| S C A L A |
Giving our lives for plentiful redemption
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| Redemptorist Information Service | Number 13 |
Newsletter of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Rome, Italy
January 16, 2006
From the Editor
I had already discarded the notion of wishing everyone a Happy New Year as seeming too trite and stale until I read Sean Wale’s submission this month for In Spiritu Redemptionis. He gives us a “new” and welcome way to look at the start of this new year. So…happy reading and Happy New Year!
In this issue of SCALA, we present a table of statistics reflecting our numbers around the world. But I caution you, these numbers don’t always reflect the missionary dynamism of the “new yeast” that is rising in many parts of the Congregation as witnessed to by the two groups of visiting superiors here in Rome this past month and the stories that appear in this newsletter throughout the year.
The end of 2005 was a very busy time at the General House. Besides the aforementioned groups of superiors taking part in an orientation to their responsibilities we also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the General House. The celebration featured an afternoon of presentations on the history of the General House in the “Aula Magna” of the Alphonsian Academy by Fathers Adam Owczarski and Jean Beco of the Historical Institute and by Antonio Marrazzo on the General House’s topographical and physical changes through the years. The evening ended with a prayer service of renewal and recommitment. The next day at the festive Eucharist, Father Darci Nicioli took the oath of office as superior of the General House, succeeding Father Sergio Campara. A festive pranza followed. Some photographs of these events are featured in the photo section.
I would like to thank Father Campara who graciously gave of his time to be the primary person who put SCALA into the Italian language. At the moment we are in urgent need of a replacement for him. If you are able to translate INTO Italian FROM English, Spanish or Portuguese and would like to help, please contact me at GaryZ@cssr.com.
Grace and Redemption for all!
Gary Ziuraitis, C.SS.R.
| INDEX |
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Transitions |
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News from the Provinces |
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In Spiritu Redemptionis |
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Monthly Picture Gallery (online only) |
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Featured Redemptorist Website |
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Reports from the Curia, Secretariat, Institutes, and Committees |
Recent noteworthy events in the Redemptorist Family. For a complete record of transitions visit the Officialia site
Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Francisco Javier Caballero vila, Province of Madrid, December 8, 2005
Ordination to the Priesthood:
Barthlemy Nguyen Dinh Phuoc, Province of Vietnam, November 11, 24, 2005
Dominique Pham Manh Niem, Province of Vietnam, November 11, 2005
Joseph Dinh Huu Thoai, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Alphonse Dinh Khac Phu, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Pierre Dinh Quoc Thai Binh, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Joseph Dinh Tien Duc, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Michel Hoang Qui An, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Joseph Huynh Thanh Thien, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Jean Baptiste Mai Minh Manh, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Jean Baptiste Nguyen Cong Duyet, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
Joseph Nguyen Hoang Son, Province of Vietnam, December 7, 2005
50th Jubilee of Profession:
Elio da Silva Athayde, Province of Rio de Janeiro, January 25, 2006
Dalton Barros de Almeida, Province of Rio de Janeiro, January 25, 2006
Mauro Carvalhais de Oliveira, Province of Rio de Janeiro, January 25, 2006
Joo Egg de Rezende, Province of Rio de Janeiro, January 25, 2006
Jos Raimundo Vidigal, Province of Rio de Janeiro, January 25, 2006
50th Jubilee of Ordination:
Roberto Alves Escudeiro, Province of So Paulo, January 25, 2006
Aloysio Schneider, Province of So Paulo, January 25, 2006
Oscar Clemente Schneider, Province of So Paulo, January 25, 2006
Francisco Viana Pires, Province of So Paulo, January 25, 2006
25th Jubilee of Profession:
Carlos Roberto Bolaos Aguilera, Vice province of San Salvador, January 6, 2006
Walter Eduardo Hidalgo Garca, Vice province of San Salvador, January 6, 2006
Mainor Sandoval Vargas, Vice province of San Salvador, January 6, 2006
Ramiro Bustamante Trujillo, Province of Bogot, January 6, 2006
Alvaro Carvajal Villamizar, Province of Bogot, January 6, 2006
Jos Over Gallego Londoo, Province of Bogot, January 6, 2006
Pedro Pablo Zamora Andrade, Province of Bogot, January 6, 2006
John Hodgson, Province of Canberra, January 6, 2006
25th Jubilee of Ordination:
Michael Jakmets, Province of Lviv, January 2, 2006
Duncan Adrian Blackie, Province of London, January 24, 2006
Deaths:
Rev. Julio Rodrguez Carrera, 78, Vice province of San Salvador, March 3, 2000
Rev. Robert Winkel, 89, Province of Strasbourg, November 17, 2005
Br. Hugh (Jerome) Murray, 99, Province of Dublin, November 25, 2005
Bro. Robert Joseph (Don Bosco) Brown, 82, Province of Denver, November 30, 2005
Rev. Stefan Hartmann, 91, Province of Vienna, December 6, 2005
Rev. Fernando Albertini, 92, Province of So Paulo, December 12, 2005
Rev. Maurice Ltourneau, 98, Province of Sainte-Anne de Beaupr, December 20, 2005
Br. Alfons Aebischer, 88, Province of Saint Clement/Region of Helvetica, December 25, 2005
Supression of Houses:
St. Cecilia in the city of New York, Province of Baltimore, December 15, 2005
Kloster Geistingen in the city of Hennef, Germany, Province of Saint Clements, January 8, 2006.
News from the Provinces
Interview with Dom Joercio Goncalves Periera, C.SS.R.
Newly appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Coari, Amazonas, Brasil
Domingos Ferreira, CSSR
During the celebrations commemorating the150 years of existence of our Generalate in Rome, one of the visitors was the recently nominated coadjutor bishop of Coari, in Amazonas, Padre Joercia Pereira Goncalves, and former rector of Brazil’s National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida. We took this opportunity to do a brief interview with him to discover how and what he is thinking about this important development.
Pe Joercio was born in Virginia, in the state of Minas Gerais, and entered the Congregation in 1965. After his ordination to the priesthood, he worked at the sanctuary of Aparecida and also in formation. He also took Spirituality as his special study in the Gregorian University in Rome, and he has served in important posts in the So Paulo province, including that of Provincial Consultor.
SCALA: Padre Joercio, you have ministered at the largest Marian sanctuary in Brazil, one of the biggest in the world. A very important work of evangelization takes place in this sanctuary. What does it mean to you to leave such an important ministry and go to minister in a diocese in a far off area, so distant and so different from the reality of So Paulo?
Pe Joercio: It is a fact that the Sanctuary receives about 8 million pilgrims annually, and is the largest center of evangelization in Brazil. Added to that, we now have Radio Aparecida and even TV Aparecida to help in evangelizing all of Brazil. The sanctuary is a big school. Our Lady is a great teacher, and I learned many good things there from the pilgrims. I believe that all this experience will help me much in this new challenge. The Prelacy of Coari is also a field for Redemptorist pastoral ministry, because we have there a Redemptorist Bishop and members of the Vice Province of Manaus. I will not be alone and this is a comfort to me that together we will be able to do much for the poor people who live there, most of them along the edge of the rivers.
SCALA: How do you evaluate the role of the Brazilian episcopate in pastoral situations ever more demanding in today’s world?
Pe Joercio: Brazil is going through some difficult times in the political world. Our people are disenchanted with the government and with our politicians. The church however still maintains high credibility. Our people believe in the church and its priests. We have a great group of bishops who meet every year to attempt to answer the questions that most affect the lives of our people. A bishop has to be a good shepherd, united with his flock, walking with them, which means he has to be a missionary.
SCALA: Although it may be a great challenge to assume the pastoring of a particular diocese or church, being nominated as bishop must also be very heart-warming. How did you feel about this, and what were the reactions of your confreres and other people who know you?
Pe Joercio: I never thought of becoming a bishop. Just to be a Redemptorist missionary made me happy and fulfilled. I received this appointment with great surprise and some uncertainty, but not fear. I accepted it as the will of God, and as a Redemptorist I will give my love and service to the church. I do not wish to stop being a Redemptorist and I wish to be a missionary bishop being sent by the Congregation to the Prelacy of Coari. I must also add that my nomination made my own family very happy, as well as the members of our So Paulo province and also many people who know me. They were happy with the appointment, but also sad that I will be no longer working at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida.
Bom Jesus Da Lapa
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Stanislaus Willczek, C.SS.R
Far from the large metropolitan centers and famous cities of our beloved Brazil there stands, along the shores of the Sao Francisco river, a city called Bom Jesus da Lapa. It has some 50,000 inhabitants, and is not much different from other cities in the region.
The drought which affects the life of the inhabitants of this city
The interior of northeastern Brazil suffers from unemployment, poverty, and principally from prolonged periods of drought. Some years you have to wait up to 8 months for even one drop of rain to fall in the region. For this reason alone life in the area is difficult. For this reason too the inhabitants of the region who wish to have a better life do not plan to stay there, but pack their bags quickly and move out to seek better living conditions and work in the big cities, such as So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Goiania, and Salvador. When the drought persists, the highways and streets that take you to Bom Jesus da Lapa become even more riddled with holes and even more covered with dust. Travel becomes a real sacrifice.
The history of Lapa is long
The story of Lapa goes back a long way. It begins with the arrival of a Portuguese artisan named Francisco Mondonca Mar. He was the son of poor parents, however he came to the city of Salvador, as did many other young men, in search of a better life. In 1688 he was hired to paint the house of Bahia’s Governor, Matinhas da Cunha. Despite difficulties and setbacks, the artist fulfilled his part of the contract, but instead of being paid he was packed off to jail and confined there. Thank God, things later turned out well for him but he decided to leave the capitol city. Taking with him small images of the Crucified Christ and of Our Lady, he traveled into the interior of Bahia, to the shores of the San Francisco river. He found there a cave which he turned into a hermitage. During the 13 years that he lived there, the “monk” established good relationships with the Indians whom he catechized, and at the same time received them as visitors, and cared for the sick. Most of all he became a man of prayer, work and charity. At the cave which heretofore had been a savage place he conducted worship of God and prayer. In time the number of pilgrims coming there increased. As of now, the shrine of Bom Jesus da Lapa has been the center of pilgrimages for some 314 years.
Pilgrimages to the sanctuary of Bom Jesus
The sanctuary of Bom Jesus today receives visits from pilgrims and tourists during the entire year. Despite bad and dangerous roads, many people from the entire country of Brazil come to this sacred place. A certain style and manner of pilgrimage have evolved. Generally, the pilgrim will come for a religious reason: to pray before the statue of the Bom Jesus, to visit the cave, to hear Mass, to honor a promise made, to have religious articles blessed, to go to confession, or even just to go down to the river. These are the principal activities done during the daily pilgrimages. The pilgrims themselves are very simple and humble people, with much faith and confidence in God. With their simplicity they create a climate of prayer at the sanctuary. As they enter the sanctuary, the pilgrims go directly to the altar of the Bom Jesus and at times become very emotional as they pray or fulfill their “promessas” (promises made in conjunction with prayer). With tears in their eyes, with hats decorated with red, green, or blue ribbons, in their final actions the pilgrims do not hide their emotions and renew their promise to return the next year. Thousands of pilgrims come for the principal feast of the year which falls on August 6. On that day, and during the novena preceding the feast, the city is full of pilgrims.
50 years for the Redemptorists at Bom Jesus da Lapa
In 2006 the Redemptorists will have been at this sanctuary for 50 years. Lapa is truly a great place for the kind of evangelization of the poor envisioned by St Alphonsus as the proper charism and work of his spiritual sons. Taking care of the sanctuary and the parish is really missionary work and true evangelization, especially when one sees the complex social and religious reality of the region. The first Redemptorists to come to this region were our Dutch confreres. In 1972, the Polish Redemptorists from the vice province of Bahia took over. This is not an easy ministry, because the flow of pilgrims remains heavy. There are approximately 800,000 to 950,000 pilgrims to Bom Jesus da Lapa every year.
The following table gives the statistics for each unit of the Congregation for the end of 2005. Reading from left to right the categories are:
Unit # and Name; Houses; Bishops; Priests ;Permanent Deacons; Perpetually Professed Clerical Students; Temporary Professed Clerical Students; Perpetually professed Brothers; Temporary Professed Brothers; Total # of Redemptorists; Clerical Novices, Brother Novices, Aspirants; Theological Students
| C. Prov | Case. | Vesc. | Sac. | D.P. | Ch.P | Ch.T | Fr.P | Fr.T | Total | N.Ch | N.Fr. | Asp. | Theo |
|
0000 Gov. Gen |
1 | ||||||||||||
| 0058 Korea | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 0060 Belgique-Sud | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0100 Roma | 13 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0101 Pilar | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 0200 Napoli | 17 | 1 | 97 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 111 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| 0202 Madagascar | 5 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| 0500 Wien | 7 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 0502 Kobenhavn | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 0700 Baltimore | 27 | 1 | 174 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 195 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 |
| 0704 Richmond | 11 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
|
0705 Asuncin |
6 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 0706 Caribbean | 8 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 0800 Munchen | 8 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 0802 Kagoshima | 10 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1100 London | 9 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1103 Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 1300 Dublin | 9 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 147 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 1304 Fortaleza | 10 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1500 Madrid | 21 | 0 | 151 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 25 | 1 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 5 |
| 1502 Caracas | 8 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 8 |
|
1506 |
11 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 70 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
1507 |
3 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
|
1600 |
4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1603 Bratislava | 5 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 1604 Michalovce | 7 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 1700 Warszawa | 36 | 0 | 334 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 21 | 1 | 393 | 12 | 0 | 37 | 39 |
| 1701 Resistencia | 12 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 1702 Bahia | 9 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| 1800 Strasbourg | 7 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
1900 |
8 | 0 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1902 Tokyo | 5 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1904 Port-au-Prince |
3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 2100 Canberra | 7 | 0 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 87 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2101 Manila | 4 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 8 |
| 2102 Aotearoa | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2103 Ipoh | 5 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2200 Buenos Aires |
13 | 1 | 67 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 95 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
|
2201 |
9 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 29 |
|
2300 |
17 | 4 | 151 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 28 | 2 | 198 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2303 Recife | 8 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2400 Quito | 8 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 2600 Rio de Janeiro |
11 | 1 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 6 |
|
2800 Bogot |
23 | 4 | 155 | 1 | 9 | 25 | 20 | 4 | 218 | 7 | 2 | 62 | 28 |
| 3000 Santiago | 10 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| 3100 Yorkton | 9 | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3300 Lisboa | 8 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3301 Luanda | 6 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 12 |
| 3400 Vietman | 14 | 0 | 143 | 3 | 26 | 43 | 15 | 15 | 245 | 15 | 6 | 145 | 61 |
| 3401 Extra Patrium |
4 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 |
| 3402 Vietnamiens | o | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3500 Porto Alegre |
13 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 3600 Mexico | 12 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 8 |
| 3800 Bangalore | 24 | 0 | 99 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 131 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 33 |
| 3801 Colombo | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 3802 Akwaye | 4 | 1 | 41 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| 3803 Mumbai | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 4 |
| 3900 San Juan |
10 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 4000 South Africa |
6 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 4100 Campo Grande |
15 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 69 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 14 |
| 4200 Lviv | 11 | 4 | 58 | 0 | 23 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 116 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
|
4300 Gois |
21 | 1 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 86 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 4400 Lyon-Paris |
7 | 0 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4401 Burkina-Niger | 10 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| 4500 Denver | 30 | 0 | 176 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 1 | 222 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 4501 Manaus | 6 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| 4503 Bangkok | 8 | 1 | 48 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 4504 Nigeria | 5 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 14 | 57 | 2 | 1 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| 4600 Edm-Trnto |
11 | 0 | 64 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4700 Cebu | 10 | 2 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 76 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 9 |
| 4800 Bolivia | 15 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 72 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| 4900 Indonesia | 8 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 4 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 10 | 0 | 26 | 45 |
| 5001 Vlaanderen | 6 | 0 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 5002 Nederland | 4 | 1 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5003 Koln | 9 | 0 | 96 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 5004 Helvetica | 6 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5005 Matadi | 12 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 8 |
| 5006 Beyrouth | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 731 | 42 | 4076 | 11 | 190 | 601 | 465 | 68 | 5453 | 134 | 13 | 742 | 806 |
In Spiritu Redemptionis
“New”
Sean Wales, C.SS.R.
The burden of the years may have made us a little wary of making New Year resolutions; we may even query the sincerity of the New Year’s greetings which we give and receive. We may feel that ‘we’ve been there, done that’ so many times already that we nurse a scepticism about anything new being in store for us. Like Qoheleth we may have concluded
Speaking of Jesus however, John Damascene reminds us: “Being perfect God, he became perfect man, and accomplished the newest of all new things, the only new thing under the sun”. The new is constitutive of the Christian faith. Jesus is the New Man (Eph 2.15) who inaugurated a new way of life. He came with a new teaching (Mk 1.27), gave a new commandment (Jn 13.34), preached a new way of life (Rom 6.4).
The New Testament has two words for ‘new’: neos, (neos) and kaivnos (kainos). The former is used for what is new in time, most recent, with a hint that it is immature. The latter refers to what is new in nature, what is, therefore, better. Already in the Old Testament considerable energy is put into straining forward to what is to come, to the New Temple, the New Holy Land, the New Jerusalem. Ezekiel prophecies about a new heart and a new spirit (36.26). The Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of its victims, the New Covenant (Lk 22.20) is sealed with the blood of Christ. The Old Covenant was written on tablets of stone, the New Covenant is inscribed in hearts of flesh.>
Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians could not be clearer: ‘So for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation, the old order is gone and a new being is there to see’ (5.17). To be a Christian is to be new, to be a new creation; we have a new birth (Jn 3.5), a new life and we are renewed every day (2 Cor 4.16, Col 3.10 & Rom 6.4). Our New Covenant, our New testament strains forward to the completion of the New Creation in the New Jerusalem (Rev 3.12) where we will sing a New Song (Rev 5.9), receive a New Name (Rev 2.17) and where all things will be eternally new (Rev 21.5). The New Heavens and the New Earth (Rev 21.1) will replace our present state of existence and God will be all in all.
The new calendar year can therefore remind us of the intrinsic newness of our being Christian. We know that we are ‘new every morning’, always beginning our journey into God afresh. The New Year ritual of resolutions can remind us of the newness of our calling to give our lives to the mystery of God in the redeeming Christ.
Some of the New Testament writers were alert to the staleness that can creep into our lives. Paul told the Corinthians to ‘get rid of all the old yeast and make yourselves into a completely new batch of bread…let us celebrate the feast …by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil…. having only the unleavened bread of truth’ (1Cor 5.7,8). There is no room in the new life in Christ for the old ways, the old garments (Lk 5.36), or the old bottles. Everything is made new. In our new day and in our New Year there is no room for what is stale, dull or trite. Just as cynicism can eat away at an individual’s spirit so too it can corrode the spirit of a community.
Our Constitutions and Statutes make no bones about the need for ‘constant interior renewal (40) of individuals and communities. ‘Continual self-renewal’ is called for in spiritual, scientific and pastoral matters. It is for each confrere to ponder the best way for him to keep the sense of newness as a Christian and as a Redemptorist. In our communities would it be possible to reconnect with a custom once enshrined in the tradition of holding “cases” on topics of current interest? There are no end of issues in our speciality of moral theology which could stimulate reading and discussion; the same is true of questions in spirituality, liturgy, spiritual direction etc.
“Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said” (Rev 21.5). This process has already begun; in the risen and ascended Lord, the New Man sits at the right hand of the Father. In his body, the Church, the process is still to be completed. May our New Year’s resolutions hasten the day of our Redemptorist newness.
Monthly Picture Gallery ( for online viewing only)
1. 50th Anniversary of the Bom Jesu sanctuary, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
2. Almost one million pilgrims visit Bom Jesu annually.
3. The image of the crucified Christ at Bom Jesu.
4. The novices and novice directors at the interprovincial novitiate at Glenview, Illinois, U.S.A. Father Ray Corriveau from the Edmonton-Toronto province, Dick Delahunty, retreat director from the Dublin province, Tuyen Tran (from Vietnam) for the Denver Province; Daniel Potorochin (from Siberia in Russia) for the Dublin Province; Derek Ryan from the Dublin Province; Fawaz Kako (from Iraq) for the St. Clement Province; and Nashin
Joseph (from St. Lucia) for the Baltimore Province and Father Gary Lauenstein of the Denver Province.
5. Father Sergio Campara, the outgoing Rector of Sant’ Alfonso, Rome, offers his congratulations to the incoming Rector, Darci Nicioli after his installation.
6. Redemptorists process out of the sanctuary after the 150th anniversary liturgy at Sant’ Alfonso Rome.
7. Father General listens to Father Antonio Marrazzo describe the beautiful displays that outline the 150 year history of the General House.
8. The head table at the 150th anniversary dinner
9. The 150th anniversary cake complete with sparklers
Featured Redemptorist Website
Our featured website this month comes from the Redemptorists in Ciorani,
Italy.
Reports from the Curia, Secretariats, Institutes, and Committees
Third meeting of the General Secretariat for Formation
Rev. Jacek Dembek, C.SS.R.
The third meeting of the General Secretariat for Formation took place at our Redemptorist community in New Smyrna Beach, Florida (USA), on November 21 – 24th, 2005.
Among the items on the agenda, the following three major projects were especially developed:
1. Course for formators
The general program of a course for formators was developed and discussed during last two meetings of the Secretariat. The course will be offered in different languages and regions of the Congregation to those who are already active in formation and for those who will be responsible for initial formation. The course will be spread over three years; every year a three week meeting will be organized. The first year will be dedicated to general issues of formation, its philosophy, approaches, psychology, etc. The second year will focus on specific challenges for Redemptorist formation. The third year will offer themes of Redemptorist history, spirituality, traditions, culture, prayer, the actual situation of the Congregation, etc.
The project is ready to enter the phase of implementation. We hope to inaugurate the course in 2007. We will provide information about the course and invitations to it in due course .
2. Modules and manual for formators
We discussed further the idea of a manual for formators. It will be an important, practical guide, by its nature supplementing the General and (Vice)Provincial Rationes Formationis. The first module, “A Resource Syllabus for Formation for Celibacy”, was prepared, discussed and approved. It will be sent to the Units soon. Other modules were proposed (e.g. a proposal of a system for evaluation of the candidates at different stages of initial formation). We will discuss them during our next meeting.
3. Evaluation tools
Two important documents were prepared and discussed.
“An instrument for the evaluation of Rationes Formationis” is supposed to help the Secretariat and then the General Council to evaluate (and approve) the (Vice)Provincial and Regional Rationes. We are going to send this document to those Units that have not yet completed the reediting of their Rationes, to help them to complete this task.
“Questionnaire on the State of Formation in the Province” is a tool for the General Government, to be used in their process of preparation for unit visitations and then to facilitate discussion with the (Vice)Provincial Councils and local Secretariats for Formation. It may help the Units as well, to evaluate the state of their formation along some common lines.
Both documents will be presented to the General Council for a discussion and approval.
Along with these major projects some other issues were discussed: the situation of inter-provincial collaboration in formation in different Regions of the Congregation; financial needs of formation; formation for the Partnership in mission; a website etc. A letter to the Major Superiors was prepared. It will be sent out soon accompanied by the documents mentioned above.
The next meeting will take place in Rome, on May 30th – June 2nd, 2006.
The members of the Secretariat express their deep gratitude to the Government of the Viceprovince of Richmond and the Community of New Smyrna Beach, FL, for their wonderful hospitality, spirit of brotherhood and inspiration.
1st Filipino Lay Missionary Assembly
The Philipines
Geraldino Loyola
Being the overall lay Redemptorist coordinator for the Vice-Province of Manila and the Province of Cebu for the recently concluded 1st National Assembly of Filipino Lay Missionaries at Holy Family Retreat House, Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City, from Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, 2005, I feel obliged to offer something newsworthy of what transpired in the assembly. In general, I saw a very important milestone for us Filipino lay missionaries who would surely strengthen the collaborative efforts among ourselves. I also saw our sincerity in search for deeper understanding of who we are and what we are from our perspective of an immerging church, a church that is greatly expanded, inclusive and participative.
A booklet will be coming by January or February of next year containing the directory of all the different lay groups who participated, the transcript of all the talks, the discussions, the sharings and the prospects for lay missionaries towards the future. Here I will highlight some points that I think would be valuable for both lay and professed Redemptorists.
The theme of the assembly was "Call and challenges of the lay mission in our world today."
The objectives of the assembly were:
1.. To share common theological-pastoral insights and challenges on mission and evangelization in the third millennium.
2.. To be able to create an on-going working network among lay missionaries to further lay involvement in the Philippines and in other countries.
3.. To come up with a directory of Filipino lay missionaries.
The groups attending the assembly were: the Columban Lay Missionaries, Couples for Christ, El Shaddai Lay Missionaries, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Lay Associates, Lay Missionaries of Mary, Lay Missionaries of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Philippine Catholic Lay Mission and the Redemptorist Lay Missionaries. We were more than 150 individuals including the staff of the Philippine Mission Society under the leadership of Msgr. Gilbert Garcera. The largest group came from the Philippine Catholic Mission (PCLM) with more than 50 delegates, and the second biggest group was the Redemptorist Lay Missionaries with 41 delegates.
Msgr. Garcera disclosed the result of the research done several months ahead of the assembly regarding the status of lay missionaries of the Philippines. The outcome is something very inspiring and hopeful. For instance, in terms of commitment, the Filipino lay missionaries can commit themselves to the mission up to 20 years and the shortest commitment is five years, which is still quite extensive. On the issue of what motivates a lay missionary, “vocation” ranks the highest, meaning people become lay missionaries by choice out of their personal experience with God. Second, is “spiritual motivation,” that is, seeking personal meaning and fulfillment in life through mission work. Third, they are “socially motivated,” meaning they simply want to serve and be happy being with the people. On the issue of what sustains them to remain a lay missionary, the “support they receive from the people” ranks the highest, and the “support receive from the priests and bishops” runs second. In regards to age, our lay missionaries range from 20 to 30 years old, showing that we have very young lay missionaries. 95% of them are doing mission in the Philippines and only 5% are doing mission abroad.
The first speaker was Mr. Stephen G. Borja speaking from the perspective of the youth. He said that the youth are the hope of the nation, and already hold a central role today and not just for the future. Their enthusiasm, their daring attitude and openness to change are qualities that the church needs for constant renewal. Ignoring the youth means missing the opportunity for the church to move forward.
The next speaker Ms. Asuncion A Muro talked about the missionary character of women. The life giving nature and nurturing capabilities of women was emphasized thus marking the distinct contribution of women in community building. However, the talk was a bit lacking in breadth as it never mentions the many problems that women are facing today.
Ms. Juvelyn V. Gumal-in, speaking from her work among the indigenous people gave a very good example of how enculturation and intereligious dialogue can be done that is fruitful and enriching for us Christians and for others not sharing our beliefs. She is also a model for lay people, who take the initiative to do something within their power for the betterment of the church and not wait and be dependent upon the church leadership.
Ms. Lavenia C. Panopio, our very own Redemptorist Lay Missionary coming from the Vice-Province of Manila, spoke about the problems of the urban poor and the only one among the speakers to connect poverty to the issue of injustice. Her talk was well delivered and won the admiration of many delegates.
The last two speakers, Mr. Rimando Alarde and Ms. Annie V. Budiongan provided a clear window for us all to see what it is like to do mission overseas. They also showed us that mission can be done without explicitly proclaiming the gospel but more so with the witness of life in areas where Muslims are the dominant groups. Ms. Annie specifically spoke of the “new poor” today, the migrants.
It is very important to mention here the synthesis of all the talks given by Fr. James H. Kroeger, M.M. He is the president of Philippine Association of Catholic Missiologists. He mentioned about the nine waves of renewal in mission. He noted however, that if not for Vatican II, we would have not gone this far, and perhaps a gathering of Filipino Lay Missionaries would have been inconceivable.
The first wave according to Fr. James is seeing evangelization as integral, and this have five elements such as: 1) witness of life 2) commitment to social development and human liberation 3) liturgical life, prayer and contemplation 4) intereligious dialogue 5) proclamation and catechesis.
The second wave of missionary understanding is the view and articulation of the Universal Availability of Salvation. By following their conscience, other people can be saved.
The third wave of missionary understanding is that the Church is Missionary by her very nature.
The fourth wave of missionary understanding is that mission responsibility is taken by the local churches. "The acting subject of mission is the local church living and acting in communion with the universal church" (FABC V:3.3.1).
The fifth wave of missionary understanding is the emphasis on culture within the evangelization process. By going out (ad extra) we bring the gospel, our faith and our church to enrich other peoples, cultures and religion. By going in (ad intra) our gospel, church and faith are also enriched by other peoples, religion and cultures.
The sixth wave is the emphasis on the participation of Laity in the Church Missionary Vocation. This concept is derived from the ontology of grace that makes all of us the disciple of equals.
The seventh wave of missionary understanding is the recognition of the essential missionary nature of the priesthood.
The eight wave of missionary understanding is the emphasis of inter-religious dialogue as an essential dimension of evangelization.
The ninth wave of missionary understanding is the renewed regard for Foundational Mission Theology. This requires a new perception about Christology, Kingdom Theology and the Holy Spirit.
Lastly Fr. Kroeger said that Vatican II is still very much relevant today, as the church finds itself in a globalized society.
God bless us all.