Rome, Italy
May 16, 2009

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FROM THE EDITOR:
Italy: Earthquake strikes Abruzzo
Bolivia: Cardinal Terrazas’s home bombed
Thailand: Red Shirts riot
Vietnam: More tension
Inter-province projects
Consecration dates of new Redemptorist Bishops
Rome: Study day at the Alphonsian Academy
Redemptorist anniversary celebrations

NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES:
Dublin: New St. Clement School opens in Limerick
Northern European provinces meet
Eastern European units meet
Madrid: A unique Easter Triduum
Vietnam: Tensions on the rise
Denver: Blessed Seelos cause advances

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The new Catalogus has been printed and mailed
How to print out SCALA in larger type

FEATURED MEDIA:
The Province of Naples' new website

TRANSITIONS:
Professions, Ordinations, Anniversaries, Deaths

A LAST LOOK:
Easter Triduum for Acoger y Compartir

FROM THE EDITOR Around the world in 5 minutes

Since Redemptorists minister all around the world and in many of the world’s trouble spots, it is common that Redemptorists are involved in stories that become of interest to the entire world. This was the case in four separate incidents this past month.

An earthquake of 6.3 Richter magnitude struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy in early April. No Redemptorists were hurt nor were any of the houses of the Roman province damaged. The earthquake was felt in Rome about 70 miles away and woke up the majority of the confreres at the General House at 3:30 a.m. with shaking and rattling that lasted about 20 seconds. Father Gil Enderle, from the Denver Province, who works in the Historical Institute, was scheduled to help a pastor in a town only 30 miles from the epicenter for the Easter Triduum. Although the town suffered only minor damage, it turned out the pastor suffered a heart attack during the earthquake and Father Enderle’s help became essential to the town’s Easter Triduum celebrations Most of those celebrations had to take place in open air venues for fear of aftershocks and more damage.

In Bolivia, Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Santa Cruz and president of the Bolivian bishops’ conference, was not at home and unhurt when his home was bombed during the night of April 14-15, causing minor damage and injuring no one, news reports said. A portion of a brown wooden wall in the front of the house was blown away, littering the driveway with wooden fragments. No arrests have been made but news reports said three men and a woman were seen in a car in the neighborhood shortly before the bombing and were being sought for questioning. No one claimed responsibility for the attack and authorities did not disclose any possible motive. Bolivia has experienced more than its share of violence related to drug cartels and the Church and the Bolivian government have been publicly critical of each other. The Bolivian bishops’ conference condemned the violence as did Pope Benedict XVI in a message sent through the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and read by the apostolic nuncio in Bolivia, Archbishop Biambattista Diquattro to the Bolivian prelates, which said: "Any act of violence, committed with the sole intention of damaging, harming or intimidating others, is always reproachable and unworthy of the human person and profoundly contrary to the Christian values of love, communion and mutual respect."

In the four years of his pontificate, Benedict XVI has appointed 11 Redemptorists to the episcopacy.

It is also worthy of note that during his pontificate he has appointed 17 non-Redemptorist Alphonsian Academy graduates to be bishops and promoted another 14 Alphonsian graduates who were already bishops to higher posts. Through its graduates, the Academy is having a great influence on Church leadership around the world.

Somewhat overshadowed by the centenary celebration of St. Clement, but not to be forgotten, is the 170th anniversary of the canonization of St. Alphonsus on May 26th. The province of Naples is celebrating by holding a seminar beginning May 22nd that progresses from Scala to Ciorani to Pagani over five days, ending with a concert of Alphonsian music. For more information e-mail Father Giovanni Vicidomini at giovicidomini@virgilio.it. Also, visit the province of Naples' updated website, which is our featured media this month.

On June 24, 2009, the province of St. Clement will be hosting an international celebration in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Peter Donders in Tilburg, Holland at Peter Donders Park (www.peerkedonders.nl). Father General is expected to be the principal celebrant at the Mass. If you would like to receive more information or make a reservation for the celebration send a message to info@stclemens.org . This past March in the land where Blessed Donders ministered, Suriname, a museum for Peter Donders was opened in the bishop’s residence in Paramaribo. Along with photos and documents, there are also tangible reminders to be found there, such as his bed and his original coffin.

In a few short days the major celebration in honor of the centenary of the canonization of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer will take place in Vienna. As previously reported in SCALA#42 (December) the Provinces of Austria, Prague and Warsaw have been busy with preparations for an international 5 day celebration. The highlight will be take place on May 20th, with a ‘Festakademie’ and a Solemn Mass in our beautiful Church of Maria am Gestade, Vienna. Many confreres, including Father General and a large delegation from America, are expected to attend. Next month we hope to have an account of the celebrations.

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

Index

NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES:

Ireland
“New” St. Clements College Officially Opened in Limerick
Seamus Enright, C.Ss.R.

The “new” St. Clements College was officially opened in Limerick by Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea, T.D. on Thursday, March 26, 2009. Prior to the opening Most Reverend Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick, celebrated a Mass at Mount St. Alphonsus Church, which was attended by pupils, parents and teachers. The site for the new school was provided by the Redemptorist Community while the funding for the new building was provided by the Department of Education and Science.

The new school has 450 students in attendance, with a staff of 50. There are 350 Irish students with the remainder made up of pupils from 22 different countries. These include students from Poland, Romania, Nigeria, Nepal, Brazil, Afghanistan and Lithuania. The new school is comprised of 30 general classrooms, a tech room, an art room, a multimedia lab, a computer room a gymnasium and an all weather tartan turf sports field, as well as a six lane running track. The sports field was primarily funded by the local Redemptorist Community. The traditional religious ethos of the school is conveyed with a chapel sitting in the heart of the building. The Department of Education and Science has invested €10 million in the school, €9 million to build and €1 million in furniture and equipment. Speaking at the launch, Minister Willie O’Dea said, "It is a very proud day for the staff, pupils and parents of St. Clement's College. The new school is richly deserved and would not have been possible without the generosity of the Redemptorists.

The close partnership that St Clement's College and the Redemptorists enjoy is an example of how well such a unique relationship can work for the benefit of students, parents and the wider community as whole. The Redemptorists have an outstanding reputation in this country, north and south, for helping communities in so many ways and their close relationship with St Clement's College is a fine example of how their determination to make a difference is thriving in Limerick. St. Clement's College has a long and proud tradition both in academic achievements and sporting success and I was honoured to be invited to open its new school." History The Redemptorists came to Limerick for a Mission in St;. John's in 1851. They were invited to set up a foundation in the city, and so the first Redemptorist community was set up in the city in 1853.

In 1901, a wing was added to the monastery, to house about 30 boys in the boarding school. In 1935 a new building was opened to cater for 60 boarders, and this was extended in 1950 to hold 100 students. It remained a boarding school, until, in 1976, the Redemptorists decided that the school should be a day school for boys, and no longer be a boarding school. Quickly, the numbers grew from 100 to about 450.

The Stained Glass Windows: Above the main door, a circular window recognizes St. Clement as the patron of the school. A former student, Brian Fitzgerald, who now studies at an art college in London, painted the image of the Virgin Mary that adorns the staircase. Central to the complex are three stained glass windows, which chart a youngster’s journey from entering school, growing in grace and knowledge, and continuing on to adulthood. They were designed by Father Jan Haen, C.Ss.R., a member of the St. Clement Province/Region of the Netherlands. Mr. Barry Curtin, a glass designer, spent eight months painting and cutting the glass. Shown below in part are the three passages in the stained glass windows: 1) a young boy leaving childhood behind and being introduced to sport, music, art and math; 2) the story of St. Clement, the patron saint of the school; and 3) the young man heading out into the world and continuing his journey in life.

Father Jan said of the windows: “Of course the bigger story behind any form of education is that the person matures and grows. These windows represent the alpha, and the omega, the beginning and the end.” Mr. Curtin added that “it felt like 28 years cutting the glass for the windows. It feels excellent to see it finished. This is the most interesting work I have done in my career.”

Index

The Ordinary Provincial Councils of the Dublin, London and St. Clement province have agreed to meet twice annually. On March 19th, Dublin provincial Fr. Michael Kelleher hosted this meeting.

The highlights of the agenda were discussions exchanging information and experiences on formation and plans for setting up an interprovincial ‘city mission’ in Clapham, London.

The three OPC’s decided in their first meeting, held February 17th, 2007, to start a joint investigation into the pastoral opportunities and practical possibilities of a new pastoral missionary project based in Clapham (London) as a joint responsibility of the three provinces. In June 2007 a Project Commission made up of members from the three provinces was appointed. This commission proposed in April 2008: “That the three Provinces establish an Inter-Provincial community of Redemptorists who will, in partnership with a core team of lay people and possibly other religious, develop, integrate and sustain the mission and ministry of St Mary’s, Clapham, in ways that include a worshipping community, hands-on care for the poor and abandoned, and that engages humanly and spiritually with the wider community of Clapham and London.”

The progress of this effort was interrupted by the triennial elections of Ordinary Provincial Councils. But now, the three newly elected OPC’s have decided to propose to their EPC’s to continue this process. Meanwhile an exploratory team of three confreres and a layperson has arrived in Clapham, and confreres and laity from other provinces have expressed interest in joining them.

Index

Northern Europe Leadership Meeting of Vienna, Bratislava and Prague Units Martin Huk, C.Ss.R. The leadership of the the Province of Vienna, the Province of Prague and the Vice Province of Bratislava met together in Bratislava on April 3, 2009. Those attending were Fr. Lorenz Voith, Fr. Andreas Hiller, Fr. Michal Zamkovský, Fr. Peter Slobodník, Fr. Jozef Michalčík, and Fr. Martin Huk. The purpose of the meeting was to build and strengthen inter-unit relations, exchange information on the present conditions and future plans in each Unit and foster further cooperation across unit boundaries such as in formation, pastoral activities, language courses, attendance at each others’ (vice) provincial chapters, etc. Another meeting is scheduled for the future. Index

 When the members of Acoger y Compartir (Welcome and Sharing) met at El Hornico, Jaén, Spain for Easter, representatives and Redemptorists from the missions of Niger and Haití, which the organization was set up to help, occupied a special place at the celebration.
 
138 representatives from three different age groups participated: children, adolescents and adults. They came together for prayer, celebrations and attended discussions on different themes each day. Then each age group reflected on the theme separately. The purpose of this gathering was to let all the age groups experience the Church as the People of God. For this reason they joined the parish community of Castril (Granada) for the liturgy of Good Friday. The other celebrations took place at El Hornico suitably arranged for each occasion. (See photos in “A Last Look”)
 
These Easter days have been marked by getting to know the history of the people we serve on the missions as well as their countries where Acoger y Compartir has its projects. The same is true also of the special projects being developed in 2008-09, which are, for example, the school for Tuareg children and the medical dispensaries and maternity centre of Tchirozèrine in Niger. In Haiti there is the school of St. Gerard in Port-au-Prince and 21 cisterns built to catch the rainfall in Chateau. There is also the construction of a Hospice for orphans in Leogâne. In this way we try to combine the hidden struggle to achieve with our joy when our efforts are successful.

The proposed subject for Easter 2009 has been ‘The silent power of the gift of self’. Why? Because we believe that that there is a hidden strength that comes from the little acts of generosity performed each day that helps us to experience the presence of the Risen Lord. Each day we reflected on a theme. These ranged from “A love that is stronger than death” as a background to Holy Thursday to the reality to the “struggle, forgiveness and the gift of self” on Good Friday. On Holy Saturday we considered “the challenge of incertitude” which was helped by our uncertain weather! On the day following Easter Sunday we asked ourselves "how do we put in practice the Easter proclamation as a celebration of a “feast of our success?"

During these Easter days we informed our friends and collaborators in Acoger y Compartir of our various activities to raise funds for our projects. Some of these are special activities. Before and after Easter we held ‘Welcome and Sharing’ dinners in Granada, Tomelloso, Madrid and Tenerife.

The Granada and Madrid events drew 2500 people. There are also courses in the Pharmacy Faculty of Granada, sales of arts and crafts, etc and the silent contribution of so many people.

For those who would like to see some videos of our projects presented at the Easter celebrations they can be found on our website: www.acogerycompartir.org It also includes some of the materials used and the Easter Proclamation composed by an intergenerational group.

By celebrating Easter in an open park close to nature in the south of Spain we have sought to draw near to that hidden force that overcomes the dark night of fatalism in the heart. We know as well that nature tells us that even in our struggles we have the joy of being alive.

The Resurrection of Christ teaches us that His presence transforms into the Kingdom of God those places where good things are done for those who suffer extreme poverty.

Vietnam
Hanoi
Viet Catholic News

In the conflict between Thai Ha parish and Vietnamese authorities, police have repeatedly summoned Fr. Peter Nguyen Van Khai, the spokesperson of Hanoi Redemptorists. During Saturday April 25th, police sent to Thai Ha Monastery three “urgent summoning orders” asking Fr. Peter Nguyen to present “in person” at Hanoi Criminal Investigation Department for the "clarification of a number of documents".

Upon receiving the first summoning order, Fr. Peter Nguyen replied promptly that he could not go to the police department due to pastoral responsibilities that he needed to fulfill during the weekend. Nevertheless, police kept sending two more summoning orders in a threatening tactic devised to bind legal obligations against him.

Harassments against Hanoi Redemptorists occurred immediately after Fr. Matthew Vu Khoi Phung, the Superior of Hanoi Monastery, sent a complaint to various government organs asking for the suspension of a construction project at the 18,230 square meters area surrounding Lake Ba Giang which has been legally owned and managed by Thai Ha parish - the Redemptorist Monastery. Citing article 70 in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1992 which states "The places of worship of all faiths and religions are protected by the law", Fr. Matthew Vu strongly denounced the current situation of the area: “our land is being invaded and construction project has been illegally started.” “We request the Dong Da District's People Committee to take actions by ordering the suspension of construction project being in progress at the Lake Ba Giang area, ceasing all work related-activities, pulling out all equipments and machinery from the premise of Thai Ha parish-Redemptorists in Hanoi,” wrote Fr. Matthew Vu. In response to his letter, a series of summoning orders have been sent to Thai Ha Monastery threatening “criminal investigations” against his congregation.

It is with great delight and glory to God, that the Most Reverend Edwin F. O’Brien, Archbishop of Baltimore, has confirmed the date of May 19, 2009, to proceed with the official diocesan Inquiry Phase of the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. On that day, a special Opening Mass will be held in America’s first cathedral, the historic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, MD, USA. After the Mass, Rev. Gilbert J. Seitz, J.C.L. of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Baltimore will begin the depositions of key witnesses – including that of Mary Ellen Heibel of St. Mary’s (Redemptorist) Church, Annapolis, Maryland, USA, who attributes through the intercession of Blessed Seelos her cure of metastasized esophageal cancer. After this Inquiry Phase is completed, the official documentation will be sent to the Redemptorist Postulator General, Rev. Antonio Marrazzo, C.Ss.R., for review by the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Let us pray for God’s continued blessings on this exciting new advancement of the cause for Father Seelos’ canonization!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Announcement
Office of the Secretary General
Joseph Dorcey, C.Ss.R.

Catalogus Sodalium 2009, for the period of 2003-2008, was recently printed and sent to all Units of the Congregation. The print order and mailing included one copy for every Redemptorist community in the world, plus a few extra copies for each Unit. Hopefully, by the time you read this edition of SCALA, these books will have already arrived. The publication is as accurate as it was possible to make it at printing time. Any recent events you discover missing arrived too late to include. Also, on p. 39, it should be noted that Fr. Tobin was elected general consultor in 1991, not 1997. Every month Catalogus is updated and available for viewing in the Redemptorist area of the official web site of the general government, www.cssr.com, offering a list of the living and active members of the Congregation. It can be found and downloaded at this address: http://www.cssr.com/members/resources/Catalogus-MenuPage-EN.shtml We can also make a read-only copy of the Congregation’s official databases, Catalogus and Inscriptiones, available for download. The Catalogus database contains information about 28,485 past and present confreres of the Congregation, from St. Alphonsus to the most recently professed confrere. The Inscriptiones database contains the latest addresses and contact information. However, you must have Microsoft Access installed on your computer in order to be able to open and read these programs. Let me know (Father Dorcey, seg.gen@cssr.com) if you would like to receive a monthly notice of where to find and download these databases. Index

Many of you print out SCALA for confreres who do not have access to computers. Our present format sometimes prints out in very small print. Here is a simple way to increase the size of SCALA for printout for the most commonly used browser: INTERNET EXPLORER

Go to VIEW on your Browser toolbar.
Click on VIEW
Click on TEXT SIZE
You will see choices for: Smallest, Smaller, Medium, Large and Larger with a black dot (●) at your current setting.
Click on LARGE or LARGER
PRINT out SCALA.

After printing, go back to VIEW, TEXT SIZE and restore your viewing preference (●) to its original setting.

The instructions are somewhat similar for other browsers. If you use another browser and need the instructions, please e-mail me at GaryZ@cssr.com, tell us what browser you use and we will send you the instructions.

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:FEATURED MEDIA:

The new website of the Province of Naples: http://www.redentoristi.com/

Index

TRANSITIONS

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

First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Morris Gerard Zavier, Region of Colombo, August 1, 2008

Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Gregory Alan Wiest, Province of Denver, March 1, 2009
John Duggan, Province of Dublin, March 15, 2009
Brian Paul Nolan, Province of Dublin, March 15, 2009
Anthony Rice, Province of Dublin, March 15, 2009
Manoel Ribamar Barbosa da Silva, Province of Gioás, March 15, 2009
Natalino Martins Ribeiro, Province of Goiás, March 15, 2009
João Paulo Santos de Souza, Province of Goiás, March 15, 2009
Héctor Manuel Opazo Valenzuela, Province of Santiago, March 28, 2009
Carlos Humberto Pérez Triviño, Province of Santiago, March 28, 2009
Hugo Marcelo Oñate Guerrero, Province of Quito, March 29, 2009
Chabi Siméon Biaou, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 16, 2009
Patinde Francis Ilboudo, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 16, 2009
Ibrahim Seydou Gerard, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 16, 2009
Madou Germain Yougbare, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, April 16, 2009
Miguel Ángel Castro Páramo, Vice Province of Caracas, April 24, 2009

Ordination to the Priesthood:
Javier José Riquelme Aguayo, Province of Santiago, March 14, 2009
Lúcio Marcos Bento, Province of Rio de Janeiro, March 15, 2009
Oscar Alejandro García Díaz, Province of Buenos Aires, April 18, 2009

Ordination to the Episcopacy:
Father Jósef Słaby of the Vice Province of Resistencia for the new Territorial Prelature of Esquel, Argentina, May 8, 2009.

Deaths:
Rev. Fernando Ortega Roa, 87, Province of Santiago, March 29, 2009
Rev. Jozef Henrickx, 76, Province of St. Clement/Region of Flanders, April 1, 2009
Rev. Mageste John Santopinto, 90, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, April 14, 2009
Br. Afonso Lopes da Silva, 69, Province of Rio de Janeiro, April 20, 2009

60th Jubilee of Profession:
Gilbert Vigneron, Region of Belgium-South, May 8, 2009

60th Jubilee of Ordination:
Robert Boucher, Province of Lyon-Paris, May 1, 2009
Henri Johan, Province of Lyon-Paris, May 1, 2009

50th Jubilee of Ordination:
Kenneth Britto, Province of Bangalore, May 23, 2009
Raphael Mascarenhas, Province of Bangalore, May 23, 2009

25th Jubilee of Profession:
Leo Armada, Province of Cebu, May 23, 2009

25th Jubilee of Ordination:
Doris Laplante, Province of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, May 13, 2009
Jerome Lewis Chavarria, Vice Province of Richmond, May 26, 2009

Index

A Last Look
A picture is worth more than a thousand words
Easter Triduum, 2009

Father Alberto de Mingo C.Ss.R. of the Holy Redeemer community in Madrid, and Father José Miguel de Haro, C.Ss.R. of the Redemptorist community in Las Lomas (Boadilla del Monte, Madrid), celebrate the Easter Triduum in southern Spain at a place called El Hornico with lay people who came from Granada, Madrid, Mérida, Jaen, Zaragoza, and Tarragona.

Index