Rome, Italy
January 16, 2009

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FROM THE EDITOR:
News from Canada
News from Rome
News from Africa
News from Russia

NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES:
Madrid: Remains of Spanish martyrs moved and honored

REDEMPTORIST HISTORY:
The unknown Redemptorist

FEATURED MEDIA:
New print and electronic resources available

TRANSITIONS:
Professions, Ordinations, Anniversaries, Deaths

FROM THE EDITOR Around the world in 5 minutes

Redemptorist moral theology personified! We wish our confrere a full recovery.

Father Mason also wrote: “More than 20 Redemptorists from the USA, Vietnam, India and Canada made their annual retreat in October at Queen of the Apostles in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada). Father Ray Corriveau, C.Ss.R. directed the retreat on the theme of the spirituality of St. Clement Hofbauer.”

In recent days we have learned that Father Corriveau, who is assistant novice master of the international novitiate in Glenview, IL, USA, has suffered a heart attack. The whole Congregation prays for his speedy recovery.

In Rome, the International Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help has recently “missioned” two images of Our Lady to be used in Redemptorist foundations elsewhere in the world. One to the Provinice of Goiás, shown here being offered to Fr. Walmir Garcia dos Santos, Rector of the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Goiânia, Brazil and friends by fellow Brazilians, former Rector Fr. Darci Nicioli and House Treasurer Fr. Walteir Magalhaes. And one to a new foundation in Laoag City, the Philippines for the new St. Gerard Mission Center. Fr. Ariel Lubi, C.Ss.R., Vice Provincial of Manila, poses with Father Teodulo Hildago, pastor of the Rome Filipino Community at Sant’Alfonso, Bruno Visuri, Prefect of the Shrine, and Sister Rosalynd, a Philipinno sister working in Rome.

Speaking of Fr. Walteir Magalhaes, Father General announced that Fr. Walteir has been appointed the Treasurer of the Union of Superiors General, of which Father General is the Vice-President.

Father Luciano Panella of the Province of Naples became Rector of the General House on December 8, 2008. It is interesting to note that the General House community, in comparison to the 86 units of the Congregation, would be the 15th largest unit in the Congregation with its approximately 100 confreres engaged in the various works and institutes it houses. So it is no small task to be the Superior of such a large, diverse international community.

This is the year of the 24th General Chapter, which will be held starting October 19th in Rome. The first of the six regional meetings in preparation for the General Chapter will be held in Africa from the 18th to the 28th of January. Presently that meeting is scheduled for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The ex officio and elected General Chapter members of Africa will meet with representatives of the Chapter Preparatory Commission and of the General Government (Joseph W. Tobin, Superior General; Athanase Nsiamina and Enrique López, Consultors General).

The new church in Kemerov, Russia, which we have followed from concept to groundbreaking to construction both in SCALA and ORBIS, was topped off with a steeple recently. Congratulations to the Redemptorists working there as this new steeple stands as a shining symbol of their ministry taking root and growing in difficult political, religious and geographical environments.

Grace and Redemption for All!
Gary Ziuraitis, C.Ss.R.

Index

NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES:

Madrid, Spain
Relocation of the remains of the martyred Redemptorists in Cuenca (Spain) during the religious persecution of 1936-1939
Antonio M. Quesada Montoro, C.Ss.R.

The remains of martyred Servant of God Jose Javier Gorosterratzu and his 5 Redemptorist companions , martyrs of religious persecution in Cuenca between 1936-1938, have been placed in the Chapel of the Coronation in the Shrine-Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Madrid. The event took place on Thursday December 4, 2008. His remains, which since 1977 were in the crypt of the Holy Redeemer Community of Madrid, were transferred in a simple ceremony. This transfer is part of the process of canonization of the 6 Redemptorist martyrs of Cuenca. An official of the Diocesan Tribunal proceeded to first sign documents and apply the wax seals to the zinc boxes containing the remains of the Servants of God

Then the official gave the order to move the remains, and once in the Chapel of the Coronation of the Shrine of Perpetual Help, the reliquaires were deposited in front of the main altar on a table covered with red velvet. Fr Provincial then led those assembled in prayer. Those assembled consisted of the 3 Redemptorist communities of Madrid, some lay faithful of the parish and family members of the martyrs Father Gorosterratzu and Father Olarte. Fr Provincial reminded us that the martyrs answered the call to a missionary vocation and that their faithfulness would lead them to the honor of being called “Servants of God,” a call each one of the martyrs responded to in a particular way and to which the six were true to and which they gave their lives for. The remains were then placed in a niche in the wall of the chapel and closed with a large red granite plaque bearing the inscription of their names. Finally, the acts were formalized with the signing of the minutes of the transfer. After the signing, there was a reception celebration with those assembled to strengthen our family ties.

 

Servant of God Fr. Jose Javier Gorosterratzu Jaunarena: Born in Urroz (Navarra) in 1877. At the age of 16 he entered the Congregation as a postulant. He was professed on September 8, 1896. He was ordained priest in 1903. He was stationed at El Espino (Burgos), Astorga (Leon) as a professor of philosophy and science, Pamplona (Navarra), at the Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel in Madrid, and at Cuenca where he gave his life for plentiful redemption. He was a man of great talent, thought and erudition. Besides being a popular preacher of missions in the Basque and Spanish languages, he was a spiritual director and preacher of retreats. He published two historical works and composed an unpublished manual in philosophy.

On July 22, 1936 he hid in the home of a friend of the community. On the 28th he moved to the seminary believing that would be a safer place. There he continued to exercise his priestly ministry among the refugees, encouraging them to give their lives if necessary, in full awareness of the possibility of his own future martyrdom. The seminary was raided at 2:00 a.m. on August 11th. José Javier was taken into custordy along with Brother Victoriano. Their lives were taken near the cemetary of Cuenca.

Servant of God Fr.Ciriaco Perez Olarte de Mendiguren: Born in Gomecha (Alava) in 1893. In 1904 he joined the Redemptorist juvenate at El Espino (Burgos). He made his profession on September 8, 1911. He was ordained priest in 1917. In 1921 he crossed the ocean to Mexico where he developed a remarkable missionary dynamism. He did not stop his missionary zeal in the face of the religious persecution of Plutarco Calles in 1926. Since priestly ministry became impossible to perform in Mexico then, he returns to Spain on September 12, 1926. He works for awhile in La Coruna, Madrid – the community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help – and then in 1935 he transfers to Cuenca.

The convent is abandoned in June of 1936 and together with Padre Goñi, they hide in the houses of two priests. From their hiding place they predicted their fate: “We will pass the feast of St. Alphonsus (August 1) in heaven.” The two´s whereabouts were reported to authorities on the 31st of July. They were arrested and turned over to a mob who, without trial nor execution order, executed them at point-blank range in a clearing near the power station of El Batan. Falling to the earth, Father Ciriaco died instantly. At 10:00 p.m. that night, authorities came to retrieve the bodies, which were put in a single coffin and buried in a mass grave.

Servant of God Fr. Miguel Goñi Ariz: Born in Imarcoain (Navarra) in 1902. In 1913 he entered the juvenate at El Espino. He made his Redemptorist profession on August 26, 1920. He was ordained a priest in 1925. Although his health was not strong, he preached many popular missions in Cantabria, Andalusia and Galicia. He lived in Nava del Rey (Valladolid), Granada, Santander and Vigo. In 1932 he went to Cuenca in order to work among the youth. He carried out this ministry in the Redemptorist Church of St. Phillip Neri, in which he devoted himself to the celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In May 1936, he was chased through the streets of Cuenca by a group of thugs eager to attack any religious figure. Ten days after leaving the convent of Saint Phillip, Fr Miguel Goñi was arrested along with with Fr Ciriaco Olarte. According to reports, after being mortally shot, Fr Miguel crawled up to Fr Ciriaco for comfort, courage and to confess to one another before giving their lives to the Redeemer, the 31st of August, 1936. Apparently their agony lasted several hours.

Servant of God Fr. Julián Pozo Ruiz de Samaniego: Born in Payueta (Alava) in 1903. He entered the juvenate at El Espino (Burgos) in 1913. From childhood he was a thoughtful child and throughout his life developed into a gifted spiritual advisor and guide. He was professed a Redemptorist in 1920 and was ordained priest in 1925. His training was interrupted by tuberculosis patients in 1921 and again in 1923 with a severe case of hemotisis. In the summer of 1926 he transferred to Granada where he met the Servants of God Francisco Barrecheguren and Conchita Barrecheguren. Everyone considered him a wise and gentle man with the face of a child. He had special skills for the sacrament of reconciliation. His characteristic smile opened hearts. In 1928 he went to Cuenca.

He left the monastery on July 20 to take refuge, along with Brother Victoriano, in the home of some friends. When asked who they were upon arriving at the house they responded: "Well, we are religious and Redemptorists. We are not martyrs ... but let's see if we are the first." On the 31st they took up refuge at the seminary, but on the 9th of August a mob removed them along with the priest Chrysostom Escribano and they were martyred. Fr Pozo was 33 years and was martyred while praying, kneeling, with a crucifix in one hand and the rosary in the other, and the smile on his face.

Servant of God Brother Victoriano Calvo Lozano: Born in Horche (Guadalajara) on December 23, 1896. His fondness for spiritual reading naturally directed him towards a vocation to the priesthood and/or religious life, but because of family obligations and the meager resources of the family to pay for his studies, his dream was deferred. On March 31, 1919, Victor left home and his people without saying goodbye. He left a letter explaining his departure on his bed.. He was professed as a Redemptorist Brother on November 13, 1920 with the name Brother Victoriano. In 1921 he was assigned to the Redemptorist community in Cuenca, where he worked as gardener, clerk and janitor. He offered to go to the missions in China. He was quiet and deep thinking. He was spiritual director to a young woman whom he wrote retreats for and other works that are preserved as a testimony to his special charism.

On July 20, 1936 he took refuge in a friend’s house with a Padre Gozo. On June 31 both took refuge in the seminary. There they were arrested on June 11. With hands tied and in the company of Fr Gorosterratzu, they are taken to the cemetery of Cuenca. There Brother Victoriano gave his life to the Redeemer in silence, asserting his faith and his religious vocation.

Servant of God Fr. Pedro Romero Espejo: Born in Pancorbo (Burgos) in 1871. He joined the juvenate of El Espino, and made his profession as a Redemptorist missionary on September 24, 1890. He was ordained a priest in 1896, and was assigned to the preaching of popular missions. He ministered in Astorga (León), Madrid and Cuenca, preaching in a simple style so people could understand. As a religious, he was very observant, especially living the spirit of poverty, in all its seriousness. He maintained a spirit of recollection for prayer throughout his life.

On July 23, 1936 he took refuge in the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor. He celebrated Mass and attended to the religious needs of the Sisters. In August 1937, while hiding with a family, he was discovered and brought before the civil authorities. He calmly stated he was a Redemptorist. He was ordered to a shelter for the poor, but the mockery and blasphemy of residents make him take flight and live by begging on the streets of the city, with the rosary and crucifix in sight. He refused offers of refuge as to not put others in danger, and if called to administer sacraments came without delay. His health was slowly breaking. In May 1938 he was jailed for opposing the regime. Ill in prison, he died on July 4, 1938 as a result of the suffering experienced during the persecution. At no time did he ever renounce his faith nor his priesthood, according to his biography. Although he was not directly martyred, his death was seen as the outcome of persecution and considered as martyrdom.

These are our six Redemptorists missionary confreres. May they intercede for us and help us to witness to the abundunt redemption of Christ!

Index

REDEMPTORIST HISTORY:

Rome, Italy
The Gallery of Redemptorist Superiors General
Giuseppe Orlandi, C.Ss.R.

Editor’s note: Last month we promised to bring you a reflection by Father Giuseppe Orlandi of the Historical Institute, that he gave at the inauguration of the Galleria dei Superiori at the General House. It seems a fitting reflection to begin this year that will end with the General Chapter choosing the 17th successor of St. Alphonsus. Before reading this, you may want to click here and visit the online Galleria dei Superiori on our website at http://www.cssr.com/english/whoarewe/SuperiorsGeneral/index.htm

If we consulted an Italian dictionary for the meaning of the word “vernissage,” the following definition would be found: “An inauguration ceremony of an exhibition of art by invitation.” It is precisely what we are doing tonight.

If you seek to understand the personality and the work of each of the 19 superior generals depicted here, you should recall the history of our Congregation, and indeed the history of our congregations, since - as you know - for some 28 years (1780 to 1793 and from 1854 to 1869) the congregations of the Most Holy Redeemer were two: one in the Kingdom of Naples (also known as Cisalpine Redemptorists) and one in Italy and the rest of the world (also known as Transalpine Redemptorists). This is why, during this period, there were simultaneously two generals.

Excluding our founder, whose earthly life is well known to all, it is recalled that the youngest General at the time of election was Father Nicolas Mauron (37 years) and the oldest was Fr Andrea Villani (81 years). The General longest in office was Father Mauron (who ruled for 38 years, 2 months and 12 days), followed closely by Father Patrick Murray, from Ireland, who, elected at the age of 44 years, lasted in office for 38 years less 5 days). The shortest reign was Father Joseph Lordi (who, elected at the age of 44, stayed in office less than a year -- exactly seven and a half months, from May 5 to December 15, 1854).

At the time of the death of Saint Alphonsus (1787), the Congregation had 175 members. The greatest number of members peaked in 1965 under the government of Father William Gaudreau (8,858).

Other than Saint Alphonsus, there were two other generals raised to the episcopacy. Fr Celestino Cocle, elected at the age of 41, resigned after 7 years of government because he was nominated titular archbishop of Patrasso and confessor to the royal family of Naples. The other was Father Tarcísio Ariovaldo Amaral, of Brazil, who elected at the age of 48 ruled the Congregation for 6 years. At the end of his mandate, he was promoted to the bishopric of Limeira, Brazil in 1976 and subsequently to the diocese of Campanha in 1984.

Fr Amaral was the first general not elected for life. Starting with him, the traditional title of "Superior General and Rector Major" was limited to the former: “Superior General.” This created some surprise among institutes of religious who had “borrowed” the title of Rector Major and have continued to use it!)

In reality, not all the so-called "Generals-for-life" were such. Indeed, a good 8 out of 14 (more than 50%) left office before the natural expiration of their mandate.

The “Generals-for-life”, excluding Saint Alphonsus, ruled 14 years on average, while those not- for-life (excluding Fr Tobin, still in office, and to whom we wish long life!), one (Amaral), has ruled 6 years and the other two, Josef Pfab and Juan E. Lasso de la Vega, 12 years.

It is impossible to illustrate the deeds of each Superior General, but I just want to say something about Father Mauron, particularly related to this house of Sant'Alfonso as the first elected General to govern from it.

As you know, this house, then called Villa Caserta and owned by Prince Michelangelo Caetani, Duke of Sermoneta, was purchased by the Congregation in early 1855.

The official opening of the house took place March 25 1855, Feast of the Annunication of Mary, with Father Edward Douglas, accompanied by Brother John Kotlaba, and - as the zealous annalist noted – a dog. Probably, the confreres outside of Rome were informed promptly of the initiation of the house by telegraph. Indeed, the pontifical telegraph service was inaugurated only two days later (March 27).

The Roman chroniclist, Nicola Roncalli, learned that the same day of the house’s opening, "the Tiber began to leave it’s banks” with a damage caused to the city and surrounding countryside that is easy to imagine.

Soon they began to demolish what had been the stables of Prince Caetani to build the church - designed by the architect George Wigley – which was consecrated in 1859. It was the first building of neo-Gothic Victorian (Gothic Revival) erected in Rome (the second was the American Episcopal Church of St. Paul within the Walls, that the great architect George E. Street, built between 1872 and 1876). The Romans, not accustomed to this neo-Gothic style, found it strange that the Redemptorists demolished a stable (the stables of Prince Caetani) to build a barn (their new church)!

A month after the opening of the house, April 26 1855, the ninth General Chapter of the Congregation began. A week later, May 2, Father Mauron was elected superior general. His election was the result of a compromise between supporters of Father von Held (who had won 11 votes) and those of Father von Smetana (who had obtained 11 votes also). The situation remained deadlocked until the tenth ballot, when the former declared his willingness to step aside only if the latter candidate - as happened then - did the same. Thus on the 11th ballot, Fr Mauron – who on the first ballot had received only three – received 25 votes. We do not know if the chapter members were encouraged to break the deadlock by the fact that - as always learned from the chroniclist Roncalli - the morning of that same day in the public square "was beheaded a one Palombara Bernardino, 27 years, for premeditated murder." The episode could have seemed to the Chapter members a prefiguration of the intervention of a higher power, which - as you can imagine – interceded in a way that the opposition parties could prevent the beheading of the Institute. Indeed, two days after the election, May 4, the new superior general and the Chapter members were received in audience by the Pope who - from the throne, gave them "a fatherly address' on the words "Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum (Ps. 132, 1). " One of the attendees would later write that he had the impression that this choice of theme from the Pope - and it’s unusual solemn hearing - was dictated by a desire to turn off the budding dangerous divisions among the Chapter members. Perhaps to soften the perceived severity of his words to the Chapter members - an unexpected severity, contrasting with the well-known kindness always shown previously to the Redemptorists - Pius IX recommended to the gathered Redemptorists the manuscript of Homo apostolicus of Saint Alphonsus, which had been given providentially to the Pope some years before.

Fr Mauron was a good general. Among his successes it was he who worked to obtain the title of Doctor of the Church for Saint Alphonsus 1871). During his government the number of members of the Congregation significantly increased from 1,107 in 1855 to 2,363 in 1893.

Among the events happening during the generalate of Father Mauron was the end of the Papal States - following the taking of Rome by the Italian Army on September 20, 1870. This had the result of the the confiscation of a large part of the Villa Caserta property. The Congregation was able to keep only a small part of the land that is still in its possession today. To enter into Rome, the Italian troops bombed the city walls. including the gates of St. John Lateran. From the chronicles of our house, we know that on that occasion 'bombs fell near the walls of our house, and many of them landed in our garden raising clouds of dust." What the reporter does not say - but that was handed down orally - is that a grenade, without exploding, reached the study of the superior general. Some confrere then mischeviously advanced the suspicion that among the military staff attacking the house, there was a Redemptorist, camouflaged by artillery, who had taken advantage of this opportunity to adjust a dormant account with Fr Mauron!

If a lacuna can be noted in this gallery, it is the absence of a painting of Saint Clement M. Hofbauer (but also of the other transalpine vicars general: Joseph A. Passerat and Rudolf von Smetana), who rightly has been called "second founders" of the Congregaton and by whose efforts most of us are here tonight. In fact, Saint Clement is present in a composition that brings together Saint Alphonsus, his first companions, Msgr. Falcoia, etc. in a kind of “Redemptorist Pantheon.” In this context, my attention was attracted to the figure of a confrere – portrayed from the back, on his knees, with no special dress that would distinguish him as a cleric or brother – so I propose to call him the Unknown Redemptorist. (Coincidentally, the painting’s author is unknown!) Indeed, he is “every Redemptorist,” past, present and future (similar to that which is for many people "the Unknown Soldier.”) To be honest, I doubt that what the present Rector has willed to his successors - at least the successors of the more distant future - is a poisoned gift. In fact, we all know that Saint Alphonsus has prophesied that the Congregation - under certain conditions if it is careful to continue to perform well - will last until the end of the world.

Since scientists predict that this will not happen before a few million, if not billions, of years, it is difficult to see how this corridor as it presents itself today, will have room to give honest portrayals of superiors general who will be elected (at a predictable pace of about ten per century) in the future.By then having covered all the corridors, all the rooms and any other available space in the house, even extending like Christmas ornaments to the tree branches in the garden, the collection will build a huge helical tower on the model of the painting in 1563 by the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel. But, again, it will be an interim solution, because sooner or later you will have to forgo the pleasure of seeing the heads of the Institute in such a grand style, but resigned to seeing them reduced to the size of a postage stamp.

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In the meantime, I urge you all to come to Rome in 2032, to celebrate the third centenary of the founding of Congregation!

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FEATURED MEDIA:

Resources

Recently, three resources have been published that you may be interested in having for yourself or for your Unit:

Called into Communion for Mission: Redemptorists and Lay People Together Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Most Abandoned – a Step Forward. Sponsored by the Secretariat for Partnership in Mission. 68 pages. The Secretariat for Partnership in Mission considers this publication a “foundational document” as a basis for discussion in chapters, assemblies, communities and formation houses that will prompt further reflection on the role of Redemptorists and laity together and the Secretariat hopes that future documents will arise from the feedback received. Available only in English at this time. Please contact Ray Douziech, Consultor General, for more information.

Saint Clement Hofbauer: His Writings and Spirituality. Sponsored by the Secretariat for Spirituality. Essays in English edited by Raymond Corriveau, C.Ss.R. 334 pages. Available from Liguori Publications, USA. Some of the essays in this collection are drawn from Volume 4 of the Spanish and French editions in the series on Redemptorist Spirituality. The other major source in the book: Klemens Maria Hofbauer. Profil eines Heiligen, by Hans Shermann, C.Ss.R., Wien, Dom Verlag, 2001, a collection of six essays published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the birth of St. Clement --used with permission of the Vienna Province.

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A Virtual Tour of Naples-Marianella. CSSR.COM website menu item: Virtual Pilgrimage or click here: http://cssr.com/tour/english/one.html. Third in a series of short audio/visual vignettes on the Alphonsian and Redemptorist sites in Italy prominently featured during the summer courses in Redemptorist Spirituality. Co-sponsored by the Center for Spirituality and the Office of Communications.

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TRANSITIONS

Recent noteworthy events in the Redemptorist Family. For a complete record of Transitions visit the Officialia site

First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Bohdan Pamfuk, Province of Lviv, December 4, 2008
Mateus Agostinho Lupula, Vice Province of Luanda, December 6, 2008

Ordination to the Priesthood:
Luis Armando Adorno López, Province of San Juan, December 5, 2008
Gilson da Silva, Vice Province of Bahia, December 20, 2008

Deaths:
Rev. Adolf Vateha, 86, Province of Prague, October 5, 2008.
Rev. Francis Joseph Sands, 88, Province of Baltimore, October 7, 2008
Rev. Lawrencde John Buckley, 84, Province of Baltimore, October 11, 2008
Br. José Manuel Arias Barajas, 72, Province of Bogotá, December 5, 2008
Br. Joannes (Leo) Hugtenburg, 80, Province of St. Clement/Region of the Netherlands, December 19, 2008
Rev. Sabino Rossignoli, 85, Province of Naples, December 21, 2008
Rev. Pierre Nguyễn Quang Diệp, 84, Province of Vietnam, December 23, 2008
Rev. Józef Sikorski, 60,. Province of Warsaw, December 26, 2008
Br. Ludwik Ziajkiewicz, 81, Province of Warsaw, December 31, 2008

60th Jubilee of Profession:
Rev. Franz Ponhold, Province of Vienna, January 23, 2009

60th Jubilee of Ordination:
João Ribeiro de Carvalho, Province of São Paulo, January 6, 2009
António Ricieri Bariani, Province of Goiás, January 6, 2009
Roderick James Joseph Garvey, Province of Denver, January 6, 2009
William Frederick Hogan, Province of Denver, January 6, 2009

50th Jubilee of Profession:
Rev. Jozef Buyens, Province of Saint Clement/Region of Flanders, January 17, 2009

50th Jubilee of Ordination:
Geraldo Camilo de Carvalho, Province of São Paulo, January 1, 2009
Jesus Flores, Province of Goiás, January 1, 2009
Antônio Pinto da Silva, Province of São Paulo, January 3, 2009
Delfin Bustamante Lavid, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Victor Castrillo Vega, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Arsenio Cuervo Vega, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Bernardo García Castrillo, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Felicísimo González Arnáiz, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Saturnino Martínez Freile, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Angel Plaza Martín, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Olegario Rodríguez Martínez, Province of Madrid, January 11, 2009
Mons. José Ignacio Alemany Grau, bishop of Chachapoyas, Peru (Vice Province of Peru-North), January 11, 2009
Mons. Rafael Arcadio Bernal Supelano, bishop of Arauca Colombia, (Province of Bogotá), January 11, 2009
Ignacio Antonio Galindo Moreno, Province of Bogotá, January 11, 2009
Patrick Sugrue, Province of Cebu, January 11, 2009

25th Jubilee of Profession:
Luis Fernando Castaño Holguín, Province of Bogotá, January 8, 2009
Aristóbulo Chaparro Ballesteros, Province of Bogotá, January 8, 2009
Jesús Alberto Franco Giraldo, Province of Bogotá, January 8, 2009
Ramiro Gómez Alvarez, Province of Bogotá, January 8, 2009
Orlando González Herrera, Province of Bogtotá, January 8, 2009
Gerardo Suárez Marín, Province of Bogotá, January 8, 2009
Flávio de Oliveira e Souza, Province of São Paulo, January 29, 2009
Richard Charles Maidwell, Province of South Africa, January 29, 2009

25th Jubilee of Ordination:
Michael Lidy, Province of Vienna, January 6, 2009
Vicente André de Oliveira, January 14, 2009

Electoral News:
Rev. Rafael Vieira Silva electus Provincial Vicar of Goiás. Confirmed October 25, 2007.

Rev. Oh Sang Casimiro Kwon elected Regional Superior of Korea. Confirmed September 8, 2008.

Rev. Bruno Lee Hyeon Gu elected Regional Vicar of Korea. Confirmed December 4, 2008.

Appointments:
Rev. Janusz Dyrek, Province of Warsaw, re-appointed in charge of the pastoral care of the polish speaking faithful of Sant´Alfonso, Rome for one year, until the 31st of January, 2010. December 22, 2008. .

Suppression of Houses:
Domus Redemptorist Community of Our Lady of Aparecida, Rua Oliveira Braga, 80, in the city of São Paulo, Brasil, Province of São Paulo. Suppressed December 4, 2008.

Domus in the city of Korunková, Slovakia, Vice Province of Michalovce. Suppressed December 4, 2008.

Erection of Houses:
Domus “Amala Giri” in the city of Kanachiparutha, Vadakkencherry, Kerala, India, Province of Liguori. Canonically erected December 4, 2008. .

Domus Redemptorist Community of the Most Holy Redeeer, Rua Professora Maria Helena de Oliveira Pyles, 309, in the city of Santa Bárbara d’Oeste, São Paulo, Brasil, Province of São Paulo. Canonically erected on December 4, 2008.

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