was born in Gymnich near Cologne. During the Nazi-regime in Germany, he was interrogated by the Gestapo and spent three and a half years in the Dachau concentration camp.

After the liberation of Dachau by the Allies, Father Kentenich continued his work in building his Schoenstatt Family all over the world. With a Vatican diplomatic passport he travelled to South Africa, the United States of America and Latin America. During this time, Schoenstatt was examined by the Church authorities, during a visitation. In Bellavista, Chile, on 31 May 1949, Kentenich wrote a letter as an answer to the report of the visitation. This letter was the beginning of his exile. The letter of 31 May was received by the German bishops with great criticism. So much so that Fr. Kentenich was removed from his foundation and sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He remained there for 14 years until his rehabilitation by Pope Paul VI.

In the three years left to him at the end of his exile in 1965, he dedicated his time and energy to the consolidation of Schoenstatt worldwide. The process for his beatification was opened on 10 February, 1975.

References

• The founder: Joseph Kentenich