Click here to subscribe to RSS feed version of Scala| S C A L A |
Giving our lives for plentiful redemption
|
| Redemptorist Newsletter | Number 29 |
Rome, Italy
July 16, 2007
Click here to subscribe to RSS feed version of Scala
NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES
50th Anniversary of Bom Jesus de la Lapa, Bahia, Brazil
Novena, Limerick, Ireland
Europe South and the 5th Missionary Congress
75th Anniversary of the Province of Lisbon
REDEMPTORISTS IN THE NEWS
Redemptorist preaches at diocesan Eucharistic Congress
Cardinals O'Malley and Law and Our Mother of Perpetual Help
REPORTS FROM THE SECRETARIATS AND COMMISSIONS
Father Lasso reports on the Commission for Restructuring
IN SPIRITU REDEMPTIONIS
Father Sean Wales comments on devotion to Mary
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6th Latin American Missionary Congress planned
Australian province invites young Redemptorists to World Youth Day
PHOTO GALLERY (on-line only)
Photos from around the Redemptorist World
FEATURED WEBSITES/VIDEOS
Archbishop Pettipas, C.Ss.R. receives the pallium
Short videos on Redemptorist saints and blessed on line
TRANSITIONS
Professions, Ordinations, Anniversaries, Deaths
I would like to pass on to all of you a message from the Holy Father.
On June 30th, I accompanied Archbishop Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R. and Father Michael Brehl, provincial of the Edmonton-Toronto Province to an audience with our Holy Father capping the ceremonies surrounding the conferral of the pallium upon metropolitan archbishops. When we were escorted forward to meet the Holy Father a big smile came across his face as he recognized our Redemptorist habits and immediately exclaimed: "Oh, Redemptorists!"
In our brief but warm exchange Archbishop Pettipas conveyed to His Holiness the prayers and best wishes of his flock from northwestern Alberta, Canada. The Holy Father inquired of Father Brehl about the work of the Redemptorists in Canada. Father Brehl responded that the Canadian Redemptorists were about 200 strong throughout all of Canada in three provinces, multi-lingual, and minister in both the Latin and Ukrainian rites.
I mentioned to the Holy Father that I worked at the General House and was involved in communications. The Holy Father responded by saying to tell all the Redemptorists thank you for your ministry in the Church and he sends his greetings to you!
SCALA goes on summer vacation until the October edition. Special editions will be published if necessary. I would like to express a great big thank you to all translators/collaborators here in Rome and around the world.
Please continue to send us your news.
Grace and Redemption for all!
Gary Ziuraitis, C.Ss.R.
Brazil
50 Years of Redemptorist Presence in Bahia, Brazil
Father Antonio Niemiec, C.Ss.R.
It is our great pleasure as Redemptorist missionaries to tell our confreres the world over how we celebrated the golden anniversary of our arrival in Bahia with a reunion held from April 26 to 29, 2007, at Bom Jesus da Lapa, the place which welcomed us 50 years ago.
It was then that the first Redemptorists came to this shrine and "dwelt at the feet of the Bom Jesus." During the years that followed numerous confreres have been here, ministering to the many communities of this vast Lapa parish, and preaching (always in a simple and popular style) the Word of God to thousands of pilgrims at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus. It is a long and beautiful story of sharing, of denial, of sacrifice, of seeking out, of understanding and learning, of trial and error, and of faith. At the same time, it is a story of the evangelizing presence of Redemptorists among the people, fulfilling their call, preaching the word of God to the poor.
For this reason it was deemed necessary to recall this history and give thanks to God for the confreres who laid out the paths which we follow today. Also we had to give thanks for the people to whom we were sent, and for the blessings of the Bom Jesus which accompanied them. We also needed to carve new paths. As St. Clement noted: "It is necessary to proclaim the Gospel in a new way. It is necessary to announce the Word of God in such a way that all people will understand, the great and the small, the wise and the ignorant. That is the will of our Founder."
As early as 2005, the government of the Vice Province decided that it would not be right to celebrate only on the date of the 50th anniversary, but that the festivities should take place during the entire year. For this reason, a program for a Jubilee Year was drawn up. The opening ceremonies were scheduled for May 5 and 6, 2006 at the shrine of Bom Jesus da Lapa, and all Redemptorists in the state of Bahia were expected to attend. Besides them, people from the shrine, Redemptorist lay missionaries, and parishioners from Redemptorist parishes were also invited to attend. Many of these groups formed organized pilgrimages for the purpose of celebrating and thanking Bom Jesus for sending Redemptorist missionaries to their home areas. There were moments of praise and thanksgiving, a display of historical photos, celebrations, jubilee parades and processions, history recollections, and a new book, entitled Redemptorist Missionaries at Bom Jesus da Lapa, was published.
Since 1956 the presence of the Redemptorists at the shrine of Bom Jesus da Lapa has made a strong impression not only on the people of the region but also on the faith of the many pilgrims and visitors to the shrine. In the earlier years of Redemptorist history in Bahia, our Dutch confreres from the old Northeastern Vice-Province conducted an excellent ministry which was both educational and social to the inhabitants of the city, as well as to the diverse rural communities spread throughout the region. The poverty and other difficulties which the confreres encountered demanded of them great pastoral dynamism and inner strength; it helped them overcome the immediate challenges and a variety of other obstacles. Nevertheless, with faith and dedication they were able, during the years 1956 to 1972, to develop many projects and good works, all of which were of a pastoral, social, educational and missionary nature.
The coming of the first Redemptorist missionaries to the shrine of the Bom Jesus da Lapa happened thanks to the first Redemptorist bishop of the diocese of Barra who, through his personal presence and urging, contributed greatly to the development and improvement of this region of Brazil.
From 1972 until today Redemptorists from the Vice Province of Bahia (Polish and Brazilians) have assumed responsibility for the shrine and the parish, and during this period of time they have continued the work of the Dutch confreres and have even taken new steps, especially in the area of social, pastoral and missionary activity.
The Jubilee Year ended in April of 2007. For this occasion a Historic Jubilee Congress was held, the principal objective of which was to recall the formidable presence and performance of the pioneers who spent their lives for the copious redemption of east Bahia. There was also a glimpse into the future, a visualizing and setting of goals which conform to our own charism.
At this Congress various historical papers were presented. Historians, both Redemptorists and other teachers, were invited to participate in conferences and debates, as well as depict scenes of our life and missionary work. Also present were persons who were/are responsible for the past and projected social, cultural and religious development of the shrine of the Bom Jesus da Lapa. Prominent among these was the late Dom Joao Muniz, C.Ss.R., who as Bishop of Barra, the diocese to which the shrine belonged at that time, was an untiring missionary and zealous health promoter, thus helping to eradicate tropical sicknesses in the middle São Francisco region.
Those invited to the Congress allowed us to recall and evaluate better the 50 years of Redemptorist action in the region. Themes discussed were the following:
Northeastern Brazil in the first half of the 20th Century: an ecclesiastical perspective.
Discussion leader: Pe. Gilberto Paiva (Province of São Paulo)
Health situation of eastern Bahia in the first half of the 20th century: a social perspective.
Discussion leader: Mr. Socrates Teixeira do Nascimento (Historian of Bahia)
Dom Joao Muniz, first Redemptorist Bishop in Brazil: his missionary work and his social involvement in eastern Bahia, in the middle 20th century.
Discussion leader: Pe. Braz DelfinoVieira, Superior, Rio de Janeiro Province
Redemptorists of the Northeastern Province, in Bom Jesus da Lapa (1956-1972); missionary presence and action. Presenters: Pe. Jose Inacio de Medeiros (Province of São Paulo),
Redemptorist Vice Province of Bahia, in Bom Jesus da Lapa, 1972-2007; continuing the mission. Presenters: Dom Ceslau Stanula, C.Ss.R. (bishop of Itabuna) and Pe. Francisco Micek (Vice Province of Bahia).
Bom Jesus da Lapa: perspectives of the future (socio-economic-cultural aspects). Presenters: Roberto Oliveira Maia (mayor of Bom Jesus da Lapa) and Senhora Rosimare Souza Santos (Unified Black Movement of Bom Jesus da Lapa)
Bom Jesus da Lapa: prospects for the future (ecclesiastical aspects):
Presenters: Dom Francisco Batistela, C.Ss.R. (Bishop of Bom Jesus da Lapa) and Pe. Cristovao Dworak (Vice Province of Bahia)
Commentary on the presentations:
Commentators: Sra Maria Augusta Oliveira Cardoso, Sra Belansia Ferreira Lima (cook for Bishop Muniz), Geraldo Ribeiro Bastos, Francisco Amaral de Souza (all of Bom Jesus da Lapa).
The Congress also provided an opportunity to strengthen the ties which unite the greater Redemptorist family, representatives of which came to Bom Jesus da Lapa. Confreres from nearly all the units of Brazil, plus confreres from Argentina, Poland, and Bolivia were present at the Congress. Also present were priests, brothers, seminarians of all stages of formation, religious sisters acquainted with our charism, Redemptorist Lay Missionaries, diocesan bishops and priests, and laity from the various parishes and communities where we Redemptorists minister.
Along with the hours of reflection and debate there were also moments of celebration in the shrine itself and in nearby parish communities. There was also fellowship, relaxation, expositions of local culture and culinary arts, all of these involving Congress participants and the people of Bom Jesus da Lapa.
In this history of the struggles encountered, difficulties overcome and victories won, all of these still remembered long after the Congress, we cannot forget the very special participation of so many benefactors, known and unknown, who supported and helped us in these past 50 years. Nor can we remain unmindful of the many people who still today give us material and spiritual aid. We especially remember our own Redemptorist Superior General, as well as the confreres from so many different units of the Congregation. To them we give our warmest greetings and thanks.
The Jubilee Year which we have concluded was a time of praise, gratitude and wonderment over the good things which God has accomplished through our presence and missionary activities in Bahia.
Ireland
Limerick
Novena welcomes newcomers
This year's annual Novena is catering to Limerick's growing multicultural society. Rector Fr Seamus Enright says they are making a special effort to welcome newcomers to this year`s Novena.
Redemptorist priests from Poland, Slovakia, Portugal and France are arriving in Limerick to take part in the festival and hold confessions for foreign nationals in their own language.The Novena, which is held in the Redemptorist's Church on the South Circular Road, attracts over 12,000 people a day and will conclude on the 23rd of June.
Spain
Fifth Redemptorist Missionary Congress of Europe South
Pedro Lopez, C.Ss.R.
The fifth Redemptorist Missionary Congress of Europe South took place in El Espino (Burgos) 11 to 15 June. Previous Congresses took place in Cortona (2003), Fatima (2000), Materdomini (1987) and El Espino (1995), which was the first celebrated as a Region. The theme of the meeting was "The Proclamation of Jesus Christ in the new European society."
Forty-three confreres took part in the Congress, 10 from the Lisbon Province, 6 from the Roman Province, 4 from the Naples Province, 1 from the Province of Lyon-Paris, 1 from the Strasbourg Province, 18 from the Madrid Province and three from the Province of São Paulo in Brazil.
There was a sincere family atmosphere during the Congress together with great pastoral concern. It began on June 11th with words of welcome from Madrid Provincial, José Luís Bartolomé who expressed delight at the liveliness of these missionary encounters that were the first real experience of combined pastoral activity by the provinces of Europe South. Fr. Pedro López, President of the Study Center for Missionary Planning, then introduced the Congress theme.
The days followed a similar pattern: The mornings were taken up with very important and profound papers. The first was presented by José Antonio Pagola on ‘the proclamation of Jesus as an alternative to the present European society'. With deep conviction he urged us to present Jesus Christ as the only alternative to this society in need of healing. The second was presented by Joaquín Eguren, member of the Department of Migrations of the Pontifical University of Comillas, which made us more familiar with the phenomenon of migration and urged us to respond as missionaries to this great challenge facing us in our time. Marciano Vidal, C.Ss.R., in masterly fashion, outlined the new challenges facing families today and suggested very interesting ways, based on the Gospel and Church teaching, to respond to these ordinary and extraordinary pastoral problems.
The afternoons were devoted to exchanges of information. Each province shared its plans on how they were going to respond to the phenomena of secularization and immigration. Through these exchanges they became aware of new experiments practised in recent years such as youth missions, confraternity missions or returning to parishes where missions had been already given to conduct adult catechesis, weeks of reflection on the Our Father, the Beatitudes and the Creed. We were also able to learn the style of missions developed by our Brazilian confreres.
A very important moment of the meeting was Morning Prayer and the daily celebration of the Eucharist each evening at the image of Our Lady of El Espino. There were also times for relaxation such as excursions to Sobrón, Burgos and Oña that provided a climate for fraternal friendship. The different languages were not an obstacle to sharing and feasting! The Congress received a very positive evaluation. The next Congress will be organised in 2010 by the Naples Province.
Finally I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all the participants, to the Madrid Province for its generous support, to the members of the Study Center for Missionary Planning for the efficiency and kindness shown in the preparation and running of the Congress and to the community of El Espino for their fraternal welcome.
Portugal
Province of Lisbon
75 Years of Redemptorist Presence in Portugal
P. Leonel de Oliveira, C.Ss.R.
There were three attempts to establish the Congregation in Portugal. The first, which originated in Austria, ended in 1820 when all religious were expelled from our country. Many years later, at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1903 to be precise, the Spanish Redemptorists attempted a foundation in Portugal, but this venture was spoiled when the first Republic was established in 1910. The Spanish Redemptorists, however, made a third attempt at a foundation here in 1931, in the city of Braga and this year we celebrate that accomplishment. One of the first acts of celebration will be to preach a parish mission in the little village of Ala in the northern part of Portugal where the first parish mission was preached almost 75 years ago.
During these 75 years the Redemptorists missionaries have ministered in Portugal by means of millions of missions, triduums, retreats, theology courses, and sermons for special occasions. We have also been involved in social communications, parish ministry, the ministry of reconciliation, pastoral ministry for immigrants as well as for our people in the Vice Province of Luanda in Angola. In the field of evangelization, we can say that the Province has been quite successful. This is the reason for us giving such prominence to our jubilee celebration.
Many activities have taken place in various communities to mark this jubilee year. The central event, however, was the National Pilgrimage of the Redemptorist Family to Fatima. This event, which was carefully planned by a special committee under the direction of Father Jose Maria Peres da Rocha, involved dozens of automobiles being driven to the Sanctuary of Fatima on June 2 and 3. A great number of people from many parishes joined in the pilgrimage, all of which made for a horde of happy pilgrims from the Redemptorist Family.
Father Perez welcomed them all, pointing out their respective points of origin and requesting rounds of applause for their presence in the Pilgrimage. Of all the places named he tried to give a special emphasis to the one where the missionaries, Padres Martinho and Manuel Farias, preached the first mission in 1931. After this the Via Crucis was celebrated in the great auditorium of the Sanctuary. It was done by projecting an image of each station on a screen so the pilgrims could see and hear the appropriate considerations. Following this, there was a presentation by a group of young people from the parish of Damaia. It consisted of a documentary about the firm course set by the Redemptorist missionaries throughout these past 75 years, with commentary from the missionaries themselves.
The high point of the day's celebration was the Eucharist, presided over by Father Provincial, Father Antonio Gomes Dias. He was accompanied by the Provincial of the Spanish Province, Father José Luis Bartolomé, and his secretary, Father Tirso Cepedal. While speaking of these two illustrious and dear guests, I wish to acknowledge and thank the Mother Province of Spain for its enduring and always friendly presence. This has given us, as Portuguese Redemptorists, a new spirit to continue to work with courage along the path already established. This first day of pilgrimage ended with a candle-light procession and adoration vigil at 11 p.m., under the direction of Father José Manuel of the Lagos, Portugal community.
The next day, Sunday, the 3rd of June, the feast of the Holy Trinity, a solemn Mass was celebrated. It was attended by many other pilgrims and religious groups and was presided over by Bishop Emeritus, Dom Augusto Cesar, who was delighted to be part of the Pilgrimage of the Redemptorist Family, and who spoke briefly on the apostolic charism of St. Alphonsus. Then, leaving the Fatima shrine, the pilgrims, waving white hanker-chiefs and with tears in their eyes, said farewell to this most marvelous and highly spiritual experience at the feet of God's Mother and ours.
Besides this and other events already noted, there are still on the program two meetings dealing with Redemptorist Spirituality, one in the north, the other in the south of Portugal, plus a discussion on Evangelization to be held in the Seminary of V.N. de Gaia, presided over by the Bishop of that diocese.
It is in this way that we Portuguese Redemptorists will contribute to the strengthening of our special charism, which we hope to see lived more intensely by all those who rejoice with us in our journey to the Father. We wish to extend our greetings to all our confreres of the Congregation, asking them not to lessen their prayers to the Lord for a strong and resolute ministry in Portugal, one that will be faithful to the charism of St. Alphonsus. As the Good Shepherd would say on finding the lost sheep, "Rejoice with me, for I have found reasons to live and die for this ideal."
America
Redemptorist speaks at Archdiocesan Eucharistic Congress
The Georgia Bulletin
The Archdiocese of Atlanta sponsored an Archdiocesan Eucharistic Congress, which promoted the love of and power of the Eucharist. An estimated 20,000 people from around the southeastern United States attended last year's Congress, and organizers expected a record-breaking crowd again this year.
Open to people of all ages from around the South, the Congress took place on the evening of Friday, June 8, and all day on Saturday, June 9, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The Vietnamese Track featured Father Joseph Hoang Minh Thang, who travels around the world presenting Bible studies and retreats, and also prepares Vatican Radio's Vietnamese program and Radio Veritas in Manila, and Father Joseph Tien Loc Nguyen, CSsR, who travels to various countries leading retreats and renewal weekends.
United States
Mission Church, Boston
Cardinal Sean O'Malley, OFM.Cap
Editor's note: Cardinal Sean O'Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston writes an internet "blog" for his faithful at http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/. His remarks are excerpted here about our church in Boston and it's Shrine to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. His predecessor, Cardinal Bernard Law, now archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, was the guest celebrant and homilist at the Rome Shrine's celebration of the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help held at Sant'Alfonso on June 17th. See the photo gallery for photos of both Mission Church and the Rome celebration.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help— known by almost everyone as simply Mission Church — is the only basilica in the Archdiocese of Boston.
It is Boston's Redemptorist church and, as you can imagine from the name, is dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the special patroness of the Redemptorist order. When I was in the West Indies, it had been a Redemptorist mission, and I was always very edified by the great devotion that the Redemptorists had instilled in the people. On Wednesdays, the churches would always be filled at Mass because it was the novena Mass to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
The Redemptorists have some of the largest and most beautiful churches in this hemisphere. Recently, our Holy Father visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, which is run by the Redemptorists and is the largest church in the western hemisphere. Many of our people here in New England and from the rest of the United States, I am sure, have visited the Basilica of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré in Quebec, also a Redemptorist church. In Brooklyn, the largest church in the diocese is the Redemptorist's Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We are very grateful for all of the wonderful ministry that the Redemptorists do, and particularly at their parish here.
REPORTS FROM THE SECRETARIATS AND COMMISSIONS
Rome
Meeting of the Restructuring Commission
Juan Lasso de la Vega, C.Ss.R.
During the first week of June the Commission for Restructuring met in Rome to finish its new document called "Proposals for the XXIV General Chapter 2009." These proposals are derived from the previous document "Work in Progress" and from the responses from the six regional meetings of last year. One whole day was devoted to a meeting between the Commission and the General Council.
The new document restates the five guiding principles of the previous document with one addition: "The principle of association: each province should work in association with others." This principle of association can function according to the models proposed in the document "Work in Progress." In the new document the juridical notion of "conferences" is spelled out. For Europe it is proposed that it be one sole region in place of the two regions now in existence. It also outlines a new model of representation for the General Chapter and for the formation of the General Council.
This new document remains open to new modifications that may come from the General Council, the Units of the Congregation and the General Secretariats. In December of this year the Commission will meet again in Rome to study these possible changes and to consult a canon lawyer on the juridical implications of the new figure of "conference" and with the Econome General on a method of creating greater solidarity between the Units in financial resources.
In Spiritu Redemptionis
True Devotion
Sean Wales, C.Ss.R.
When I was a student the term ‘True Devotion' was used in connection with the writings of St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort (1673-1716) and it summed up the practical outcome of his ‘Treatise on the True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin'. To become a ‘slave of Mary' one had to give oneself entirely to the Blessed Virgin, "in order to belong entirely to Jesus Christ through her" (article 121). The ‘slave of Mary' had to perform "all one's actions through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary, so as to perform them more perfectly through Jesus Christ, with Jesus Christ, in Jesus and for Jesus" (art.258).
After the Second Vatican Council the language and practice of devotion to Mary seemed to suffer a decline and much was made of the "piety gap" which had emerged. The so-called ‘privileged-centered' Mariology was forced into a back seat and a certain more austere minimalisim took its place. While many fruitful insights came from post-conciliar Mariology, the devotional life of the faithful seemed to wilt and flounder, cut off as it was from its theological roots.
The situation today is that popular piety to Mary is experiencing a strong revival and the many shrines, sanctuaries and pilgrimages connected with Mary are flourishing. The role of sentiment in religious experience is evident and the participatory nature of much popular devotion to Mary cannot be denied. Yet there remains for many thoughtful Christians a gap between the rich Mariology of recent times (one thinks of the contributions of Liberation Theology and Feminist Theology) and the daily reality of popular devotion. Is the popular devotion to Mary (say, the Novena) rooted in authentic theological wisdom?
Pope Paul V1 made a serious contribution to the discussion in Marialis Cultus (1974) when he insisted on the Trinitarian, Christological and Ecclesial principles on which true devotion to Mary should rest. In particular he outlined four useful guidelines to govern true devotion:
1. Marian devotion should be Biblical: the prayers and texts used in prayers in connection with Marian devotion should be rooted in the Scriptures and expressive of the basic Christian mysteries of faith.
2. Marian devotion should be Liturgical: by this is meant that devotional exercises should blend with the Liturgy, leading to or flowing from the formal Liturgy of the Church.
3. Marian devotion should be Ecumenical: there has to be a strong sensitivity to the Christian call to unity such that the devotion enhances the ecumenical movement and is not an obstacle to it.
4 Marian devotion must be Anthropological: that is to say Marian devotion must take account of the best in contemporary awareness of the human condition, especially with respect to women's issues, inclusivity of language and an understanding of the role of women in society.
It is not hard to see these principles at work in many of our great centers of Marian devotion. In the east, the immense popularity of the shrines of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Manila and Singapore is in part due to the experience of unity: Mary is a mother to all -- Christians, Hindus, Buddhists. Our confreres have made these shrines and devotions into centers of evangelization.
In other parts of the world the Novena is used to deepen the Christian faith of those who flock to the shrines. In Ireland the Solemn Novena is presented as a Festival of Faith and each year some major Christian topic (eg, the beatitudes, the Sacraments) is presented throughout the nine days prayer. In Latin America devotion to Mary is closely linked to practical outreach to the poor.
In Communicanda 1 (1998), in the wake of the 1997 General Chapter, Fr. General wrote: "We believe likewise that our devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help should be greater and more apparent in our spirituality. The zeal and creativity of Redemptorists have made this icon the most widely known in the world; it can help make our charism better understood. Further, the title of "Perpetual Help" is completely in line with the meaning of "Copiosa Redemptio"
On the horizon, in 2016, we have the sesquicentenary of being given the icon of Perpetual Help. Perhaps it is not too soon to hope that more theological work will be done to harmonize the icon and all that it means to us with our central notion of abundant redemption. Men, like Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky, who gave their lives for abundant redemption knew the meaning of true devotion to the Mother of the Redeemer who is also the Mother of the Redeemed.
Costa Rica
Announcing: The VI Congress of Latin American Redemptorist Missionaries
Theme: The Current State of the Itinerant Redemptorist Mission and the Challenges it Faces.
Date: Monday, October 22 to Sunday, October 28, 2007
Place: Diocesan Pastoral Center, Diocese of Alajuela. La Garita, Costa Rica.
Presentations:
The lights and shadows of the New Evangelization from Santo Domingo to the V Latin American Episcopal Conference and the Caribbean by Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The Itinerant Redemptorist Mission as an evangelizing method by Father Pedro López, C.Ss.R., Vicar Provincial of the Madrid Province, Director of CESPLAN and a member of the General Secretariat of Evangelization.
The Itinerant Redemptorist Mission in view of the V Conference of Apàrecida by Father José Ulysses da Silva, C.Ss.R., Provincial Superior Emeritus of the São Paulo, Brazil Province.
For more information contact:
P. José Araya Ch. CSsR viceprovincialsansalvador@yahoo.es
P. Leiner Castaño. leinercssr@yahoo.com
P. Miguel Torres. Maiky567@aol.com
Australia
Pilgrimage for Professed Redemptorists in Formation
World Youth Day, 2008
The Australian and New Zealand Redemptorists are arranging a pilgrimage centered on World Youth Day, 2008. The pilgrimage will be more extensive then World Youth Day, but will include WYD festivities in Sydney, Australia. Professed Redemptorists in Formation (chorists and brothers) are warmly invited to take part in the pilgrimage. You will find further details on the Aus/NZ Redemptorist website at: http://www.rc.net/redempt.au/WYDSYD08.htm
1. Father General and Father Enrique López pose with the Major Superiors of the Northern Subregion of Latin American during their meeting held at the end of May at the Lord of the Miracles Sanctuary in Buga, Colombia.
2. The Major Superiors of the Northern Subregion of Latin America pay a visit to the Redemptoristine convent in Buga, Colombia.
3. On June 4th, Father Walter Malca, C.Ss.R. of the Vice Province of Peru-North received an award from "Piura," a group from the College of Engineers of Peru, for his work on behalf of peace and the publication of his latest book: "Mirar las estrellas."
4. On the 11th of June, the confreres in the Province of São Paulo opened a new bookstore to the public on Rua Senador Feijó, near á Praça da Sé.
5. The exterior of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Boston, commonly known as "Mission Church."
6. The altar of Our Mother of Perpetual Help inside Mission Church
7. Cardinal Bernard Law, accompanied by Father General, leads the annual procession honoring Our Mother of Perpetual Help around the neighborhood of Sant'Alfonso in Rome on her feastday.
8. The procession passed by the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where Cardinal Law is archpriest.
9. The 5th Redemptorist Missionary Congress of Europe South met at El Espino, Spain from June 11 to 15. The theme of the meeting was "The Proclamation of Jesus Christ in the new European society."
10, 11: The shrine of Bom Jesus de Lapa in Bahia, Brazil is completing it's year long celebration of their 50th anniversary of Redemptorist ministry.
12, 13: The Province of Lisbon celebrated their 75th anniversary with a National Pilgrimage of the Redemptorist Family to Fatima.
Featured Videos:
Archbishop Gerard Pettipas C.Ss.R., of Grouard-McLennan, Alberta, Canada receives the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on June 29th, 2007.
Video courtesy of CTV, Vatican City & Salt and Light Television, Canada. Photos courtesy of Osservatore Romano, Roma.
http://www.cssr.com/scala/APvideo/cssr/
The North American provinces have collaborated on a series of short videos in the English language on the lives of Redemptorist Saints and Blesseds. They can be found at:
http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=jonhansencssr&p=r
Recent noteworthy events in the Redemptorist Family. For a complete record of transitions visit the Officialia site
First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Gary Alvarado, Province of Cebu, May 6, 2007
Richie Cuaton, Province of Cebu, May 6, 2007
Neil Bryan Lesaca, Province of Cebu, May 6, 2007
Julius Marin Malacas, Province of Cebu, May 6, 2007
Jean Paul Tabasa, Province of Cebu, May 6, 2007
Joseph Chirackal, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2007
Antony Moongathottathil, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2007
Scaria Puthenparambil, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2007
Peter Balaswamy, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Joseph Beck, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Jefferson Bennit, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Nestor Manuel Dias, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Samir Kujur, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Rakesh Roshan Mathias, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Ashlon Antony Noronha, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Alvin Rex Raj, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Arul Sekar Saleth, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Anil Kumar Tirkey, Province of Bangalore, June 8, 2007
Jean Baptiste Hoan Le Quoc Thai Van Anh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Hoang Van Binh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Dominique Nguyen Ba Vuong, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Nguyen Hong Phuc, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Nguyen Ngoc Son, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joachim Nguyen The Vinh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Nguyen Van Giau, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Nguyen Van Vuong, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Dominique Nguyen Vu Phong, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Nguyen Xuan Hieu, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Pham Ding Toan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Jean Baptiste Tran Ngoc Minh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Paul Tran Thanh Dien, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Tran Zuan Thuy, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Jean Marie Marcel Rakotozafy, Region of Madagascar, February 2, 2007
Jean Marie David Tsidiana, Region of Madagascar, February 2, 2007
Joseph Mukondua Zungulua, Vice Province of Matadi, April 18, 2007
Emmanuel Nakati Kiala, Vice Province of Matadi, April 18, 2007
Peter Wanrop Paitoon Boonthod, Vice Province of Bangkok, May 19, 2007
Joseph Jetana Kitcharoen, Vice Province of Bangkok, May 19, 2007
Stéphane Jean, Region of Port-au-Prince, May 20, 2007
Alix Joseph, Region of Port-au-Prince, May 20, 2007
Josué Joseph, Region of Port-au-Prince, May 20, 2007
Paul Mathew Kuzhimannil, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2007
Sebastian Joseph Meprathu, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2007
Joseph Baby Pendanath, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 29, 2007
Jobi Joseph Arianchery, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2007
Prem Prakash D´Souza, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2007
George Michael Prasansa Kindo, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2007
Jomio Thomas Mekkat, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2007
Augustine Mugambi Kiruja, Region of Kenya, June 9, 2007
Raphael Kambella Kitheka, Region of Kenya, June 9, 2007
Pierre Le Thanh Phuc, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Jean Nguyen Duc Phu, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Vincent Liem Nguyen Truong Chinh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Vincent Marie Pham Cao Quy, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Pham Dinh Tri, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Pierre Phan Cong Truong, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Truong Hoang Vu, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Troung Van Minh, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Martin de Porres Vu Dong Tung, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Joseph Dao Minh Tan, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Nguyen Thanh Thong, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
François Xavier Nguyen Van Hoai, Province of Vietnam, June 27, 2007
Ordination to the Priesthood:
Prakash Kumar Lakra, Province of Bangalore, February 16, 2007
Sebastian (Shiby) Kandathil, Vice Province of Alwaye, April 19, 2007
Sanjay Shilanand Kujur, Province of Bangalore, April 30, 2007
Mathew Abraham Puthenchirayil, Province of Bangalore, April 30, 2007
Sagaya Arockiaraj Xavier Irudayaraj, Province of Bangalore, May 1, 2007
Periyanayagam Devados, Province of Bangalore, May 2, 2007
Lourdu Amirtharaj Gnanaprakasam, Province of Bangalore, May 4, 2007
Stephen (Eby) Onissseril, Vice Province of Alwaye, May 5, 2007
George Prakash Minj, Province of Bangalore, May 8, 2007
Vincent Raymond Vaz, Region of Mumbai, May 19, 2007
Glenn Tito Pascual, Province of Cebu, May 19, 2007
Geovanne Quibol, Province of Cebu, May 19, 2007
John Michael Salatandol, Province of Cebu, May 19, 2007
Jean-Robert Diyabanza Luyindula, Vice Province of Matadi, May 20, 2007
Jean Mpongoso Basinsa, Vice Province of Matadi, May 20, 2007
Hubert Mvibudulu Ngoma, Vice Province of Matadi, May 20, 2007
Jude Kulas, Province of Strasbourg, June 10, 2007
Joseph Nguyen Van Hoi, Province of Vietnam, June 11, 2007
Martin Leitgöb, Province of Vienna, June 15, 2007
Joseph Dinh Van Cao, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Joseph Duong Cong Dinh, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Jean Baptiste Le Trung An, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Joachim Le Van Chinh, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Luc Le Viet Phuong, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Paul Ngo Van Phi, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Joachim Nguyen Chi Cong, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Joseph Pham Quoc Giang, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Pierre Pham Zuan Loc, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Dominique Tran That, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Jacques Vo Mionh Quang, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Thomas Vu Quan Bang, Province of Vietnam, June 28, 2007
Deaths:
Rev. Adam Husar, 58, Province of Lviv, June 14, 2002
Rev. François Xavier Le Thanh Chau, 69, Province of Vietnam, June 3, 2007
Rev. Thomas Kennedy, 91, Province of Canberra, June 5, 2007
Rev. David William Shannon, 85, Province of Denver, June 7, 2007
Rev. José Miguel Sánchez Rodríquez, 89, Province of Santiago, June 10, 2007
Rev. William George Geiger, 79, Province of Baltimore, June 17, 2007
Rev. Patrick John O´Neill, 74, Province of Canberra, June 24, 2007
Rev. Martin Timothy Crowe, 92, Province of Baltimore, June 27, 2007
Suppression of Houses:
Clement House, in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, was suppressed on June 1, 2007.
Liguori House, in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, was suppressed on June 1, 2007.