Newsletter of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Rome, Italy
July 16, 2006

From the Editor

SCALA will go on summer break after this edition. In this edition, besides our regular features, we are announcing an important communication from the General Government and introducing a new service:

First, Communicanda #2 on Redemption has been released. (Click on the “Activities of Father General and the  General Council” in the index above). In it, Father General discusses “metaphors of Redemption.” When I ponder “metaphors of Redemption,” I think of over 70 metaphors that are our Redemptorist units and over 5, 400 Redemptorists who are “living metaphors” of plentiful redemption. It is a communicanda you too will want to read and ponder extensively.

Second, we are announcing the availability of our own C.Ss.R. webmail. http://www.cssrim.com/phpmail2/ For example my address on this service will be GaryZ@cssrim.com. This e-mail service is strictly voluntary and available to Redemptorists as an additional or auxiliary e-mail convenience. We recommend it especially for SCALA subscribers who presently have AOL, yahoo or hotmail accounts. We will be much better able to control our delivery of SCALA through our own e-mail system. If you sign up, we will begin to send your SCALA to your cssrim address where we will not face the difficulties of other service’s spam controls.

Superiors take note that this does not replace your cssr.com address, which you are again reminded to open often for official communications from the General Government.

Being the last edition of SCALA for the summer (special editions will be sent if news warrants), let me take this opportunity once again to thank all those involved in SCALA’s production: The translators: Jose Vidigal, Porfirio Tejera, Jan Cygnar, Gabriel Boudreault, Hervé Gendron, Yves Morvan, Anthony Mulvey, Hermann Schmid, Heribert Koger, Filipo Strippoli, Calogero Sciortino, Fadi Rahi, and Mr. Ron Ziuraitis who handles the technical layout and e-mail delivery. I also want to thank all of you who send me material both by e-mail and by post. It is an honor and a privilege to keep all of you informed of each other’s work for plentiful redemption. It is also edifying to witness all the good work the Congregation does for God’s people. Until SCALA#20 in October,

Grace and Redemption for all,
Gary Ziuraitis, C.Ss.R.

 Index

Transitions

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

First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Hernán Barrios Albarez, Province of Bolivia, February 2, 2006
José Luis Benitez Martínez, Province of Bolivia, February 2, 2006
Grover Mamani Choquevilea, Province of Bolivia, February 2, 2006
Abraham Pinto Flores, Province of Bolivia, February 2, 2006
Emilio Raúl Tarupayo Tejerina, Province of Bolivia, February 2, 2006
Joseph Patrick Elias, Province of Canberra, May 6, 2006
Christeen Chakkanikunnel, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2006
Joseph Manakkattu, Vice Province of Always, May 29, 2006
Mathew Noorokariyil, Vice Province of Always, May 29, 2006
Augustine Ottaplackal, Vice Province of Always, May 29, 2006
Glen José Soni Fernandez, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2006
José Albino Acevedo Parada, Vice Province of Caracas, June 27, 2006
Ignace Le Tuan Hung, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Pierre Lu Van Tan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Pierre Nguyen Anh Xuyen Pierre, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Antoine Nguyen Van Tang, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Francois Xavier Tran Van Bac, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Vincent Bui Thanh Quang, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Jean Baptise Le Thanh Hai, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Pierre Nguyen Ba Quoc Linh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Michel Nguyen Cong Duc, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Paul Nguyen Hong Trong Nghia, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Thomas Nguyen Khac Hau, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Jean Baptiste Nguyen Thai Thuong, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Joseph Nguyen Tuan Minh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Joseph Nguyen Viet Hung, Province ofVietnam, June 27, 2006
Vincent Pham Van Duan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Joseph Pham Duc Hung, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Joseph Tran Huu Hoan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Francois Xavier Tran Van Quang, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006

Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Reverdy Jacques Aholou, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 17, 2006
Augustin Fiacre Hounkpe, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 17, 2006
Noel Koutre Sottima, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 17, 2006 Désiré Zante, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 17, 2006
John Varghese Kooran, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2006
Geo Tom Manpudakathu, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2006
Jacob Parambanattu, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2006
Jobin Joseph Vanniamparambil, Vice Province of Always, May 29, 2006
Antoine Marie Vu Quoc, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Joseph LeDang Khoa, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Paul Le Zuan Loc, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Jean Luu Hgoc Quynh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Jerome Nguyen Dinh Thuat, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Paul Nguyen Huu Thuan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Francois Xavier Nguyen Kim Phung, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Antoine Nguyen Van Dung, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Antoine Tran Quoc Toan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Joseph Tran Van Hung, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006
Antoine Marie Vu Quoc Thinh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2006

Ordination to the Priesthood:
Omar Rubén García, Province of Buenos Aires, April 22, 2006
Joseph (Ciya) Pulluthuruthiyil, Vice Province of Alwaye, April 29, 2006
James Vincent Szobonya Jr., Province of Baltimore, May 6, 2006
Ján Andrejov, Vice Province of Bratislava, June 17, 2006
Martin Macko, Vice Province of Bratislava, June 17, 2006
Tomás Reges, Vice Province of Bratislava, June 17, 2006
Robert Rezny, Vice Province of Bratislava, June 17, 2006
Miroslav Szuda, Vice Province of Bratislava, June 17, 2006
Matthieu Nguyen Huu Quang, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2006
Jean Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2006
Joseph Pham Hong Tai, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2006
Jean Vu Minh Sinh, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2006

Deaths:
Rev. Francis Hennessy, 75, Province of Baltimore, May 6, 2006
Rev. Félix Le Van Lang, 83, Province of Vietnam, June 1, 2006
Rev. Heinrich Jankowski, 68, Province of St. Clement/Region of Cologne, June 7, 2006
Rev. Leo Francis Lanigan, 87, Province of Baltimore, June 11, 2006
Rev. Aloysius John Rekowski, 84, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, June 16, 20
Rev. George Dorn, 82, Vice Province of Richmond, June 21, 2006
Rev. Clément Prouix, 90, Province of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, June 22, 2006

Renunciation/Confirmation:
Father Waldo Ruben Barrinuevo’s resignation from the office of Vicar Provincial of the Province of Bolivia accepted June 6, 2006. Father Tadeo (Taeusz) Gieniec designated Vicar Provincial, Province of Bolivia, June 6, 2006.

Erection of a Region:
Region of Rosja-Kazaachstan, Russia, June 20, 2006.

Supression of Houses:
St. Boniface in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, June 6, 2006.
St. Peter´s in the city of St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, June 6, 2006.
The House in Vétraz-Monthoux in the city of Annemasse, France, June 20, 2006.

   Index

News from the Provinces

Surinam, South America
Mission in Surinam: An interview
Dionísio Foltran, C.Ss.R.

1. For some years now the URB (Union of Redemptorists in Brazil) has assumed a joint missionary project in Surinam with the Dutch (Holland) Redemptorists already there. How would you evaluate this project up to now?

Our missionary presence in Surinam seeks to become a new venture for the Congregation, and perhaps also a breath of the Holy Spirit on our society the world over. At the invitation of the General Government, members from different provinces and countries have offered to live, with few boundaries, the apostolic life.

As a mother bears within herself the secret of life, while also protecting it and giving to it without measure, so we confide and entrust to the heart of Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help, our mission in Surinam, because Mary is truly the mother of any new humanity. With her and through her may we be able to give redeeming life! After these first five years, we can say that the “baby” is still being born.

And those who gave us the “mother’s milk”, a shoulder to lean on, and taught us to take our first steps, were our own confreres already here for more than 140 years. They have been part of the Redemptorist history in Surinam coming here from Holland and now part of the new province of St. Clement. Also, the local Church and the people of this area, clergy as well as laity, have given us a warm welcome. From the beginning, the URB has been present, especially in the person of the coordinator, Padre Victor Edizio, and now Padre Vicente de Paula Ferreira. “What is living remains and grows” … So our presence here, even within the structures (Church, parish, congregation etc) has value through the moments of life shared, given, and sacrificed for the good of persons, organizations, and the mission.

Even the apparent failures, lack of success, and the misunderstandings can be sources of new energy, new attempts, new instances of giving. Behind the facts, numbers, and accomplishments we can see and sense ever more deeply how much love is being passed on and given to other persons, and how many good works are being realized. Sometimes we were not smart enough to make such an evaluation, to share such a communion. And so we see things, persons, and even history with the prejudice that comes from living in a consumer, product-driven and self-centered society.

2. What is the justification for the Redemptorists insisting that they live in this country as a Missionary Community?

Without any doubt there is the historic Redemptorist presence of more than 140 years. But also our constitutions and the Church ask us to dialogue with the great religions, with other Christian churches, so as to build up one family of brothers and sisters. In this daily living together we have this possibility and challenge. The life of our blessed Father Peter Donders is one highly esteemed by both the faithful and the clergy. His memory is admired, respected and venerated. As his confreres we have tried to reveal his personality, his good example of giving himself to the most abandoned.

The image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is present in most of our parishes and chapels. Through her accustomed grace, she is venerated and beloved by the people. Our Mission here may perhaps be somewhat unique and extraordinary, due to the rich diversity of cultures, religions and races. Without doubt, it is a great gift given to the Redemptorists and to the Church. And we have to share it impartially.

3. Can it be affirmed that the Redemptorist charism is needed here? Why?

We have to affirm that the Redemptorist charism with its consistent apostolic nature is needed for the people of Surinam. Our presence here makes it possible for them to see how we, as a community, love the Redeemer who is present in the sorrows, sufferings, divisions, afflictions, injustice and grief of these people and their daily activities. We recognize Him already present in the seeds of the Word, losing our own identity just as the Redeemer did on the cross, in order to build a new humanity, the Church.

4. What are the major challenges confronting the Redemptorist mission in Surinam?
What are the means most adequate for evangelizing this country?

In our day-to-day activities we have the chance to learn with the people, even to the degree of seeing what we should not be doing. This is important. Also we have the force of ecclesiastical structures and history: the Church’s own historical journey plus a people independent from Holland since 1975. The Christian family life, the consecrated life with all the richness of its charisms, and even the priestly life have sparked some interest in vocations.

Economic and political interdependence is more and more a value being sought throughout the countries of the Caribean area, Latin America, Europe and the Orient. We note a strong desire to see the participation of the laity, as well as unity among all peoples. We must work together more and more with other Christian churches, and with members of the better known religious groups such as the Hindus, Moslems, members of the various African religions, and people of good will who have no specific religion. As Catholics we number about 100,000, or 20% of the population.

The future belongs to new hearts; therefore along with our other apostolic works, we catechize the children who attend Catholic schools in our pastoral areas and communities. There are about 3000 such children along with their teachers.

The lay missionaries and lay organizations seek to have more space and conscience for new evangelization. In this regard, some ecclesial movements provide their own participation and collaboration (lay Franciscans, the charismatics, members of Focolare, etc.). These people and the Church deserve to taste the maturing fruit of the Redemption along with Him who is lived and proclaimed by the Redemptorist apostolic communities.

5. You already have worked in other missionary regions, such as that of Angola in Africa, where you spent some 12 years, even during a civil war. Where does one find the courage for continuing in a missionary region which seems so demanding?

In the ceremonies held before our departure for the missions or for some other important apostolic venture, among other symbolic gestures, we missionaries are given a crucifix. It gives us courage beyond the ordinary level. Sometimes we use that mission cross on our journeys; other times we hang the crucifix in a prominent place to attract attention.

When I left for Angola I had in my heart one definite certainty. We were going there to discover a living crucifix: the Redeemer! And he would be called by different and new names: civil war among the Angolan people, the selling of armaments, a socialist-communist system, multinational people and countries making lots of money through politics and opportunism, refugees (one of every 4 Angolans is separated from family and homeland), personal insecurity because of the possibility of being killed at any time, tribal racism, hunger, health problems, religion under control or persecuted, loss or destruction of personal rights, insecurity among one’s own family, widespread lying, pain, despair, suffering in seeing other people suffer, plus the inability to do anything about it, plus other unimaginable situations.

All this required of us a belief in God’s love, behind and above these circumstances. It also demanded of us a new giving, a new and creative love, for these people and under these circumstances. It called us to try to give life where death was reigning, to learn how to share and unite with others. They used to tell the missionary coming from abroad to bring along with him 50 boxes of patience, and to be more agile than the multimedia, or even email.

Perhaps little can be said about our accomplishments in all these circumstances, but at least there was some effort to live in accordance with our lights and certainties. We can leave our mistakes in the hands of historians, of if we prefer, in the hands of the Lord of history, and in the merciful judgment of other persons.

Without a doubt, this “Angolan crucifix” led us to experience also incalculable marvels, immense joys and riches both human and cultural. It allowed us to sense Divine love so near at hand, through and with the confreres, as well as our brothers and sisters in that country. We lived together with men and women who were truly saints and heroes. We experienced interdependency, communion with the family of God. For this reason we have a thousand and one reasons to give thanks.

Our going to Surinam meant leaving the paradise which is Fortaleza in Ceara, and the confreres there. God grabbed me by the hair, already a little “ralos” and middle aged, and together we traveled to a region in Amazonia, above the equator called Surinam. Here we have new demands, new challenges, and the possibility of having a new way of living, a new crucifix to be recognized and loved. Many years ago, a Dutch missionary, a close friend, “encouraged” me by telling me jokingly: “Look, there’s no future in your learning the Dutch language.” But now , I guess, our mission will go well into the future. If we don’t live a life of faith, love for God and mercy for our brothers and sisters, our life could well be like an email: read and deleted!

What encourages and challenges us and our people is the keen desire to be one family, one nation, and an even greater hope to be “Church”: a kind of paradise where one is at home with one’s brothers and sisters. Note that this place is already a kind of tropical paradise: we have lots of pure oxygen, many forests, a rich bio-diversity, and a mutual coexistence among the people, the cultures, the races and creeds.

The Surinam experience calls for a community of persons capable of communicating with one another, of dialoging, and of real listening to one another. We need persons who are sensitive to the presence of Him within the marvelous and various cultures present in these people. We need to be a new and more universal Church, “giving up” our own plans, our way of ministry, our perceptions, and running the risk of “losing a life so that another may rise up.”

Even in this paradise we need a new atmosphere in our social relations and meetings; we need a new Light, a kind of redeeming presence among us, for our actions and global inter-relationships. The Redemptorist missionary, whether lay-person, brother or priest, will find here the unique and marvelous possibility of discovering “copious redemption.”

Is this too much to ask, or even demand? Believe! Participate! Try it!

6. Do you think that in the future this missionary initiative will lead others to take up this kind of work?

As in the lottery, there will always be people “either crazy and/or saintly” who risk everything, or lose everything. Young people of both sexes search for and bring a new enthusiasm to our great world, and sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks more loudly through them. Self-giving, generosity, freedom, fraternal spirit, sharing, communion, these are all expressions of the young.

Here we have the opportunity to live and make happen something new in the Redemptorists - an international community. As said above, the Redemptorist missionary, whether a lay person, lay brother, or ordained priest, finds the unique and wonderful possibility of discovering the “copious redemption”; a new church in the larger sense for the entire ecological humanity. Just look: would you be capable of praying and petitioning God in public, along with a hadjh (Moslem leader of prayer), a pandit (Hindu priest), a dominee (Evangelical minister), religious brothers and sisters, and Catholic priests? That is what we did these past days, within the climate of praying for vocations, celebrating with the children in schools, where there are present representatives of all these religions.

7. Do you have a final word for those who will read this?

The future is now, if you so wish. And the mission goes beyond the future! Get up and awaken to this adventure both authorized and divine! Your heart will be able to discover the “Surinam code”! Hop on the train! Take command of this virtual vessel! Join us in this Surinam Mission!

Pattaya, Thailand
Blind, Orphaned Kids Benefit From CARAT
Navy News | Melinda Larson | June 26, 2006

Sailors and Coast Guardsmen gave away hugs and pieces of their hearts during a series of community service projects here June 22.

“It feels like home,” said Electronics Technician 1st Class Sarah Baker, a mother of three, as she held a boy in her arms at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind. “I’m never going to forget this little boy who won’t let go of me.”

Baker, assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Sherman, and more than 1,200 U.S. Sailors and Coast Guardsmen are spending the summer in Southeast Asia on ships participating in CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training; an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces).

Baker and 13 others from the CARAT ships spent a morning at the school playing games and holding small hands as they walked around the courtyard with a dozen kids from the residential school’s kindergarten class. The school serves 126 students ages three to 22, according to the school’s principal, who said she welcomes the volunteers.

“It’s good for the children to hear different voices. The children like to move around, so it’s also good motivation. The Navy and Coast Guard are a great help, and it’s a change for the children whose lives can become monotonous here,” said Aurora Lee Sibuapun, a blind woman who has worked at the school since 1986.

Throughout the morning the volunteers entertained the kids with Play-Doh and soccer balls. The “A-B-C” song and “Itsy Bitsy Spider” helped cross communication barriers.

“It’s hard when they can’t see,” said Lt. j.g. Jamie DeCoster, USS Hopper’s strike officer. "Playing is universal, so we tried to come up with new things. If you made them laugh it was a major win."

Across town another group of CARAT Sailors and Coast Guardsmen assembled 50 Project Handclasp wheelchairs to be used by the Redemptorist Handicapped Children’s School and an elderly care home.

Together the two groups of volunteers joined to visit the Pattaya Redemptorist Orphanage, where they delivered sports equipment for the orphanage’s 200 kids. Some of the volunteers played soccer with older kids while others chose to play with the toddlers.

More than 800 children are under the care of Father Larry Patin, who oversees several of the Redemptorist social projects in Pattaya, including orphanages and schools for deaf, blind, abused and disabled youngsters. He welcomed the help of volunteers and said the benefits are twofold.

“The Sailors show these kids some love and attention, and that’s good for the kids and the Sailors,” said Patin. “I see the good vibes from it.”

As the day came to an end, Patin and his staff hosted the volunteers at a barbecue that the children were also able to enjoy.

“This is a special day for the kids - hot dogs, hamburgers and sodas are not a part of their regular diet. It gives these kids a break from their routine,” said Patin as he looked around the courtyard at the frolicking children.

The orphanage has volunteers from around the world, and Patin said he appreciates the dedication of the Sailors and Coast Guardsmen.

“This is a great group of men and women. It’s so neat to see them pitch right in and to do something good for the underprivileged,” said the Michigan native, who has been in Thailand since 1965.

Index

Activities of Father General and the General Council

Rome, Italy
Office of the Secretary General
Communicanda 2 – Redemption

The original English text of the second Communicanda of the 2003-2009 sexennium, REDEMPTION, was completed on June 4, 2006, the feast of Pentecost. In the meantime the text has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Polish, German and Italian, and sent to Valsele Tipografica, the Province of Naples’ publishing house in Materdomini. By the time you read this in the July edition of SCALA, printed booklets should be on their way to the major superiors (Provinces and Vice-Provinces), regional superiors and superiors of missions, who should then forward a copy to every confrere in every community of their Unit.

Digital copies and more printed copies are available from the office of the General Secretariat, in seven languages. If you want a digital copy or more printed copies, please feel free to contact the Secretary General at seg.gen@cssr.com.

The text is also available on the official web site of the Redemptorist General Government, http://www.cssr.com/, (Go to the http://www.cssr.com/ menu. Click on menu button: General Government, then click on button: Communicanda).

You can also go directly to the Communicanda by clicking on the following URL link:
http://www.cssr.com/english/whoarewe/Communicanda/2003-2009_Communicanda2-EN.shtml

If the text is translated into other local languages (for example: Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Slovakian, Ukrainian, Flemish, Korean, etc.), we would very much appreciate a digital copy and a printed copy. Please send these to the General Secretariat. These translations will eventually find a home in the General Archives of the Congregation.

The Cuba Mission
Visit of Most Rev. Fr. Joseph Tobin, Superior General.
Nueva Gerona.
Fr. Sergio Campara, C.Ss.R.

Editor’s note: Last issue we reported on some of the apostolic work going on in Cuba. This month we have a report on Father General’s June visit to Cuba.

The plane bringing the Superior General, Fr. Joseph Tobin, from Rome to Havana, the capital of Cuba, arrived on Friday, May 5 2006, during the night. It was his first visit to the new Redemptorist Mission in Cuba and he planned to remain until Tuesday evening. About midnight of the same day Frs. Pedro Sanabria and Sergio Campara set out from Asunción, Paraguay for Cuba by way of São Paulo and Panama. This trip and meeting were eagerly awaited and proved useful.

The following day Fr. Felipe Martinez in his little borrowed car took Fr. Tobin and Fr. Campara to visit the new parish of Christ the Redeemer. Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alaminos, Archbishop of Havana, had established this parish a short time earlier, detaching it from the larger parish and historic Sanctuary of Regla, opposite the old port of Havana. It was in September 2005 that it was handed over to the Redemptorist Missionaries. This was really necessary for proper relations and also for the formation of young candidates already with us. The Cardinal thus fulfilled a promise made from the beginning for such a base.

We first visited the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Regla to greet Fr. Mariano Arroyo, the Spanish parish priest. He gave us a run down on the situation and the serious pastoral challenges they face every day. Fr. Felipe lives with him for the moment and there is also a newly ordained priest, Fr. Nuňez. It is clear that the three live together as friends and brothers. From there they took us to our Chapel situated not far away on Calzada de Regla. The Chapel is not big but at the moment seems sufficient and is in good condition. It existed before the Revolution of 1959, while the small house that was very much neglected in recent years is undergoing reconstruction. It is hoped to reopen it in a few weeks and it can accommodate a priest and two seminarians. Then it can be enlarged if necessary. In addition we have to serve two other Chapels, one of them with a community of religious Sisters.

In the evening of the same day Fr. Tobin returned to the Airport to travel to and visit the Isla de la Juventud, south of Havana, about a half hour flight. There Fr. César Báez was awaiting him. The Redemptorists took pastoral charge of this island on May 23, 2001, five years ago. The island, a former refuge for pirates and corsairs in colonial times, was a huge central prison with hundreds of prisoners from 1931 until 1967. The prison is now empty. The island is now a municipality of about 2.500 sq. kilometres in area and numbering 90.000 inhabitants mostly from the east of Cuba. Along with the main parish in Nueva Gerona with 40.000 people, there are about 20 christian communities served on a weekly or monthly basis. It is difficult work trying to get catechists and committed lay people for formation and some missionary activity.

On the following day, Sunday, Fr. Tobin took part in the Community Mass as a simple tourist joining the people who prayed and sang. At the end Fr. César introduced him to the parishioners who greeted him warmly. The local authorities came separately to welcome him as well. In the evening Fr. Tobin was to return to Havana by plane. He got away after a long wait.

On the following Monday there was an official visit to the Cardinal in the Archbishop’s Curia in old Havana. They discussed various pertinent subjects, including the need for another missionary and the requirements of the new parish etc. Five Redemptorists took part in the meeting which lasted more than two hours. In the evening just Fr. Tobin and Fr. Sanabria had another arranged meeting with the Minister for Religious Affairs in the Government Palace not far from the Priests’ House where they were staying.

On Tuesday we ourselves had a meeting in our House. We made a good detailed wide-ranging synthesis of the results of the meetings and our immediate plans. We fixed and prioritized precise and viable concrete projects that are later to be sent to the interested Units of Paraguay and the Superiors of the Sub-Region of Latin America. In August we hope to hold meetings with them in Aparecida.

This was a truly worthwhile Visit! That is our impression and we are grateful to our distinguished Visitor and his Government. In the evening Fr. Tobin left for Caracas and on Friday, May 12, Fr. Sanabria and Fr. Felipe left for Paraguay for a month’s vacation. The new parish will be in the care of Fr. Mariano and his helper. Fr. Campara will travel to Nueva Gerona immediately. Fr. César will give him a warm welcome.

We have learned here with surprise that the Church of Nueva Gerona is visited morning and evening by a large number of the faithful of every type. It has become a small Sanctuary of the Virgin of Caridad del Cobre, patroness of Cuba. In humility and hope we go forward sowing the Word and confiding in the Lord of the Vineyard. As we forge ahead through light and darkness we know the future is with God. From this place we are happy to send our friends and readers our warm greetings and most sincere good wishes. We look forward to your visits.

Index

Monthly Picture Gallery  ( for online viewing only)

1. Brother Pedro Tomàs Fernández of the Province of Bogotá, Hormiga, Colombia.

2. Bishop Jarosláw Pryríz, C.SS.R., auxiliary bishop of of the eparchy of Sambir-Drohobych, Ukraine.

3. Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, along with co-consecrators Bishop Julian Voronovsky and Mykhajlo Sabryha, C.Ss.R., ordained Father Jarosláw Pryríz, C.SS.R., auxiliary bishop of of the eparchy of Sambir-Drohobych, Ukraine on April 29, 2006. Bishop Pryríz is currently the 12th youngest bishop in the world.

4. Father Juventius Andrade, Consultor General, represented the Redemptorist General Government and Congregation at the ceremony.

5. In this gathering of bishops for Father Pryríz´s ceremony, we can point to three Redemptorist bishops: On the left in the background: Bishop Michael Hyrnchyshyn C.Ss.R. of Vincennes, France; , Fourth from the right: Mykhajlo Sabryha of Ternopil, Ukraine; far right: Bohdan Dziurach, Auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv-Vyshhorod, Ukraine, who is currently the second youngest bishop in the world.

6. Father General is greeted with flowers upon his arrival at Nueva Girona, Cuba.

7. Father General with members of the Cristo Redentor parish at Isla de la Juventud, Cuba.

8. Completing their novitiate at the international novitiate in Glenview, Illinois, USA, and preparing for profession are from left to right, Derek Ryan of the Dublin Province to be professed in Dundalk, Ireland on Aug 27; Nashin Joseph, of St. Lucia, to be professed in Our Lady of the Assumption, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia on Aug 15 and Fawaz Kako, from Bagdad, Iraq, to be professed for the St. Klemens Province at the Novitiate in Glenview on August 27.

9. The members of this year’s English-speaking Spirituality Workshop held in Rome during June pause for a photo with Father General and Ivel Mendahna (standing far upper right), vice director of the Institute for Spirituality. Not pictured is Felix Catalá, also a presenter and director of the Institute for Spirituality.

Index

Featured Website

This month’s featured website is that of our martyred confrere Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, C.Ss.R.  Please take note of the giftshop page and subsequent audio/video page announcing the availability of a new CD/DVD production on Blessed Vasyl’s life.
 http://www.bvmartyrshrine.com/

  Index

Profile

Bogotá, Colombia
My missionary experiences and challenges in the jungle
Brother Pedro Tomás Fernández.

I am a Redemptorist Brother of the Province of Bogotá and I would like to tell you something about my missionary work in Hormiga, in a region called ‘El Putumayo’ in the south of Colombia on the frontier with Ecuador. It is jungle country.

When I was sent there I was advised not to speak of the local problems of law and order, such as drug trafficking, the guerrillas and the paramilitaries and to carry on as if I saw nothing and was unaware of the continual danger, due to the conflict between the armed forces of Colombia and the other lawless groups.

As a result of this advice and through fear or prudence I remained closed up in our house for a week. Finally because of the hot and humid climate I was forced to leave my refuge and meet the people who came to the Eucharist and those who helped in the parish. And so I made friends. At the end of three years in this house and parish, entrusted by the diocese of Mocoa-Sibundoy to our community, I feel quite happy with the two priests with whom I live. Not only do I serve in the Church but I also give lectures to animators of small communities and I work with the media. We have a radio station called ‘Proyección Stereo’ that provides programmes of spirituality, culture and ethics for the people.

How things change! Three years ago I did not want to leave my room or my solitude for fear.Today I would not like to be taken from here because of my work and I get great satisfaction from the fact that my listeners like my reflections. I am able to reach villages that were impossible for priests in the past. Of course everything is not rosy! People want to hear the missionary speak the truth if they are living in the midst of injustice, corruption and dishonesty. Travel is extremely difficult because of the roads and in winter it is dangerous to go on horseback as one would be up to one’s waist in mud so it is better to go on foot. One also spends long hours in a canoe on the river in torrid heat or incessant rain without any place to shelter. However for the love of Jesus Christ and the desire to help these poor people I have grown accustomed to live with mosquitoes and other insects and animals that can bother one and from which we must protect ourselves so as to have sufficient health to serve our mission.

It is interesting to relate that the native people of these areas do not get sick and don’t even catch a cold, something I have had to live with from the beginning. Fortunately I do not feel alone because I am with two Redemptorist confreres, and we form a real family. We are far from what we call ‘civilization’, but I feel happy because I am working for the love of God in the place where my Superiors want me do my missionary work as a son of Saint Alphonsus.  

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