| S C A L A |
Giving our lives for plentiful redemption
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| Redemptorist Newsletter | Number 22 |
Rome, Italy
December 16, 2006
NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES
New Region is formed in Russia
Redemptorist activity in Russia began in 1908.
Vienna and Munich Provinces prepare for Federation.
ALPHONSIANUM
Alphonsianum began Academic year in October
2006-2007 Statistics of the Alphonsianum
IN SPIRITU REDEMPTIONIS
The Crib: Merry Christmas!
REDEMPTORISTS AND THE VATICAN
Father General re-elected Vice President of USG
PHOTO GALLERY (on-line only)
Photos from around the Redemptorist World
FEATURED WEBSITE
General Secretariat webpages (continued)
Redemptorist Communications in England.
Denver Province: St. Alphonsus Music on Radio.
TRANSITIONS
Professions, Ordinations, Anniversaries, Deaths.Doctorates.
Both words and gestures are powerful.
An article was forwarded to me recently by a confrere contrasting Pope Benedict’s expertise with words with the late Pope John Paul’s expertise in gesture and symbol. Benedict is a lover of language, a craftsman who can make complex theological concepts easy to understand. John Paul was an actor, a lover of theatre, who could evoke understanding in a crowd by a gesture of personal charisma.
We are very much in a season full of words, gestures and symbols readying ourselves for the celebration of God Incarnate. Churches, chapels and homes are adorned with Jesse trees, Advent wreaths and Christmas trees. Streets are decorated with lights and garland. People are busy shopping, buying gifts and partying. In fact, in my country of origin, the United States, from this time until the 25th of December, it is almost a non-stop, noisy, exhausting exercise in excessive activity.
Sometimes words and gestures can be powerfully combined.
I used to extend a gesture to my parishioners on the 4th Sunday of Advent. I knew that many of them were being spiritually drowned by all the activity and noise and hungered for a few moments of peace and quiet. On the 4th Sunday of Advent I would not preach entirely in words. After the gospel, I explained to them that my gift to them was a few moments of the PEACE and JOY of the birth of Christ. If they could find it in no other way or at no other time, they would receive it now. I asked them to become comfortable in their pews, I lowered the lights and played appropriate meditative music for about five minutes leaving everyone to preach a homily to themselves in the peace of that silence and the glow of the Advent Wreath. It was not unusual for babies in the assembly to stir out loud, or even cry, punctuating the silence. PERFECT!
The Word’s gesture of becoming flesh gives us…
Grace and Redemption for all!
Gary Ziuraitis, C.Ss.R.
Russia
Inauguration of a new Region
Joseph Dorcey, C.Ss.R.
On June 20, 2006, the General Council of the Congregation approved the erection of a new Region proposed by the Province of Warsaw. The new Region consists of five communities, four in Russia and one in Kazakhstan. The four communities in Russia are located in Togliatti, Orsk, Orenburg and Kemerowo (Siberia). The community in Kazakhstan is located in the northern city of Petropavl (Pietropawłowsk).
From October 23 to 27, 15 Redemptorist Missionaries (14 Polish and 1 Irish), together with the provincial superior of Warsaw, Fr. Zdzisław Klafka, provincial treasurer from Warsaw, Janusz Sok and, Fr. Joseph P. Dorcey, Secretary General of the Congregation, convened in Orenburg, Russia to inaugurate the new Region at its first assembly.
Orenburg, a city on the Russian steppe, sliced through by the meandering Ural River, is mostly in Europe, but partly in Asia, 1,222 kilometers (759 miles) east-southeast of Moscow, near the border with Kazakhstan. The Inaugural week offered a little of everything regarding weather. Though cool and crisp, and nearly freezing at night, the days were sometimes sunny, sometimes overcast. But fortunately for those who had to leave, there was only rain, no snow. But it could have snowed. The first snowfall occurred in September!
The Superior General, Most Reverend Joseph W. Tobin, had been invited and wished to attend, but because of a prior commitment to visitations in the USA, was unable to attend. The other members of the General Council were also occupied with visitations in the USA. For this reason, Fr. Dorcey represented the General Government.
The Inaugural Assembly
The confreres gathered on Monday (October 23rd) and the assembly began on Tuesday with a day of retreat conducted by Fr. Klafka. On Tuesday, Fr. Dorcey arrived with Fr. Ruksztełło from St. Petersburg. They had an interesting time trying to communicate since the former spoke no Russian or Polish and the latter spoke no English or Italian! But they managed.
These are the 15 confreres who will comprise the membership of the new Region.
In Russia they are Zenon Gieniec, Anthony Branagan, Andrzej Legieć, Pawl Mrozek, Zbigniew Kotliński, Waldemar Warzyński, Dariusz Paszyński, Paweł Jurkowski, Dzmitry Labkou, Artur Wilczek, Mirosław Dawlewicz, and Grzegorz Ruksztełło.
In Kazakhstan they are Wojciech Idziak, Jan Główczyk and Andrzej Michoń.
These confreres will cover vast areas consisting of many communities of various sizes, in different urban and rural settings. Communication, transportation and great distances, not to mention the harsh weather both in summer and winter, all contribute to make this a difficult missionary endeavor. The Catholics in these areas are mostly German, Polish and Ukrainian emigrants who, either by choice or by force, have come to live in these areas of what is now called the Russian Federation.
On Wednesday the first major order of business was the election of the regional leadership. Fr. Dariusz Paszyński was elected regional superior almost unanimously on the first ballot. Soon after Fr. Paweł Mroczek was elected the vicar and first consultor and then Fr. Wojciech Idziak was elected the second consultor. These three form the Region’s ordinary council.
Other important matters considered, discussed and debated during this assembly included ongoing formation for the members of the Region and initial formation for possible, new native candidates; the missions to be organized in Siberia to commemorate the centenary of the first missions preached in 1908; youth ministry and all the questions regarding the financial infrastructure needed to sustain the Region.
The assembly decided to organize a common retreat for the members of the Region, to prepare a prayer book in Russian and to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the people. A commission was chosen to deal with all the preparations for the 2008 missions in Siberia, according to the strategies developed by this assembly. Fr. Gieniec was chosen to oversee the preparations for Limerick 2007, the international Redemptorist Youth Encounter to be held in Ireland next summer. The outline of a system for organizing the regional finances was established.
In the Agreement established by the Region and the Province of Warsaw, approved by the General Government, the name of the Region was to be “The Region of Rosja-Kazachstan”. However, during the discussions of the assembly it became apparent that such a name might prove difficult, considering that neither the government of Russia, nor that of Kazakhstan would find it especially palatable. The Assembly chose to rename the Region “San Gerardo”. This change has not been confirmed by the General Government. As of this writing the General Council has not yet met to discuss this question. Thus, the Region has been born, but has yet to be given a proper name in baptism!
A Redemptorist Future in Russia and Kazakhstan
There are problems to be faced and obstacles to be overcome. Though no longer steeped in the ideology of atheistic communism, the government of Russia is still not particularly friendly toward foreign missionaries, making it difficult to enter and remain in Russia. The Orthodox Church, in general, does not look kindly on the presence of Roman Catholic missionaries in Russia. In both Russia and Kazakhstan there is also the need for dialogue and understanding, mutual acceptance and respect, cooperation and solidarity with Muslims. One of the trickiest roads to navigate is to do Redemptorist missionary and pastoral work without being accused of proselytism.
There are great possibilities in the vast areas of the Russian Federation, including Siberia and the ex-Soviet Republics, such as Kazakhstan. Among the confreres presently involved one can sense a wonderful spirit of sacrifice, full of love and joy, full of hope and a common commitment to bring the good news of plentiful redemption to the people in Russia.
We should be proud of these confreres who are willing to deny themselves and are always ready to undertake what is demanding (Constitution 20) and remember them always in our prayers.
Fr. Kotlinski’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of Priestly Ordination
There was another special moment after the inaugural assembly was over, yet very much a part of it. On Sunday, October 29, Fr. Zbigniew Kotliński celebrated 50 years of priestly service and commitment. Fr. Zbigniew worked for many years in Argentina and Bolivia, before coming to work in Russia and Kazakhstan.
A Sunday morning liturgy in the church of Orenburg was held, with representatives from the local government and the leader of the local mosque present. The church building in Orenburg was first built by deported Poles and consecrated in 1847. The communist government confiscated it and turned it into a shoe factory. In 1997, 150 years after its first consecration, it was re-consecrated. After Mass, a lunch was served, during which Fr. Zbigniew was honored for so many years of dedicated service to the Redemptorist mission on three continents: South America, Europe and Asia.
Russia
A Brief History of Redemptorists in Russia
Joseph Dorcey, C.Ss.R.
Redemptorists in Russia and Siberia is not something new. Nearly one hundred years ago, in the early 1900’s, with true missionary spirit, Polish Redemptorists were already preaching missions in Russia. They were invited by Bishop Stefan Denisiewicz, the Apostolic Administrator in Siberia at the time. Ten of the most important locations in Siberia were chosen as the places where the mission would be held. Three Redemptorist Missionaries were chosen to conduct these missions: Frs. Władysław Bohosiewicz, Marcin Nuckowski and Jozef Palewski. They left Warsaw for St. Petersburg on May 2, 1908 and on June 1, after completing their documentation, set out for Siberia by train. From June to September of 1908 they conducted missions in the Siberian towns of in the following cities of Siberia: Czelabinsk, Jekaterinburg, Tobolsk, Omsk, Tomsk, Krasnojarsk, Irkuck, Czyta (in Manchuria), and Władywostok.
World War I, the Bolshevik revolution, World War II and repressive communist regimes disallowed any further officially recognized Redemptorist missionary activity in Russia for over 80 years.
Redemptorists returned to Siberia in 1959, when Fr. Vasyl Rudka was expelled from the Ukraine and sent to labor in Siberia. He worked in the coal mines by day in the Kouzbasz district and did priestly, pastoral ministry at night. During the 1970’s other Ukrainian Redemptorists were also sent to work in Siberia, but did not remain permanently, so that by 1991, with the death of Fr. Rudka, only one Ukrainian Redemptorist, Fr. Jaroslav Spodar, remained. It was always a semi-clandestine mission and, though courageous, lacked the continuity and stability the Redemptorist mission enjoys in less difficult places, with less harsh conditions.
More than 10 years ago, not long after the fall of the Berlin wall, when the iron grip of the communist governments and socialist states of Eastern Europe collapsed, Polish and Ukrainian Redemptorists were able to return to Russia, establish more permanent communities and work more openly and freely.
The Polish confreres began the Redemptorist apostolate in Russia and Kazakhstan in 1993. The first to arrive were Fr. Zbigniew Kotliński, a long-time missionary in Argentina and Bolivia, who went to Kazakhstan, and Fr. Grzegorz Ruksztełło who first began working in Orenburg, Russia. In 1998, the parish in Orsk became independent from Orenburg and has its own community first begun by Fr. Dariusz Paszyński.
In 1995 the then Fr. General, Juan Lasso de la Vega and one of his consultors, Fr. Stanisław Wróbel visited Siberia and spoke with the bishop of Novosibirsk, Josef Wert. At his request, four Redemptorists were sent, two Ukrainian Redemptorists to serve the Oriental rite Catholics in Prokopievsk and Novokuznieck and two to serve the Latin rite Catholics in the Kemerowo area.
Now, in 2006, these efforts are being built upon by the establishment of the new Region in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Vienna and Munich
Federation in Progress
Lorenz Voith, C.Ss.R.
The provinces of Vienna and Munich have been engaged in a serious effort to enter into a “federation contract” between the two provinces. This joint cooperation is a response to the anticipated pastoral and personnel challenges in Central Europe. Currently the province of Vienna (including the Region of Copenhagen) comprises 65 members. The Province of Munich comprises 85 members, approximately 55 of which are priests and 30 of which are brothers.
Following the decisions made at their respective provincial chapters in 2005, the two provincial governments have been preparing for over a year for this new federation, which will start at the beginning of the 2008 triennium. Several preparatory meetings were held and agreements were arrived at. In late November 2006 there was a commission meeting to draft a “Federation Contract”. This coming April the provincial chapters of both provinces will finalize the contract and then petition the General Government to approve the arrangement.
The key points of the Federation
The key points of this Federation are: each of the two provinces remains autonomous, with its own provincial superior and provincial council. But there will be just one joint extraordinary provincial council to make all the major decisions (appointment of local superiors, pastoral emphases, financial matters, etc.). The two provincial superiors will alternate presiding over the extraordinary provincial council. Moreover, all the secretariats (Formation and Ministry, for example) will be also jointly directed.
The federation will especially respect the principle of subsidiarity, but at the same time, be jointly deciding on strategic and pastoral emphases. Decisions about ordinary pastoral activity in each province, such as ministry in each’s own province monasteries and parish churches, youth centers, shrines, as well as the parish missions and talking centers will stay at the provincial level. New pastoral projects are to be launched in cooperation with the adjoining provinces.
Region of Copenhagen
Special care and attention will be maintained for the Region of Copenhagen (Denmark), a region of the Vienna province. The ministry to immigrants and to the Catholic diaspora needs help. Requests for personnel from other Provinces in other parts of the world will be made.
Federation also seen as a spiritual process
The two provincial superiors Frs. Lorenz Voith (Vienna) and Edmund Hipp (Munich) will, step-by-step, promote a growing unity of the two provinces. For this purpose joint provincial meetings have been already held in Bavaria and Austria in October 2006; over 130 confreres took part in these meetings. The meetings served the important purpose of getting to know one another and to ponder the challenges facing us now and into the future. The process of becoming a Federation is meant to be a “spiritual process” also for the two provinces; appropriate activities will be arranged to further this goal.
A new novitiate house
On August 1, 2006 a joint novitiate house was opened at Innsbruck (Austria) for Bavaria and Austria and including Denmark. The new novice master comes from the Province of Vienna. His socius comes from the Province of Munich. At present the novitiate has three novices from the Province of Vienna. Several formation initiatives have been planned and carried out since 2005.
Collaboration with the neighboring provinces
A major concern is to foster a stronger collaboration with the St. Clement Province as well as the provinces bordering on our east. Efforts will be made to increase that collaboration. Generally speaking, both provincial superiors underscore the special task of bringing together more effectively, and with new answers, all the European units.
At the mid-sexennial meeting of Northern Europe in Vienna (September 2006), Fr. Lorenz Voith, provincial superior, said that “in spite of the existing problems (for example, aging of the provinces and fewer vocations)) we should look ahead more hopefully and more confidently. The efforts in vocation ministry, as well as in our specific Redemptorist ministries and in cross-border collaboration should continue to be priorities for all of us.”
Alphonsianum
Rome, Italy
These ¨fast facts¨ about the Alphonsianum may be of particular interest to our worldwide readership:
The teaching corps of the Academy is made up of 7 ordinary professors, 4 extraordinary professors, 2 associate professors, 21 invited professors and 4 professors emeritus. The Academy considers it a priority in the immediate years ahead to augment the teaching corps, especially those who reside at Sant’Alfonso, and to seek professors from the diverse continents. This year that was underlined by the addition of four new professors: Professor Cristiana Freni in the area of anthropology, Professor Gabriel Witaszek, C.Ss.R., of the Province of Poland in the area of Scripture, Clément Makiobo, C.Ss.R. from the Vice province of Matadi and Vimal Tirimanna, C.Ss.R. from the Region of Colombo, both in the area of Systematic theology.
The Academy offers over 30 courses and 20 seminars during the academic year. The professors are also very busy guiding the individual work of students preparing their licentiate and doctoral theses.
The Academy publishes the Studia Moralia, A Scientific Journal of Moral Theology with significant contributions being made by Academy professors. It is a scholarly, bi-annual offering of articles in any of five languages on important contemporary moral issues. It publishes the most up-to-date research material on Moral Theology. It is a meeting place of some of the best minds in the field of morality today.
The Academy also publishes the Quaestiones Morale on particular topics. Fourteen volumes are available for purchase from the Academy.
A new series was inaugurated by the Academy on October 26. Doctoral theses considered outstanding are chosen by an Academy committee of professors to be published in an ongoing series of outstanding theses called the Tesi Accademia Alfonsiana funded by the Bernhard Häring Foundation, courtesy of the Munich Province. The series is intended to highlight the Academy as a place of high quality research. The first two theses in the series were honored in a public assembly held in the Academy’s Aula Magna: La Cultura pieno Sviluppo dell’umano, Il concetto e la funzione della cultura nel pensiero di Bernhard Häring by Giuseppe Quaranta, O.F.M. and Le Conflit des Intériorités, Charles Taylor et l’intériorisation des sources morales: une lecture théologique á la lumière de John Henry Newman, by Luc Terlinden, a priest of the Archdiocese of Malines-Brussels.
A study day on Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical, God is Love, was held in the Academy’s Aula Magna on November 21. Professors Silvio Botero, Andrzej Wodka, Réal Tremblay, L. Salutati, Basilio Petrá and Sabino Palumbieri offered well-received reflections on the encyclical from biblical, patristic, theological, moral, and social perspectives.
Last April, the better part of the Academy teaching corps took part in the III Encounter among the Professors of the Academy and of the Madrid Higher Institute of the Moral Sciences, the Academy’s sister institution in Spain. The theme of the encounter, held in Madrid, was “The state of moral relativism.”
In the month of July, various professors of the Academy were in Colombia to participate in and give presentations at the VI International Congress of Redemptorist Moral Theologians. The theme was: “Moral Theology’s Response to Violence and Terrorism.”
Several alumni of the Academy from around the world have been recently nominated to the episcopacy by the Holy See.
More information about all of the above and much more can be found on the Academy´s website: www.Alfonsiana.edu.
Below we continue with a statistical breakdown of the Academy’s current academic year provided by the Office of the Secretary General of the Academy.
Following is a statistical snapshot of the Alphonsianum for 2006-2007 provided by the Secretary General of the Academy. The figures in parenthesis (000,000) are for comparison with the two preceding years.
There is a total of 294 students at the Alphonsianum.(306, 307)
120 are studying for a Licentiate. (128, 131)
156 are pursuing a doctorate (159, 157)
18 others (35, 19)
168 are diocesan clergy (188, 170)
98 men and women religious (98, 110)
28 are laity (20, 27)
265 Men
29 Women
There are 8 Redemptorist students in the academy. (7, 12)
5 are studying for a licentiate (4, 8)
3 are studying for a doctorate (3, 3)
Continent of Origin:
122 total from Europe, (139, 130); 71 of those from Italy (80, 73)
54 are from Asia (52, 60)
51 are from South America (29, 41)
39 are from Africa. (53, 45)
28 are from North America (33, 31)
In 2005-2006, 56 Licentiates were awarded (50, 62)
In 2005-2006, 23 Doctorates were awarded. (19, 21)
According to Nationality:
Italy 71 (80, 73)
India 29 (24, 30)
Brasil 29 (13, 27)
Ukraine 14 (12,15)
USA 11 (14, 15)
Poland 11 (9, 10)
Mexico 7 (13, 8)
Venezuela 7, (2, 3)
Nigeria 6 (8, 7); Philippines 6 (6, 7);
South Korea 5 (5, 7); China 5 (2, 2); Democratic Republic of Congo 5, (6, 4)
Romania 4 (5, 6); Slovakia 4 (5, 4); Spain 4 (5, 4)Tanzania 4 (6, 5)
Argentina 3 (0, 1); Canada 3 (2, 2); Colombia 3 (5, 3); Croatia 3 (3, 5);
Myanmar 3 (1, 2)
Peru 3 (5, 5);
Dominican Republic 3 (0, 2);
2 - Burundi, Cameron, Ecuador, Ethiopa, Germany, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Madagascar, Malta, Mozambique, Rwanda.
1- Bolivia, Burkino-Faso, Chile, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Great Britain, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Leshoto, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Czech Republic, Scotland, Sierra Leon, South Africa, Switzerland, Hungary, Vietnam, Zambia.
The Crib
Sean Wales, C.Ss.R.
Speaking of St. Alphonsus’ originality our confrere Jean-Marie Segalen reminds us that our founder connected with peoples’ most common human experiences and from them drew the lessons of love.
Alphonsus writes:
All children soften the hearts of those who see them with love. Who then would not love God with all tenderness when he discovers him as a small baby, needing to be fed, shivering in the cold, poor, reduced to nothing, abandoned, who cries, who wails in a manger, on the straw”
So, this Christmas my prayer is that each of us will rediscover the tenderness of God’s love in the Christ child, that the fruit of our Christmas celebration will be experienced in our sensitivity to each other and our respect for all God’s world.
In giving our lives for abundant redemption, may we be aglow with the Spirit of God incarnate.
Rome, Italy
Union of Superiors General
The Assembly of the Union of Superiors General (USG) re-elected Redemptorist Superior General, Joseph W. Tobin, Vice President of the Union for a three year period at their meeting, Friday, November 24th. The Assembly gathered more than a hundred Superiors General representing thousands of religious men worldwide and was held at the Salesianum, the venue where, confreres may recall, Father Tobin was re-elected Superior General of the Redemptorists in 2003. The new incoming President is Salesian Rector Major Father Pascual Chavez Villanueva from Mexico. The outgoing president of the USG is Brother Álvaro Rodríguez , Superior General of De La Salle Brothers. It is the Assembly’s responsibility to elect the USG Council, which acts as its executive organ. The Council consists of a President, Vice President and ten Councilors.
The USG is an organization according to pontifical law created by the Sacred Congregation of Religious as a public juridical personality (canon 709).
The aim of the USG is: “To promote the life and mission of the individual institutes that serve the Church in order to facilitate more effective co-operation between them and achieve more fruitful contacts with the Holy See and the Hierarchy of the Church.”
Membership of the USG consists of all Superiors General of the religious institutes or societies of apostolic life recognized by pontifical law. Superiors General of institutes recognized by diocesan law may become associate members. The USG’s governing body is the General Assembly, which must be convened at least once a year. The Superiors General who belong to the USG meet twice a year to deal with problems and issues of common interest. The USG also renders service by various Commissions, some permanent, others “ad hoc” to study a particular matter.
The theme that guided the participants during the days of meeting and reflections was “United for the Kingdom.”
Cardinal Franc Rodé, CM, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided at the opening Eucharist.
On Wednesday, November 22, members of the USG and the UISG (International Union of Superiors General, of women religious) met for the first time to deepen the theme of collaboration between men and women religious who share the same apostolic activities and mission. During their work in plenary, they presented certain testimonies of collaboration. Above all, there were opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences in the mission.
On Thursday, November 23, there was an intensive reflection and dialogue among the USG and the new secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Msgr. Agostino Gardin, OFMConv, accompanied by the assistant secretary of the same office.
The last day was dedicated to reports and the naming of members to various departments, and the presentation of proposals that grew out of the Assembly discussions as well as the election of the new officers.
1. The parish church, Our Lady of Loreto, in Orenburg, Russia, site of the inaugural assembly for the new Region. The church was first dedicated in 1847, but confiscated and turned into a shoe factory during the communist years. It was re-consecrated under the Redemptorists in 1997.
2. Redemptorist participants in the inaugural assembly together with religious sisters and members of the Orenburg parish community after celebrating Eucharist together.
3. Members of the inaugural assembly voting, not quite unanimously, on some proposal.
4. The newly elected regional superior, Fr. Dariusz Paszyński, C.Ss.R., takes the oath of office before the provincial superior from Warsaw, Fr. Zdzisław Klafka, C.Ss.R.
5. A moment of quiet prayer during the inaugural assembly in the parish church of Orenburg, Russia.
6. Fr. Zbigniew Kotliński, C.Ss.R., Redemptorist missionary on three continents (Europe, South America and Asia), pioneer in Kazakhstan, celebrating 50 years of priestly life and ministry.
7. Sr. Eleanor Wilkinson O.Ss.R., celebrated her golden jubilee of profession as a Redemptoristine on August 25. Sister entered in Canada, was sent forth to help found Liguori, Missouri in 1960 and became one of the foundresses of the South African monastery in 1991. Sister is pictured here displaying the papal blessing from Pope Benedict that she and the community received at her anniversary celebration
8. The Vienna province along with the Region of Denmark and the Munich province have been holding joint meetings to establish a Federation between them. Here is shown the colorful folder given to each participant.
9. The participants of the joint meetings.
10. The novice master, socius, and novices of the joint novitiate of Vienna/Munich.
11. The Redemptorist Vocational School in the Vice Province of Thailand is setting up a video production course for the Disabled. Most camera equipment is not made for people without a right hand or arm - all the buttons are for people with right hands. But the students are coping.
12. A future Oscar/Cannes Film Festival nominee!
13. Shown Clockwise: Redemptorist Archbishop-elect Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R, of the Edmonton-Toronto Province. Father Josef Schmidt, C.Ss.R., from the Region of Cologne/St. Clement province, defended his dissertation at the Gregorianum in Rome. Father Aristide Gnada, C.Ss.R., from the Vice province of Burkina-Niger, defended his dissertation at the Alphonsianum. Father Nestor Basunga, C.Ss.R., from the Vice Province of Matadi, defends his dissertation this month at the Alphonsianum.
Multilingual
Redemptorist General Secretariats Continued
Last month we featured several General Secretariat websites. This month we feature two more under development in seven languages on the www.cssr.com website.
General Secretariat for Evangelization:
http://www.redentoristas.org/sge/inicio.html
General Secretariat for Formation:
http://www.cssr.com/english/whoarewe/SecsAndComms/Formation/sec.form-MenuPage-EN.shtml
The following websites are in English only but may be of interest to our readers:
English
Ireland
Gerry Maloney, C.Ss.R.
Greetings from Ireland where we are developing our Communications apostolate in order to enhance the service we offer today's Church.
This is my invitation to you to visit our revised website which offers a variety of resources for different ministries, www.redemptoristpublications.com
Have you seen our popular teenage magazine, Face Up available online and as printed copies?
In this month's Face Up Profile, we are face-to-face with pop prince Justin Timberlake, who discusses the challenges of being a celebrity, what he likes in a lady and the background to his new album.
What is it like to live in a warzone? Two teens from Lebanon and Israel reveal what life is like under the constant threat of danger and of what scares them most.
In our special report this month, we look at the topic of safety on the Internet. Face Up gives some practical advice on how to avoid the pitfalls and where to go to get the best out of the web.
The December issue of Reality, available online:
Gerard Moloney C.Ss.R.
gerard.moloney@rdemptoristpublications.com
English:
USA
Denver Province
The Music of St. Alphonsus on Radio
The music of St. Alphonsus Liguori was recently featured on USA radio.
Ave Maria Radio, based in Ann Arbor, MI, has a North American audience of nearly two million people (not including the Internet).
You can listen online anywhere in the world by going to www.avemariaradio.net and clicking on the “Listen Live” button at the top center of its Home page.
The program interviewed Father Robert Simon, C.Ss.R. about St. Alponsus’ music and played selections of Alphonsus’ compositions.
A copy of the radio program is posted on the Denver Province website. You can hear by clicking on: http://www.redemptorists-denver.org/Resources/St.%5FAlphonsus%5FMusic/
TRANSITIONS
Recent noteworthy events in the Redemptorist Family. For a complete record of transitions visit the Officialia site
First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Manhal Kamel Salloom Almas, Mission of Iraq, October 15, 2006
Thaer Jahwar Behnam Maroke, Mission of Iraq, October 15, 2006
Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Crisanto Antonio Olivera, Vice Province of Resistencia, September 14, 2006
Ricardo Teizeira de Morais, Province of Lisbon, September 26, 2006
Ignatius Bem Michael Gede, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
Jude Ebeto Gibah, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
John Cross Uduak Sebastian Nkanta, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
Prayer Hime Odede, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
Luke-Mary Okechukwu Okwaraudu, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
Cletus Kelechukwu Stevens Onwudiwe, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
Callistus Iheanyichukwu Onyeanusi, Region of Nigeria, September 30, 2006
Ordination to the Priesthood:
Simeão Maciel de Andrade, Province of São Paulo, July 22, 2006
Rodrigo José Arnoso Santos, Province of São Paulo, July 22, 2006
Lin Antezana Gonzales, Province of Bolívia, September 23, 2006
Adolfo Pinto Flores, Province of Bolivia, October 7, 2006
Max Gonzalo Rodríguez Rodríguez, Province of Bolivia, October 7, 2006
Dario Eduardo Silva, Vice Province of Resistencia, October 25, 2006
Cosme Sérgio Silva Queiroz, Vice Province of Bahia, November 5, 2006
Deaths:
Br. Josef (Wolfgang) Paulus, 71, Province of Munich, September 28, 2006
Rev. Hernán Arboleda Valencia, 89, Province of Bogotá, October 5, 2006
Rev. Gérard Antoine Weissbeck, 69, Province of Bolivia, October 31, 2006
Rev. Jesús Faus Lozano, 92, Province of Madrid, November 6, 2006
Rev. Alphonsus Joseph Thomas, 86, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, November 11, 2006
Br. Gaetano (Filippo) De Spirito Oliva, 78, Province of Naples, November 15, 2006
Rev. Ernst Vogt, 94, Region of Helvetica/Province of St. Clement, November 21, 2006
Br. Abilio Martínez Cavero, 72, Province of Madrid, November 23, 2006
60th Jubilee of Profession:
Georges Arnoux, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, December 8, 2006
Gerard Campos, Province of Bangalore, December 8, 2006
60th Jubilee of Ordination:
Marcel Praats, Region of Flanders/Province of St. Clement, December 8, 2006
Antoon Roosen, Region of Flanders/Province of St. Clement, December 8, 2006
Edwarde (Grattan) Feehan, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, December 22, 2006
50th Jubilee of Profession:
Andreas Resch, Province of Vienna, December 8, 2006
Clement Stanislaus Louis Jolly, Region of the Caribbean, December 31, 2006
50th Jubilee of Ordination:
Francisco Xavier Elitari Basterra, Province of Madrid, December 2, 2006
25th Jubilee of Profession:
Manuel Enríque Villagrán Robles, Vice Province of San Salvador, December 23, 2006
Josef Síma, Vice Province of Bratislava, December 27, 2006
25th Jubilee of Ordination:
Benedito Justiniano de Andrade, Province of São Paulo, December 12, 2006
Michael Koltun, Province of Lviv, December 13, 2006
Volodymyr Mytsak, Province of Lviv, December 13, 2006
Ihor Spodar, Province of Lviv, December 13, 2006
Peter Brown, Region of Aotearoa, December 19, 2006
Enríque Ignacio Domínguez Roca, Province of Buenos Aires, December 20, 2006
Alfredo Rodolfo Mercado, Province of Buenos Aires, December 20, 2006
Doctoral Defense:
Father Josef Schmidt of the Region of Cologne/Province of St. Clement successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on December 5, 2006 at the Gregorianum, Rome. The title of his dissertation is: Gesetzesfreie Heilsverkündigung Im Evangelium Nach Matthäaus.
Father Boukari Aristide Gnada of the Vice Province of Burkina-Niger successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on December 13, 2006 at the Alphonsianum, Rome. The title of his dissertation is: Le Principe Don en Éthique Sociale et Théologie Morale Une Implication de La Philosophie Du Don Chez Derrida, Marion et Bruaire.
Father Nestor Basunga Kiama-Linga of the Vice Province of Matadi will defend his doctoral dissertation on December 19, 2006 at the Alphonsianum, Rome. The title of his dissertation is: La Rédemption, au Fondement de L’Agir Moral La Théologie Morale d’Alphonse M. De Liguori, Paradigme Pour La Théologie Morale en Afrique.