Rome, Italy
July 16, 2010

EDITOR’S NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD:
Redemptorist Moral Theology Congress held in Trent
Father Silvio Botero completes his service to the Alphonsianum
The Holy See continues to appoint bishops from the Alphonsian Academy
International Redemptorist Youth Congress in Lviv about to get underway
World Cup Fever strikes the General House!
Roman summer recess
Thank you to our SCALA collaborators

FROM THE PROVINCES:
Annual celebrations in honor of St. Clement in Vienna
Vienna’s longstanding “St. Clement Hofbauer Committee” renewed
50th Anniversary of Bogotá Province
XIII Redemptorist Youth in Formation Congress in Bogotá
Haiti celebrates its Patroness

REDEMPTORISTS IN THE NEWS:
Annual Novena in Ireland draws thousands of participants
Our Lady of Aparecida Shrine continues to grow

CONFERENCE NEWS:
European Conference meets in Vienna
Conference of Europe: Commission for pastoral priorities

TRANSITIONS:
Professions, Ordinations, Appointments, Deaths

Editor's Notebook

The Redemptorist Moral Theology Congress is set to begin on July 21st and last through July 24th. It will be held in the city of Trent, Italy. The reason it is being held there is many confreres expressed an interest in taking part in the International Congress of Catholic Ethicists, which will also be held in Trent from the evening of the 24th to the 27th of July. The theme of this year’s Congress is “Classical and Contemporary Sources of Moral Theology.” Distinguished Redemptorist moralists Tony Kelly, Terry Kennedy, Marciano Vidal, Mark Miller, Aristide Gnada and Brian Dolan will lead the attendees in various topics on the theme.

Speaking of distinguished professors, Father Silvio Botero, professor for 23 years at the Alphonsianum, reached retirement age and has returned to his Province of Bogatá. During his tenure, Father Botero taught mainly in the area of family and marriage ethics. He also directed countless theses and dissertations. The Alphonsian Academy is very grateful for his years of service and the Casa Sant´Alfonso community will miss his genial, prayerful presence.

The Holy Father has appointed 4 Redemptorists bishops so far this year and promoted another one as we have previously reported. But bishops with Alphonsian Academy moral theology education are an extension of our influence on the Church. So far this year the Alphonsian Academy boasts 5 moral theology graduates receiving episcopal appointments:

Father Magnus Henrique Lopes, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of the newly created diocese of Salgueiro, Brazil. June 16, 2010.
Archbisop Luigi Moretti, Vice Gerent of the Rome Vicariate to Metropolitan Archbishop of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, Italy. June 10, 2010
Father Mário Antônio da Silva, Priest of the Diocese of Jacarezinho, Brazil appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Manaus, Brazil. June 9, 2010.
Bishop Joseph Kariyil, From Bishop of Punalur, India to Bishop of Cochin, India, May 8, 2010.
Father Stephen Thottahil elected auxiliary bishop of the Malankar Archeparchy of Tiruvalla, India. January 25, 2010.

The International Redemptorist Youth Congress in Lviv is just around the corner! Youth from Redemptorist communities all over Europe and other regions of the world will gather in the Ukraine from August 9th to 14th to pray, learn, celebrate and share with one another. Father General, and General Consultors Jacek Dembek and Alberto Eseverri will be in attendance.

As you can imagine, the General House, being the most international of all our international communities, had “common recreation” every night around the World Cup Football matches. Evidently, we have been successful in becoming “one out of many and different nationalities” because the rivalries were not fierce and the teasing was friendly. One evening the Brazilians treated the confreres to their famous “caipirinha” drink. Win or lose, everybody went away happy!

This is our last issue of SCALA for the Roman summer. We will return in October. If there is important news we will send a special report.

Every year at this time I like to thank all the people who make SCALA possible. The contributors, the translators for SCALA who give of their time and skill to translate the stories into our seven language versions; and especially to my technical expert, Ron Ziuraitis who works from San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Also those of you at the General Chapter remember Mr. Jeff Geerling from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, USA, who gave us technical assistance during the General Chapter. Jeff is engaged to be married and a wedding is being planned for October.

Thank you to all who contribute articles for SCALA. You are too numerous to mention. You provide valuable information on what is happening in your part of the Congregation so that everyone else in the rest of the Congregation can know and be proud of our worldwide efforts of evangelization. There are still some areas of the Congregation under reported in SCALA. Please feel free to send in news item at anytime for consideration to GaryZ@cssr.com

A special thanks go to the following translators in Rome and elsewhere by e-mail who give of their time and skill. Except for our primary Italian translator, they are all Redemptorists and volunteers:

Portuguese: José Vidigal of Rio de Janeiro and Alfeo Prandel of Campo Grande.
Spanish: Porfirio Tejera of Madrid
French: Hervé Gendron who works from Quebec and Gabriel Boudreault of Saint Anne de Beaupré
Italian: Ms. Annalisa Pinca, a collaborator of the Redemptorists in Rome, Serafino Fiore and Calogero Sciortino (retired) who work from the Naples Province.
German: Herman Schmid of Switzerland (retired); Hans Shermann, Bruno Primetshofer and Heribert Koger who work from Vienna (and the German speaking Provincials during the General Chapter).
Polish: Jan Chaim of Warsaw; and before Jan’s arrival in Rome, generous help from Polish confreres in Spain, Rome, North America and South America.
English: Anthony Mulvey (retired) and Martin McKeever of Dublin, Gary Lauenstein and Edward Vella who work from Denver, USA.

Everyone’s work this past year included extra work in order to prepare for and cover the XXIV General Chapter. It was our pleasure to bring you both live (for the very first time) and in print the election of our new Superior General, the election of the first Brother to the General Council, and the formation of the new Conferences through our VIDEO STREAMING, CHAPTER WEBSITE, CSSR.COM WEBSITE and SCALA. WELL DONE AND GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU.

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

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Province of Vienna
Annual Celebration of Clement Maria Hofbauer in Vienna
Lorenz Voith, C.Ss.R.

Editor’s note: We are transitioning from the celebration of one of our Redemptorist saints to another. Last year saw the conclusion of the Year of St. Clement. Father Voith, Provincial Superior of Vienna, writes about the ceremony that is annually held on the feast of St. Clement in March. This present year we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Neumann. The coming year of 2011 will be the 200th anniversary of his birth. The North American Conference is planning some special materials, retreats and celebrations in his honor. We will bring you the information as it unfolds.

Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen, the Apostolic Nuntio in Austria, celebrated a solemn closing Eucharist to mark the end of the traditional St. Clement’s festive week on the 15th March in the church Maria am Gestade. Fr. Enrique López, Vicar General of the Congregation, was also present on this occasion.

Many people attended this celebration which was musically accompanied by the choir from St. Mary’s Church Hernals, Vienna.

Fr. López came from Rome to Vienna on the 13th March and stayed until the 16th March in order to take part in the Feast day celebrations and at the same time to “visit” his predecessor Clement Maria Hofbauer. In their addresses, Fr. López and Archbishop Zubriggen spoke about the stormy life of Clement Maria Hofbauer, which reminds us in some ways of the storms of our own time. Fr. López emphasized that the feast of St. Clement is of great importance in the whole Congregation. Numerous churches, schools, centers of education and social-pastoral projects carry the name “Clement Hofbauer”. According to Fr. López, “this second founder of our Congregation is admired worldwide and is a symbol of missionary passion, which does not dry up even in the face of great difficulties and challenges.” On the 14th of March, Probst Maximilian Fürnsinn (Herzogenburg) celebrated a solemn Eucharist with the church community of Maria am Gestade. After the Holy Eucharist all were invited to an agape in the new hall (Klemenssaal) of the monastery. During the festive week more than 3,000 “Klemensbrote” (loaves of bread) were distributed.

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Clement Hofbauer Committee. New staff elected and new purposes “The St. Clement Hofbauer Committee”, which has existed since 1917, recently received new statutes and a new board of directors. A new Clement Hofbauer Museum in Vienna is planned for the future. At present, the association supports the formation of Redemptorists in South India. New statutes, replacing those of 1917, were approved at the General Assembly which was held at the Redemptorist Monastery Maria Gestade in Vienna. The Committee was founded by Redemptorists and lay associates during the First World War with a view to financially supporting the construction of St. Clement Churches and chapels as well as promoting the veneration of this Patron of Vienna. Formation of the Redemptorist students in South India In past decades the Association financially supported the construction of the St. Clement Church in Tasswitz, in Oberpullendorf, in Wien-Gatterhölzl as well as in Orsk (Siberia). During the last three years fund-raising initiatives organized by the Committee have raised 45,000 Euro. At present a project is underway to support the formation of Redemptorist Students in Kerala (South India). In this area funds are often lacking to support the education of students, a process that can last as long as 12 years.

Restructuring of a Clement Hofbauer Museum An important new goal of the St. Clement Hofbauer Committee is the establishment and restructuring of a Clement Hofbauer Museum in Maria am Gestade in Vienna. “The sponsoring and the collaboration with benefactors and friends of the Congregation is more and more important”, says Provincial Fr. Lorenz Voith, the representative of the association. “Besides, the committee should also become more and more a ‘platform’ for the various circles of friends of the Congregation. It is also about inviting our numerous collaborators and sponsors to join us on our spiritual and pastoral journey”, says Fr. Voith. New staff / board At the General Assembly a new Board of Trustees was elected for a three year term. Alongside the President, Fr. Provincial Lorenz Voith (Vienna), Vice-President Willy Prokop (Vienna), and treasurer Franziska Wurdack (Vienna); the members include Otto Weiss (Vienna-Munich), Dominik Orieschnig (Leoben -Vienna), Hilde Dafert (Eggenburg), Herbert Stuchetz (Innsbruck) and Manfred Klima (Vienna). Three other collaborators - from Puchheim, Eggenburg and Katzelsdorf ( associations of graduates) - will be added to the Board over the next few months. Austrian websites of interest: Province of Vienna: www.redemptoristen.com/ Radio Stephansdom, Archdiocese of Vienna: www.stephanscom.at

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The Redemptorist Province of Bogotá
Fifty Years of Abundant Redemption (1960-2010)
Luis Antonio Rojas López, C.Ss.R.

The Province of Bogotá was officially created on April 2, 1960, with the enactment of the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Religious by which was granted to Father William Gaudreau the faculty he had requested to erect as a Province what had been the Vice-Province of Bogotá along with part of the Province of Buga-Quito. Its announcement was made effective on April 17, 1960, Easter Sunday, the date of the decree of canonical erection given ex officio by the same Father Superior General.

The Soledad house was chosen as the provincial residence and the out-going rector of the house, Fr.Fermin Aranguren, was chosen as the first Provincial (1960-1972). The internal strengthening and the orientation and inspiration of the Province were continued by Fathers Hernan Arboleda (1972-1974), Rafael Arcadio Bernal (1975-1977), José Delfin Bautista (1978-1980), Fabio de Jesus Morales (1981-1989), José Rafael Prada (1990-1995, 2008-2010), Luis Alberto Roballo (1996-2001) and Francisco Antonio Ceballos (2002-2007).

In the beginning the Province of Bogotá took in the three residences of the previous Province of Buga-Quito (Buga, Popayán, and Sevilla), and five houses of the Vice-Province of Bogotá (Bogotá, Servitá, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta and Barranquilla). It had 67 priests, of whom 48 were Colombians, 17 Spaniards, and 2 French; 30 professed brothers were Colombian and one a Spaniard; and there was an abundance of pastoral and material works.

Barranquilla	Cúcuta	Filosofado Suba

The Province of Bogotá has continued the dynamism of the community and missionary life that were bequeathed to us by the Provinces of Paris and Spain.

The new Province began within the high exectations and hopes of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), convoked by John XXIII and continued by Paul VI, who opened the windows of the Church to the world of today.

One event of transcendental importance for the Church of Latin America and for the Province was the celebration of the Second Conference of Bishops of Latin America, gathered in the city of Medellin (Colombia) in the year 1968.

From its beginning, the life of the Province was on a path of expansion and vitality: centers for formation were built in Manizales, Suba and Piedecuesta – solid and ample places which continue on today; vocations are numerous. New communities were founded like that of St.Gerard (Bogotá), Medellín and in 1968 we took on the Vicariate Apostolic of Sibundoy.

With the strengthening of personnel and with the goal of expansion, the Province accepted new missionary commitments in the following places: Pasto-Nariño (1985*), El Copey-Cesar (1992-1997), Necoclí-Urabá Antioquia (1993-2002), Soledad-Atlantico (1993-2010*), Cali-Valle (1996*), Patio Bonito-Bogotá (2001*), Sogamoso-Boyacá (2003*), Lérida-Tolima (2006-2010*), El Tambo-Cauca (2006*), La Perseverancia-Bogotá (2007*), Suba-D.C. (2007*) and Buenventura-Valle (2007*).

Marianella	Noviciado

Formation as the “priority of priorities” has been the watchword and guiding principle of the Province. This explains in good part its notable increase, today counting: 3 bishops, 138 priests, 1 permanent deacon, 20 brothers, 30 junior theology students and 3 theology students in Ghana (Africa).

The Redemptorists of the Buga-Quito Province and of the Vice-Province of Bogotá built not only the imposing Basilica of Our Lord of the Miracles in Buga, but also left a solid and extensive pastoral action plan through the preaching of itinerant missions.

The new Province has not declined in its specific charism. The Redemptorists live out the pastoral plan harvesting triumphs and joys in three forms of the apostolate: a) itinerant missionary preaching, b) constant attention to and availability of the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance; and c) the implantation and diffusion of devotions that are specifically Redemptorist: the Virgin of Perpetual Help, St.Alphonsus, Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, veneration of the mission cross, St.Gerard, etc.

Perhaps this is the fundamental characteristic for which the Redemptorists are known in every corner of Colombia.

FUSA	Seminario Manizales

The Redemptorist charism has called forth the internal apostolate of the spiritual exercises and help to priests in their parishes during Advent and Christmas, Lenten exercises, special conferences for children, youth, women, men, religious men, religious women, instructions for the people, attention to the sick and catechesis in general. To deepen this work the Province counts three houses dedicated exclusively to retreats and gatherings: Villa Marianella, Piedecuesta and, for the formation of the laity, the house of Saint Rose in Viterbo.

The Province recognizes that the task of bringing the Gospel to all people is the essential mission of the Congregation and of the Church. For this reason, its apostolic zeal is seen in the missionary help it gives to other countries and continents: Rome (Italy), Ghana (Africa), Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba (Latin America and the Caribbean) and the United States (North America).

The Province continues on the path of history. The Province itself is part of history; its advances and achievements are the fruit of a missionary community whose enthusiasm is expressed in its lifestyle and community life and in the happy and energetic announcing of the Word of God in missions and parishes.

San Gerardo, Bogotá	Nuestra Señora de Fátima, Pasto

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Colombia
XIII Congress of Redemptorist Youth in Formation
José Samuel Torres Tangua, C.Ss.R.

The XIII Congress of Redemptorist Youth in Formation took place in Piedecuesta Santander, Colombia, this past May 14-17 in an ambient both youthful and fraternal. This Bogotá Province event has as its objectives: 1) to go deeper into the decisions of the past General Chapter; 2) to enter into the 50 year history of the Province of Bogotá, which we celebrate this year. There was full attendance with 130 young people participating in the Congress accompanied by their formators. The meeting could be compared to a rainbow - full of hope and colored with cultural diversity. There were young people present from Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Haiti and Colombia.

The Congress was an opportunity as well to go deeper into the history of the Province of Bogotá, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. It is a history interwoven with the missionary dynamism of Redemptorists who came from France, Spain, Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia. To them we wish many blessings and we pray that the God of Life grant us abundant vocations and that we continue to announce abundant redemption in Colombia and in all the world.

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USA
Haitian Redemptorists travel to U.S. to celebrate Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Baltimore Province

Our Mother of Perpetual Help is the Patroness of Haiti.

Two Redemptorist priests from Haiti visited United States parishes in Boston, MA, Brooklyn, NY, and Annapolis, MD, this month to celebrate the Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

Rev. Gladimir Gérard, C.Ss.R. and Rev. Jean Claudel Pierre, C.Ss.R. presided at several events leading up to the June 27 feast day celebrations. Both Redemptorists are from Port-au-Prince and survived the January earthquake that leveled much of the city.

Rev. Pierre arrived in Boston on June 18, and visited a Haitian parish on the weekend of June 19-20. He was guest homilist for the triduum celebrations June 24-26 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Mission Church) in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. The triduum was celebrated in French Creole.

Rev. Gérard visited St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis to speak at the Masses on the weekend of June 19-20. He then travelled to the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY, to participate in novena services leading up to the feast. He preached at the weekend Masses June 26-27, and presided at a special Mass on June 27 for the Haitian community.

The Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a significant one among Haitian Catholics. For that one day, the basilicas in Boston and Brooklyn become the spiritual home for hundreds of immigrants. “On that one day, they fill the church,” said Very Rev. Joseph Tizio, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn.

Redemptorists serving in the Region of Haiti are part of the Sainte-Anne de Beaupré Province based in Quebec, Canada. In Port-au-Prince, the Redemptorist parish of St. Gerard and the parish school were demolished in the January earthquake. The Redemptorists and the people they serve continue to live in the streets.

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REDEMPTORISTS IN THE NEWS:

Ireland
Limerick’s Annual Solemn Novena
By Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader

More than 100 lay people across Limerick were involved in the preparations for Limerick's annual solemn novena, which drew some 100,000 people to its nine-day "festival of faith".

The novena ran from June 18 to 26. at the Redemptorist Church, Mount St Alphonsus.

The novena has been a feature in Limerick since the early 1970s, and the overall theme this year was 'Our Church - A time for hope'.

"We are very conscious that these have been bad years for the Church," said Fr. Adrian Egan, rector of the Redemptorist church.

"People's faith has been tested and this is a time for people to reflect on what they want from their Church. That was the focus of our prayer and preaching over the nine days. It was an uplifting time for people, especially at the moment with the recession and unemployment and all," he said.

A strong "woman's perspective" was also be part of this year's novena, with two female preachers attending - Rev. Jane Gilbraith, Church of Ireland curate in Limerick, and Henrietta O'Meara, a provincial delegate for the youth ministry of the Redemptorists.

The presence of a Church of Ireland curate at the Redemptorists' novena was also "a first", Fr. Egan said.

Active in Limerick since 1851, the Redemptorists urged that "no matter how strong or weak your faith may be" you will be most welcome to attend the novena.

For those who were unable to attend, there was an opportunity to watch the proceedings at www.novena.ie

"We have many thousands of people tuning in from around the world, from China, Israel, Russia and America. We have eight webcams in the church so our outreach is massive," he said.

Visitors to the site can watch the masses, request a petition, send e-cards, light a candle and visit the church's online gallery.

Other preachers for this year's novena were Fr. Daniel Francis, from Baltimore in the United States, Fr. Peter Burns of the Redemptorist community in Dublin, and Fr. Tony Rice of the Redemptorist community in Dundalk.

Events:

There was ten sessions each day throughout the novena at 7am, 8am, 10am, 11.30am, 1.10pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm, 9pm and 10.30pm.

The children's novena was held on Sunday, June 20 at 4.30pm, where there was a blessing for babies and young children.

On Monday, June 21 at 11.30am a special novena celebration was held for First Holy Communion classes.

A counselling service was available from Monday, June 21 to Friday, June 25, from 10.45am to 1.15pm, and from 5pm to 9.30pm.

A mass for the sick and infirm was held on Saturday, June 26 at 11.30am, while the Sacrament of Reconciliation was an all-day celebration on Tuesday, June 22

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Brazil
The Catholic Church shows its business side at Aparecida
Carlos Prieto, Valor newspaper

The room on the 10th floor of the management building is large, with various windows. It is divided in the middle by a book case full of religious images, with an image of the Holy Spirit hanging on the wall. On one side, there are sofas and a television which speak of relaxation and an informal atmosphere. On the other side, there is a desk fit for the C.E.O. of a large corporation. Another table holds 8 chairs to host a monthly meeting of the board of directors. In the first semester of last year, 5 board members sat to decide upon the future of a new investment. On the table was a project for constructing a complex which included 3 hotels, a convention center, a shopping mall and recreation area. It was projected at 60 millon Reais (about 30 million U.S dollars), with the possibility of a government “stimulus” financing up to 60% of that. A meeting of the board of directors is a common thing in the business world, but this one has a special twist. The president of the Board is the Archbishop of Aparecida, Raymundo Damasceno Assis, and the C.E.O. is a Redemptorist priest, Luiz Cláudio Alves de Macedo. The other 3 members are also priests. The company, with its own government business registration, is the National Shrine of Our Lady of Conception Aparecida. http://www.a12.com/santuario/

To administrate the largest religious complex in Brazil, over 100 miles from the state Capital of Sao Paulo, demands a professional capacity and a touch many times not seen, for example, in a family (“mom and pop”) company. In his role at C.E.O., Fr. Luiz Cláudio earned an MBA in Administration from the prestigious Getulio Vargas Foundation School before assuming his job in 2009. With a degree in economics, he controls a “business” with 1,300 employees, with monthly salaries amounting to half a million dollars a month. "All those under me are professionals in their fields. The priests are busy in other departments. We have people who even belong to different religions, like Evangelicals, Spiritists, Buddhist, etc.”

The business side of the National Shrine is divided into different departments, like the legal section, marketing, and new business matters. There are people to take care of health issues, security and overall maintenance. As is the practice in large businesses, workers use name tags, lunch together on food well prepared by good cooks, and have uniforms. “We have even organized special work schedules around the World Cup Football (Brazil was a top contender) without hurting any of the religious activities” says Fr. Luiz Claudio.

Father Darci José Nicioli, who held the position for 10 years is now the Rector and Superior of the National Shrine. He takes care of the pastoral and religious work. He is Luiz Cláudio’s boss but says it would be impossible to maintain and keep the place functioning without these professionals. "We are a church which organizes herself as a business. We have 1, 297 people working with us, and we could not function any other way", says Fr. Darci, who is also a member of the board.

The yearly income at the National Shrine is around 100 million Reais (50 million US dollars). 60% of this comes from the faithful who are part of a club (Campanha dos Devotos) with roots all over Brazil. There are 560,000 registered members, with an average, monthly participation of 280,000 donations. The donations left by the pilgrims who come to Aparecida amounts to 20% The other 20% comes from rent paid by the 388 shops, eating places, stands, parking, etc,. which operate on the Basilica’s property.

Officially, the Shrine belongs to the Brazilian Conference of Bishops (CNBB) and there is an annual visit made by 5 bishops who examine and approve the books.

And so it was as a business that the National Shrine designed the construction of the CITY OF THE PILGRIM: an expansion that will generate resources and enlarge the capacity to serve the public. As laid out by Father Darci, the principal mission of the Shrine is to welcome its visitors and provide a spiritual experience for them. Last year (2009), nearly 9.5 million persons visited the Shrine and the projection for 2010 is to pass 10 million.

The land for the new development measures 177,6 thousand square meters and was bought by the church after a theme park on the spot failed. This new area for the pilgrims will be 700 meters from the New Basilica and close to the spot in the Paraiba River where the image of our Blessed Mother was found in 1717. It is still possible to see part of the installations of the former theme park, which is in process of being demolished. The purpose of the CITY OF THE PILGRIM is to offer to the visitor lodging, space for meetings, food, shopping and relaxation, all in the same place.

The first hotel to be built will be ready in the fall of 2010. It is being built in conjunction with the METACON construction company. The Shrine provided the land necessary, and the construction company paid the rest. Of the 170 rooms, 25 will be controlled by the church. A second hotel with 300 rooms will be financed by the Shrine. It has not yet been determined who will administrate it. but will not stay under the control of the church. "Priests were not made for this", jokes Father Darci, who plans to follow the model of Ibis, of the network Accor, without, however, adapting the leasing it out as is traditional in the hotel industry. The project includes a third hotel, which when completed, will make a total of 990 available rooms. The recreation areas and the shopping center will be rented out to others. But the centerpiece will be the Convention Center, which will hold 1,200 people. In 2011 it will host the annual meeting of the Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), which has long held its meetings at Indaiatuba. (Editor’s note. Itaici, where the 1991 General Chapter was held). But the plans go far beyond this. The idea is to offer space for religious organizations and companies to hold their conventions and meetings there also.

With the CITY OF THE PILGRIM well under way, the National Shrine is already studying new forms of raising its income, such as using internet shopping and buying on line. "We have to generate resources that allow us not only to maintain the present structures, but look to the possibility of growing. We do not doubt that the Holy Spirit will help us, but we have to do our part", say Father Darci. This explains, in part the presence of the Image of the Holy Spirit which hangs in the board of directors meeting room.

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CONFERENCE NEWS:

Conference of Europe
First Assembly of the Conference of European Redemptorist
Lorenz Voith, C.Ss.R.

The new European Conference of the Redemptorists was formally established at its first official meeting from the 9th to the 12th of May in Vienna (Austria). Under the presidency of General Fr. Michael Brehl, 38 provincials, vice-provincials, regional superiors and delegates from the provinces of Europe attended this historical meeting. Together with Father General, General Consultors Fr. Jacek Dembek and Fr. Alberto Esserveri, as well as the General Econome Fr. Stan Wróbel, were official participants at the meeting. ”The European Conference of the Redemptorists” In line with the decisions of the 24th General Chapter of the Redemptorists, which took place in autumn 2009 in Rome, a new structural level ('conference') between the General Government and the single provinces was discussed. In spite of the many differences in Europe, such as the various languages,cultures and rites, the focus of the meeting was on the main common characteristics in this zone. It was decided that generally in the future Europe will not establish 'Subregions'. Secretariats will, however, be formed. The meeting was conducted in four languages with simultaneous translation (German, English, French, Italian).

Immigrant-pastoral - pastoral main focuses
Pastoral help to migrants in Europe is a special challenge to which the Congregation wishes to give major priority. In this regard, proposals will be made to the various local churches concerning the acceptance of pastoral service (in international communities). A special commission will be set up in the coming months to investigate such possibilities and make concrete suggestions to prepare the Redemptorists for this kind of service.

'Where are we especially requested?, where are we particularly sought after? ', these questions should remain a constant inquiry for the “ European Conference”. Provincial Michael Kellerher (Dublin), Provincial Pedro Lopez Calvo (Madrid), Provincial Lorenz Voith (Vienna) and Fr. Martin Huk (Bratislava) were appointed to this commission for pastoral priorities.

Formation (education)
The present formation system in Europe (candidature, novitiate and study houses) will be reviewed by a commission. One aim for the next years should be much stronger collaboration in this area and the establishment of a number of common formation houses in the major parts of Europe. An important aim of a new formation process would be that at least one part of the formation of all students take place in one of the common formation houses. In this way an important base could be laid for future common pastoral initiatives. These are some of the ideas on the theme of formation which were discussed at the meeting. The commission for 'formation' will be led by Fr. Serafino Fiore (Naples). Other members are Fr. Jacek Zdrzalek (Warsaw), Provincial Ronnie Mc Ainch, Fr. Johannes Römelt (Cologne, St. Clemens Province).

New statutes Before the next meeting of the “European Conference” in Trois Epis (Strasbourg) in October, 2010, statutes will be compiled by an appointed commission. These should cover financial and structural aspects and identify the main responsibilities of the “European Conference”. Subsequently, before March 2011, names should be gathered for the role of coordinator (who should not be a provincial or vice – provincial) by the middle of March, 2011. The general government will appoint a coordinator for Europe according to the suggestions submitted by the middle of March, 2011. He will then be also an extraordinary member of the general government. The statute commission is led by former general Fr. Lasso de la Vega (Madrid). Other members are: Provincial Antonio Gomes Dias (Lisbon), Provincial Ryszard Bozek (Warsaw). Another Commission will address the organizational and financial issues of the European Conference. The members are: Provincial Hermann ten Winkel (St. Clement), Fr. Jan Hafmanns (St. Clement), Fr. Stan Wróbel (General Econome).

The meeting place in Vienna was highly appreciated by all the participants, not only because of the historical associations but also because of its central position in the heart of Europe and the good travel connections.

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Conference of Europe
Commission for pastoral priorities
Lorenz Voith, C.Ss.R.

This commission, established by the Conference, met on June 15th in Dublin (Ireland). At this meeting some priorities were suggested for the Redemptorists in Europe. These should be discussed in the different Units before autumn, that is before the next meeting of the Conference. It should be clarified which level of priorities the Conference should work on together and which level of priorities should remain the task of the Provinces and regions.

Suggestions for the priorities of the European Conference:
- Ministry to Secular Europe (among other things, in new forms of mission, e.g., in missionary parishes and centres, media work, international Communities in towns, …)
- Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Ministry to 'migrants' and to 'those left behind' (incl. migrants in Denmark)
- Ministry that responds to Contemporary Humanly Life Issues – of life and death, of sexuality, of relationships, of the new realities of family life, of addiction etc..

Criteria used in making this choice were the Constitutions, the decisions of the General Chapter, the discussion in the meetings of the European Conference in Vienna and our own pastoral perception. From feedback received from the reports, a document with concrete suggestions will be prepared at the end of September in Madrid.

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

First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Fabio Mendonça Pascoal, Province of Goiás, April 13, 2010
Mark Chia, Province of Ipoh (Singapore), May 23, 2010
Alex Carvalho, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Andrew Sebastian Dantis, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Velson Agnelo Fernandes, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Jose Jockin, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Sandeep Giovani Pinto de Menezes, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Joseph Abraham Siluvai Rathinam, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Peter Anthony Soy, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Ranjit Tirkey, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
John Paul Xavier, Province of Bangalore, June 9, 2010
Peter Dang Ding Tha, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Dominic Dinh Thanh Minhy Duong, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Peter Le Quang Hai, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Francis of Assisi Le Thanh An, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Nguyen Duc Hanh, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
James Nguyen Duc Vu Minh, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Nguyen Duy Thinh, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Nguyen Khanh Son, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Nguyen Ngoc Duy, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Pham Dac Luc, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Josepeh Pham Thanh Han, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Tran Van Chuc, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Paul Tran Van Hai, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Vincent Vu Huong Lac, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Vu Van Duoc, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010

Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Paul Sangkhom Ampaipipat, Vice Province of Bangkok, May 29, 2010
Michael Anuwat Arsairat, Vice Province of Bangkok, May 29, 2010
Guido Bamrun Suesanngam, Vice Province of Bangkok, May 29, 2010
Joseph Poowanai Tantikul, Vice Province of Bangkok, May 29, 2010
Antony Peter Ginu Chakkalakkal, Province of Bangalore, June 7, 2010
Peter Michael D’Souza, Province of Bangalore, June 7, 2010
Glen Jose Soni Fernandez, Provinice of Bangalore, June 7, 2010
Jean Baptiste Le Thanh Hai, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Pierre Nguyen Ba Quoc Linh, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Jean Baptiste Nguyen Thai Thuong, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Nguyen Tuan Minh, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Dominique Nguyen Van Phuong, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Pham Van Luat, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Tran Duc Hung, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Joseph Tran Huu Hoan, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Francois Xavier Tran Van Quang, Province of Vietnam, June 25, 2010
Elmer Francisco Pinza Robles, Province of Quito, June 27, 2010

Ordination to the Priesthood:
Marcelinus Lelu Lede, Province of Indonesia, April 22, 2009
Marselinus Silviandre Ta, Province of Indonesia, April 22, 2009
Binoy Antony Uppumackal, Province of Liguori, April 12, 2010
Alex Theruvamkunnel, Province of Liguori, April 20, 2010
Alejandro Arciniega Muñoz, Province of México, May 16, 2010
Miroslav Bujdoš, Vice Province of Michalovce, May 23, 2010
Grzegorz Jósef Gut, Province of Warsaw, May 29, 2010
Marcin Franciczek Krupa, Province of Warsaw, May 29, 2010
Łukasz Paweł Listopad, Province of Warsaw, May 29, 2010
Bogusław Maksymilian Nawracaj, Province of Warsaw, May 29, 2010
Miloš Miloslav Pizovka, Vice Province of Bratislava, June 19, 2010
Ramón Cabrera Mejía, Province of San Juan, June 25, 2010
Pierre Le Thanh Phuc, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Jean Nguyen Duc Phu, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Vincent Liem Nguyen Truong Chinh, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Vincent Marie Pham Cao Quy, Province of Vietnam, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Joseph Pham Dinh Tri, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Pierre Phan Cong Truong, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Joseph Truong Hoang Vu, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Joseph Truong Van Ming, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010
Martin de Porres Vu Dong Tung, Province of Vietnam, June 26, 2010

Deaths:
Rev. Carolus (Karel) van Wely, 80, Province of St. Clement/Region of Netherlands, June 1, 2010
Rev. Jean Ochsenbein, 74, Province of Strasbourg, June 11, 2010
Rev. Marcelino Cabeza Martínez, 82, Province of México, June 11, 2010
Rev. José Ramón Maneiro Berúdez, 86, Province of Lisbon, June 15, 2010
Rev. William O´Connell, 83, Province of Dublin, June 16, 2010
Rev. Robert Hopwood, 84, Vice Province of Asunción, June 24, 2010
Rev. Roland Iuncker, 86, Province of Lyon-Paris, June 28, 2010

Appointments:
(All given on June 17, 2010)

Father Stanisław Wróbel, Province of Warsaw, appointed Econome General until June 30, 2013.

Father Ivan Horban, Province of Lviv, appointed to assist in the office of the Econome General September 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011.

Father Carlos Viol, Province of Rio de Janeiro, appointed Econome of Casa Sant´Alfonso, Rome July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

Father Régulo Gaitán Bejarano, Province of Bogotá, appointed Vice Econome of Casa Sant´Alfonso, Rome October 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

Father John Vargas, Province of Denver, appointed Procurator General July 1, 2010 until the next General Government elections.

Father José Moreira Pinto de Sousa, Province of Lisbon, appointed Vice Procurator General July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014.

Suppression of House

Domus “Klooster Jette”, Region of Flanders, in the City of Brussels, Belgium. Effective August 31, 2010.

Suppression/Erection/Transfer of Novitiate:

Suppression:
Domus “Villa Redeemer,” Province of Denver, site of the Interprovincial Novitiate of the North American Conference in the city of Glenview, Illinois, USA, suppressed June 2, 2010.
Erection:
Domus Interprovincial Novitiate of the North American Conference at the Provincial House, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, canonically erected June 2, 2010.
Transfer:
North American Conference Novitiate from Villa Redeemer, in the city of Glenview, Illinois, USA to the Provincial House, Province of Edmonton-Toronto in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Effective June 2, 2010.

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