Newsletter of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Rome Italy
November 16, 2005

From the Editor

Natural disasters have dominated the news in many parts of the world and affected the ministries of many Redemptorists. In an atmosphere reminiscent of the apocalyptic descriptions of the Book of Revelation, there have been hurricanes (all through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico), earthquakes (in Peru, India and Pakistan), volcanic eruptions, heavy rains and mudslides (in Central America) and a fire that destroyed a key building at Picture Rock’s Retreat House in Tucson, Arizona. See the picture gallery this month for some views of these phenomena. The Good News is that in all cases, our confreres are safe and sound, aiding those less fortunate, and bringing new life out of the chaos.

The Year of St. Gerard was solemnly and wondrously closed at Materdomini on Sunday, October 16th. Thousands attended the liturgy presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re , Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. Redemptorist Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, in Rome for the Synod on the Eucharist, was also on hand for the events, as well as Father General and Vicar General Serafino Fiore. An evening procession drew additional thousands to the grounds of Materdomini and the tomb of St. Gerard – whose glass reliquary was on public display for veneration.

The public celebrations of the Anno Gerardino may be over, but Redemptorist Brothers around the world continue to manifest Gerard’s love of God and dedication to the apostolate in multitudinous ways. In this issue of Scala we have a report on the Asian Brothers’ meeting in Vietnam and a synopsis of the Symposium held earlier this year at Materdomini in honor of St. Gerard.

Redemptorists are increasingly engaging the laity to accompany us in our religious life and mission. This issue of SCALA features news about the Secretariat for Partnership with the Laity, their new webpage, which you are invited to visit, and the activity of the lay missionaries in Bahia, Brazil.

Redemptorists are in the news and making news around the world. Bishop Kevin Dowling, C.SS.R., of Rustenberg, South Africa is one of them. In certain cases, confreres have strong feelings and reactions to a confrere’s position or activity. In reporting such things, SCALA is neither editorially “endorsing” nor "representing" the General Government’s position on their activity. As the index category says, we are simply reporting on “Redemptorists in the News.”

This is our first anniversary of SCALA! We wish to promote a spirit of solidarity among all the confreres around the world. Please help us by sending us e-mails of confreres to add to our list and by printing out SCALA for those whom it is not electronically available. We hope these pages remind you to pray for one another too. We depend on you to send us your news and photos. We receive many e-mails from the corners of the globe saying how much the confreres enjoy hearing about what you are doing. Send your electronic news to me at GaryZ@cssr.com or printed material in care of : P. Gary Ziuraitis, Ufficio di Comunicazione, Curia Generalis, C.P. 2458, 00100 Roma, Italia.

Grace & Redemption for All!
Gary Ziuraitis, C.SS.R.

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

First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Blaise Mputu Elima, Vice Province of Matadi, August 9, 2005
Yuriy Syvyk, Province of Lviv, August 19, 2005
Mykola Vozniak, Province of Lviv, August 19, 2005
Oleksiy Riabov, Province of Lviv, August 19, 2005
Stepan Andrusyshyn, Province of Lviv, August 19, 2005
Miguel Castro Castro, Province of Madrid, September 29, 2005
Carlos Sánchez De La Cruz, Province of Madrid, September 29, 2005

Profession of Perpetual Vows:
José Del Carmen Villamizar Villamizar, Province of Bogotá, July 29, 2005
Roman Zhyravetskyy, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Roman Lahish, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Petro Chorniy, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Vasyl Linytsia, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Yuriy Meush, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Vitaliy Kotyk, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Andriy Tsikalo, Province of Lviv, August 14, 2005
Gerardo M. Giordano, Province of Naples, September 9, 2005
Gaetano M. Desidera, Province of Naples, September 9, 2005
Vincenzo La Mendola, Province of Rome, October 9, 2005
Hector Eymard Puerto Patiño, Province of Bogotá, October 11, 2005
Jaime Urbano Sepúlveda Manrique, Province of Bogotá, October 14, 2005
Gerard Gregory Anil Louis, Vice Province of Ipoh, October 16, 2005
Eleázar Pérez Bustos, Province of Bogotá, October 23, 2005

Ordination to the Priesthood:
Bertrand Rafenombolamanana, Mission of Madagascar, September 18, 2005
Adolphe Rafanomezantsoa Zafimahatratra, Mission of Madagascar, September 18, 2005
André Vonjitsoa Rakotoarivelo, Mission of Madagascar, September 18, 2005
Robbia Roger Rakotondrasana, Mission of Madagascar, September 18, 2005
Alphonse de Liguori Randriamahefa, Mission of Madagascar, September 18, 2005
Michel Tombofeno, Mission Madagascar, September 18, 2005
Venance Vahiny, Mission of Madagascar, September 18, 2005
Anthony Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vice Province of Extra Patriam, October 1, 2005

Deaths:
Rev. John Mary Nguyen Duc Thong, 84, Vice Province of Extra Patriam, September 26, 2005
Student Jean Charles Rakotoarimanana, 32, Mission of Madagascar, October 13, 2005
Rev. François –Xavier Durrwell, 93, Province of Strausbourg, October 15, 2005
Rev. Marcel Carrier, 75, Vice Province of Tokyo, October 16, 2005
Rev. Marcel Inghels, 82, Region of Belgium-South, October 18, 2005
Rev. Jan Igielski, 90, Province of Warsaw, October 20, 2005
Rev. André Lassonde, 80, Province of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, October 28, 2005
Rev. Adalbert Jahn, 83, Province of St. Clement/Region of Cologne, October 29, 2005
Rev. Joseph Owens, 97, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, October 30, 2005
Br. William Roberts, 68, Province of Denver, October 31, 2005
Rev. Frederick Consla, 63, Province of San Juan, October 31, 2005

   Index

News from the Provinces

Peru
Earthquake at Los de Cascas
Felicísimo González Morán, C.SS.R.

Of all the Redemptorist communities of our area, we were the nearest to the epicenter of the earthquake. However, we are all safe. When the trembler struck, those in Cascas were at that moment celebrating Sunday Mass. Fr. Richard was the celebrant and he and all the people immediately left the Church. But nothing happened.

The shaking lasted a long time, almost two minutes. At first I braced myself against a pillar. Since the shaking continued, I managed some stairs and made my way to the center of the garden. It was an extraordinary scene. The whole house was moving and the students were shouting: “Everybody to the street!” We were very much afraid and since it lasted quite awhile it gave me time to place everything in the hands of God. They say that when one is in danger one becomes numb and cannot even pray, but I did manage to do it.

Materdomini, Italy
Congress on St. Gerard Majella, June 2005
A Saint of yesterday who still speaks to us today.
Alfonso Amarante, C.SS.R.

As one travels into the heart of Southern Italy, passing through green valleys and verdant hills, following the course of the Sele River to its source, one happens upon Materdomini, a hamlet that has grown up around a Sanctuary dedicated to the best known Saint of Southern Italy, Gerard Majella.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Gerard’s death and the centenary of his canonization, the Redemptorists, under the patronage of the Department of Historical and Social Science of the University of Salerno and the Alphonsian Academy of the Pontifical University of the Lateran in Rome, organized a Congress at Materdomini in June 2005 called “St. Gerard, his history and our time”.

Gerard and Materdomini.
It is fitting that Gerard’s final resting place and center of veneration should be at Materdomini. It is also fitting that this congress was held at Materdomini in the “Anno Gerardino." Gerard was born in the not too distant village of Muro Lucano in 1726 and died at Materdomini in 1755. During his short life he climbed the hill to Materdomini four times seeking answers to prayers and solace of spirit from the village’s patroness, the Mother of God.

At the age of 12 in 1738 he came as a pilgrim with his mother, Benedetta Galella, to beg for the cure of his father Domenico.

As a Redemptorist he returned a second time in June 1754. This time the thorn of calumny pierced his soul.

Gerard arrived at Materdomini for the third time in November 1754 when he had to leave Naples. Obedience wished him elsewhere.

On Sunday, August 31, 1755, at 12 noon when the Angelus bell was ringing, Gerard ascended the hill to Materdomini for the last time, returning from apostolic activity in the Sele valley. This time his caring friends of the Salvatore family accompanied him. Gerard was a walking skeleton. His Superior, Fr. Gaspare Cajone, on seeing him could not restrain his tears.

Gerard died of tuberculosis at Materdomini, on October 16 1755 and his sanctity was immediately and popularly acknowledged by the people of the region. He was beatified by Leo XIII in 1893 and canonized by Pius X in 1904. Today St. Gerard is venerated on five continents and especially invoked as the protector of mothers and babies.

A man of a thousand facets
Professor Angelomichele De Spirito, who lectures on cultural anthropology at the University of Salerno, opened the congress. In his talk entitled The personality and lifestyle of Gerard Majella he provided a key to interpret the significant aspects of Gerard’s daily life and spirituality. He particularly stressed Gerard’s level of “inculturation” among the people he lived and served and his deep humanity. Redemptorist Father Antonio Donato then recalled the various stages of the process that lead to Gerard’s canonization. Professor Fiorella Pirozzi brought the first day’s activity to an end with an examination of all the documents in which Gerard’s role as protector of mothers and babies is invoked.

On day two of the congress there were four lectures in the morning. Professor Claudio Azzara, professor of Medieval History in Salerno University, spoke on Gerard and the folly of the Saints. He referred to examples of evangelical folly as seen by eastern and western spirituality. Next, Father Alfonso Amarante, professor of the Alphonsian Academy, analyzed the writings of St. Gerard to demonstrate his concept of friendship. He outlined the great freedom and balance in Gerard’s relations with others, both religious and lay people. Much of the Saint’s correspondence was with lay and religious women, as his contemporary biographers show. Indeed this relation with the “feminine” was the subject of the lecture given by Professor Antonio Nazzaro, professor of Christian Literature in the Frederick II University of Naples. He stressed not only the ease with which Gerard related to women, but also his profound spiritual sharing, and in some cases his irony. The richness of his interior life that inspired the foundation of the Gerardine Sisters was the subject of the last morning lecture by Fr. Mosé Mascolo.

In the afternoon the congress’ participants went to Muro Lucano (PZ), Gerard’s native home to visit the places and scenes of his childhood.

The message of Gerard for today.
The final day of the congress saw a discussion between Professor Roberto Cipriani, professor of Sociology in the University of Rome, and Fr. Luigi Martella, Director of the magazine In Cammino con San Gerardo. Dr. Cipriani spoke of the ‘phenomenon’ of popular devotion as witnessed in the magazine San Gerardo. The Director briefly outlined the history and purpose of the magazine and explained why the emphasis is now more on Christian formation rather than on devotion.

Professor Fabriciano Ferrero C.SS.R., of the Institute of Moral Science in Madrid, pointed out Gerard’s missionary dynamism that has made him a model for Redemptorist Brothers. Father Sabatino Majorano, C.SS.R., President of the Alphonsian Academy, discussed Gerard’s simplicity and intimate union with God that made him a favorite of the people. He concluded that to apply Gerard’s spirituality today, one must learn from the Saint, practice his nearness to other people and be prepared to spend oneself for God.

Venezuela
80th Anniversary
Fr. Alexander Nieves, C.Ss.R.

It is not easy to recount a history where very little has been written on the subject. This is the story of a religious institute that is celebrating 80 years of missionary activity in our beautiful, God-given land of Venezuela. In the 1920s the Church of Venezuela was in dire pastoral need. Though there were many religious institutes in the country the majority of them were involved in healthcare and education. There were very few religious dedicated to pastoral work, but one among these were the Redemptorists.

In response to requests made by a number of bishops to the Superior General, the first Redemptorists arrived in Venezuela from Spain in 1925 and founded the first community in Barquisimeto and in 1926 a second community in Mérida. The dedication and unselfishness of these men, as well as the needs they reported back, attracted more Spanish Redemptorists to join them and they were able to establish more foundations in San Cristóbal in 1927 and Caracas in 1928. Their pastoral work continued to increase with the organising and preaching of missions. They were warmly accepted by the people and the local Church. They continued to expand and open new fields of missionary activity: Maracaibo in 1952, Valencia in 1955, Carvajal in 1967. In four decades the Redemptorists had established seven communities. All their strength and enthusiasm was particularly dedicated to the work of Parish Missions.

At first the work was very difficult. They were many obstacles to overcome during that time and period. These men, however, were carrying out their mission: “to proclaim the Good News to the poor by the explicit preaching of the Word of God”. Like the first disciples they went two-by-two walking in the burning sun or riding on mule back to reach those in the most remote areas. They worked as a team and their mutual fraternal support made their apostolate more efficacious. Each day the support of the people and of each other enabled the confreres to go forward with their mission campaigns. Thanks to technology things have become easier. Modern transport has narrowed distances and the use of the media permits a greater diffusion of the Gospel and so our range of influence increases.

Our older missionaries have many stories about their great missionary experiences. They recount years of joy, sorrow and hard work as they scattered the seed of the Word of God. These hard times were recompensed by the certainty of their vocation: “Strong in faith, rejoicing in hope, burning with charity, on fire with zeal, in humility of heart and persevering in prayer, Redemptorists as apostolic men and genuine disciples of Saint Alphonsus follow Christ, the Redeemer with hearts full of joy; denying themselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding, they share in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it in Gospel simplicity of life and language, that they may bring to people plentiful redemption”. (Const. 20)

As the years and work took their toll, those first young priests who had arrived from Spain grew older and the Mother Province was sending fewer personnel. An improved level of education in society brought a change in the mentality of the people and our missions had to change from their classical form. New pastoral needs had to be met. This led to new forms of missions to meet the new requirements and the new mentality of a changed society. The work for vocations became urgent and necessary. It was time to foster native vocations. New organisations were set up on the missions to promote vocations. A Youth Mission Team was formed to give more impetus to vocations and various forms of youth ministry.

The seed was scattered, God watered the soil and soon it began to germinate. Venezuelan vocations sprouted. Some persevered and some left. An arrangement was made with Mexico for the formation of the new missionaries. The time came to establish the Formation Center in Venezuela and the Theologate of Gaspar Stanggassinger was set up in Las Brisas del Paraiso. In addition, the Peter Donders Philosophy House was transferred to Paraiso (Caracas) in order to incorporate both places into the Theological Institute for Religious. The native members of the Congregation started to move into positions of leadership. The first Venezuelans were put in charge of formation. Later the same happened in parishes and communities. There was a spirit of renewal with these young vocations. Some went for Formation to other centers: Spain, Puerto Rico, and presently, in Bucaramanga and Bogotá.

After 80 years we continue to carry out our mission: “To evangelise the poor by the explicit proclamation of the Word of God”. This is the legacy of our Founder and our confreres who brought the Redemptorist charism to our land. Our number is not great and there is room for others who -- like Alphonsus, Clement, Gerard and so many others after them -- are prepared, as the religious profession formula puts it, ‘to spend our lives and be spent for the salvation of others’, trusting fully in the grace of God and the maternal protection of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

I would like to conclude by thanking God for our Congregation, for having given us such confreres and entrusting them with the task of continuing the redeeming mission of Christ. I would also like to pay tribute to those who have passed into eternity. A word of thanks is due to those who unselfishly support us by their prayers and their labor, as we proclaim the Good News in Venezuela. We would like to inspire and encourage those in formation -- philosophers, novices and theologians -- and invite them to join the Consecrated Life. Likewise, we invite those of the Laity who seek to share with us in the proclamation of abundant Redemption. May God reward each one of our communities, each place that has opened the doors of its houses to us, including the Redemptoristines, the Oblates of the Most Holy Redeemer and the Sisters of Perpetual Help; as well as so many lay people for their partnership, support and prayers for our missionary apostolate.

I finish with the words of our late beloved Pope John Paul II: “You have not only a glorious history to remember and record, but also a great future history”.

Bahia, Brazil
Lay Missionaries on the Missions – Ilha de Maré
Rev. Joseph Grzywacz, C.Ss.R.
Coordinator of MRL in Bahia

There are boats abandoned on the seashore. In fact, it is not the boats that are abandoned, for there is a good deal of tourism, but rather the people and the communities are spiritually abandoned. According to the Archdiocese of Salvador (Bahia, Brazil), the Island of the Tide (Ilha de Maré) is one of the five most pastorally abandoned areas of the archdiocese.

The Island of the Tide is the second largest island in All Saint’s Bay. It is more than 10 kilometers long, with a population of about 8,000 people. It has 7 villages: Bananeiras, Martelo-Passa Cavalo, Praia Grande, Santana, Itamoabo, Neves and Botelho. The island is a part of  Nossa Senhora do Ó parish in Paripe. From October 3-9, 2005,  in the month the Church dedicates to missionary activity, a Redemptorist mission was conducted by the Redemptorist lay missionaries (MRL) of the Bahia Vice province. After an invitation from Bishop Dominique You at the end of 2004, and with the permission of Fr. Edmilson, the parish pastor, the Redemptorist lay missionaries, organized by Fr. Joseph Grzywacz, C.Ss.R., took on the challenge of evangezlizing this area.

Every two weeks the lay people would go into four communities to teach catechism, inviting the people to form community and introducing the Sunday liturgical celebration without a priest (culto dominical); for not even this minimal Catholic liturgy existed in these places. There is already a strong and influential presence of protestant churches and sects making this need very urgent.

At Easter 2005, the opening of the Missionary Year was celebrated. On this occasion, three schools of missionary formation were established for the people of the island communities. Finally, in September, the Pre-Mission took place.

In October the following participants in these schools of missionary formation took part in the Mission, having responsibility for all the customary activities of the Mission: Hilda Maria Coutinho Gomes, from the bairro of Pernambués and Maria Eliza Alves, from the Bairro da Paz, the community of São Benedito, in Bananeiras; Ana Maria Santos, from Pituaçu, and Angelina Dejanira Gonzaga, from Itaigara, the community of São José, in Martelo-Passa Cavalo; Adelisa Matos from the city of Feira de Santana, Gicele Dejanira Gonzaga de Jesus, from Engelho Velha da Federação and Andréa Cristina Florêncio, from Vasco da Gama, the community of Our Lady of Candeias, Praia Grande; Joyelia Oliveira da Cruz, from the city of Senhor do Bonfim, Sandra da Costa Falcão, from Ondina and Elisângela Oliveira da Silva, from Periperi, the community of Senhora Santana, in Santana e Itamoabo; Carlota Silveira Ferreira, Pituaçu and Gustavo Ferreira do Rosário, from Santo Inácio, the community of Santo Antonio, in Botelho. Redemptorist Fathers Pedro Gruzdz, C.Ss.R and José Grzywacz, C.Ss.R, both members of the Mission Team, accompanied the work of the Redemptorist lay missionaries, exercising their priestly functions – presiding at Eucharist and celebrating the sacraments of reconciliation, baptism and marriage.

During the Mission, the baptism of 13 adults, 2 marriages and the first reception of Eucharist by 25 people were celebrated. On October 5th, the feast of St. Benedict and the patron saint of Bananeiras, folks from all over the island arrived by boat and canoe to participate in a joint celebration. The closing of the Mission on October 9th took place in the main church of the island, Our Lady of the Snows, and was presided at by the superior of the Redemptorists in Bahia, Fr. Antonio Niemiec, C.Ss.R. Several people from Pituaçu also particiapted in the celebration.

The presence, witness and work of evangelization accomplished by the Redemptorist lay missionaries has greatly encouraged these communities who now, with new strength and motivation, are going to continue the spirit of the mission in the communities, as well as in the missionary areas.

And you, dear reader, lay man or woman, coordinator or helper in a parish where Redemptorists have been present, or you who take part in the missionary works of the Redemptorists, as a benefactor, have you found your boat? Have you discovered your seashore and your particular way of what, how and where you are going to give witness to Christ, the risen Redeemer? “The one who knows how to make things happen, doesn’t wait for things to happen”. Now is the time!

Index

News from The Alphonsianum

Alphonsianum
Rome, Italy
Inauguration of the Academic Year

The Alphonsian Academy held its solemn opening of the Academic Year on Monday, October 10th, with the concelebration of the Eucharist, presided over by Father General, Joseph. W. Tobin, C.SS.R. In his homily he stressed that the work of the Academy is that of all Redemptorists, whatever their apostolate: To bring the light of Plentiful Redemption to all people – in this case through the teaching and study of Moral Theology.

After the liturgy, attended by professors, students, alumni and the Redemptorists members of the Sant’ Alfonso community, all made their way to the Aula Magna of the Academy to hear a report on the past academic year given by President of the Academy Sabatino Majorano, C.SS.R. and an opening lecture by Academy Professor Réal Tremblay, C.SS.R. entitled: The Eucharist, the Source of a Morality in Favor of Creation, of Life and of the Poor.

We will provide this year’s statistics for the Academy in an upcoming edition of Scala.

The official opening of the 2005-2006 academic year at the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Morales in Madrid, the Alphonsian’s sister academy, took place on October 7, 2005

The ceremonies began with the concelebration of the Eucharist, presided over by the President of the Institute, Very Rev. José Luis Bartolomé, C.Ss.R., with the participation of professors, students and a large number of Redemptorist confreres.

Following the Eucharistic celebration, the new academic school year was officially inaugurated by Dr. Santiago Madrigal Terrazas, S.J., Dean of the Faculty of Theology of Comillas Pontifical University.

The report concerning the activities of the previous academic year of 2004-2005 was then read, after which Professor Marciano Vidal delivered the inaugural lecture entitled: "40 years after the Constitution Gaudium et Spes: Three observations from the perspective of Moral Theology."

For the 2005-2006 academic year, the Institute has 10 doctoral students, 8 students studying for their Licentiate, and 3 “extraordinary students” for a total of 21 students.

Index

Redemptorists in the News

South Africa
Lives in the Balance
Bishop Kevin Dowling, C.SS.R.
Megan Lindow, TIME MAGAZINE, EUROPE

(Editor’s note: On October 10th, Time Magazine, Europe released a special edition on 37 people who they termed “2005 European Heroes.” Bishop Kevin Dowling was one of them. Below is the reprinted article.)

In 1998, when Bishop Kevin Dowling first got involved in setting up a health clinic in Freedom Park, one of the massive shack settlements in his diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, the suffering shocked him. He watched countless young women – many of them driven to prostitution by poverty – die of AIDS. He knew that condoms could have prevented most of these deaths. The dilemma has placed him at odds with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on contraception. Four years ago, he became the first African bishop to call on the church to consider lifting its absolute ban on condom use. They would be accepted as a tool for protecting millions of vulnerable lives against AIDS, he argued, rather than denounced as a form of birth control. “The challenge to the church is a challenge to all of society,” says the 61-year-old bishop. “We have to find the best means to protect life, and the best means to prevent the transmission of this virus.”

Over the past seven years, Dowling has developed his initial makeshift clinic into a program that provides comprehensive treatment and counseling to hundreds of people a year. “He is the AIDS bishop,” says Father James Keenan, a professor theological ethics at Boston College, Massachusetts. “The issue of the Catholic Church and condoms has to be resolved by listening to men of the church who have the experience, tenacity and wisdom of Bishop Dowling.”

Dowling’s argument hinges on the church’s teaching on the sacredness of life: without condoms, people will continue to die unnecessarily, he argues. “There are hundreds of thousands of women in sub Saharan Africa facing the same situation,” he says. “They look into my eyes and tell me there is no hope.” Dowling reasons that the church has always allowed exceptions to its 1968 Papal ban on contraception; when, for example, a woman’s heath is at risk. Likewise, he argues, in poor communities where AIDS is rife, the church must allow condoms for the same purpose. Bishops and Cardinals are beginning to agree with him, although when addressing African church leaders in June, Pope Benedict reiterated the church’s opposition to condoms. But to Dowling, the church’s credibility is at stake. With thousands of poor men and women dying, he says, the church needs to send the message that “we are authentically pro-life, in the widest sense of that word.”

Index

In Spiritu Redemptionis

Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist
The Vatican
Most Reverend Joseph W. Tobin, C.SS.R.

(editor’s note: We reproduce the presentation that Father General delivered to last month’s Bishops Synod on the Eucharist for those confreres who have not yet seen it.)

Your Holiness,
Brothers and sisters in Christ,

I speak in the name of the Union of Superiors General. My point of departure is the discussion of the rapport between Eucharist and Penance that is found in n. 23 of the Instrumentum Laboris.

The Instrumentum laboris makes frequent reference to the relationship between Eucharist and Penance and this relationship is most often presented as a reason for the concerned attention of this Synod. The document notes contemporary trends in some areas of the world, such as a decrease in the celebration of the sacrament of Penance and an increase in those receiving the Eucharist; this development leads to speculation that some of the faithful are receiving the Eucharist without fulfilling the canonical requirement of sacramental Penance for those guilty of mortal sin. The rapport between Eucharist and Penance poses serious theological and pastoral challenges. How can we help people to regain what St. Alphonsus Liguori calls an “affection” for the sacrament of Penance and appreciate the gift of the Eucharist as a supreme motivation for loving God who has given Himself to us?

The challenge presents itself at various levels. There are canonical rules that govern the celebration of both sacraments and practical norms to be followed in pastoral practice these are at times ignored or neglected. There is also a widespread ignorance of the faith in some local Churches that leads to a superficial understanding of these great sacraments. There is the dilemma of people in difficult pastoral situations who do not know whether they are excluded from the sacraments. Their pastors often are confused as to how they should respond. And, although the relationship between the Eucharist and Penance presents itself as an excruciatingly painful problem for particular groups of people, such as those in second unions, the solution does not start here.

I will identify four levels to the problem I have indicated. There are important differences between these levels as well as implications for the way we eventually ground pastoral practice in sound doctrine and solid theology. The levels to which I refer are the ecclesial, sacramental, moral and juridical understanding of Eucharist and Penance.

The Church, the community of those who by the power of the Spirit believe in Jesus as the Saviour through his death and resurrection, is recognised by its faithfulness to the Word of God and its constant celebration of the sacraments. If the Eucharist is not celebrated and frequented, or if people are wrongly excluded from participating in its celebration, then there is the ecclesial difficulty of demonstrating the actual unity of the Church in Christ as an anticipation of its future unity in the Kingdom of God. If the sacrament of Penance is de facto absent in many local Churches we must wonder whether the Church can be properly recognised as the Church willed by Jesus Christ. Our fundamental concern, therefore, is how the Church is recognised as a Church that celebrates the sacraments. Everything else is to be formulated in the light of this ultimate concern. In public discussions, participation in the Eucharist or the sacrament of Penance is presented sometimes in terms of the rights of individuals or the duties of pastors. These categories can and should be discussed, but not as the primordial question, which is related to the mystery of the Church itself.

It is obvious that both Penance and Eucharist pose a sacramental question, although here too there is confusion. The Eucharist is a sacrament because it is the sacred meal in which the unity of the Church in love is symbolized and made efficacious, the one sacrifice of Christ is recalled and the future Kingdom is anticipated. No wonder we say: “Mystery of Faith”! The Eucharist should never be instrumentalized in an ideological way, for instance, when the Eucharist is used to prove some personal or political point that has nothing to do with the sacrament. The sacramental aspect of the Eucharist is often obscured because of an inadequate catechesis and deficient manner of celebration. We must be worthy to participate in the Eucharist and the Eucharist should be celebrated in such a way that its full sacramental power is made obvious. There is an analogous problem with the sacrament of Penance. The presentation of the sacrament is often that of an individual and private reconciliation, lacking is the sense of how we are reconciled to God in a sacramental way through the ministry of the Church, or simply as a requirement for the reception of the Eucharist. The latter misunderstanding is often expressed by the faithful with the following formula: “I have to go to confession; I get to receive Holy Communion”, conveying the perception that one sacrament is simply an obligation while the other is a gift. The crisis of Penance may be rooted in the fact that we are not successful in showing how the forgiveness of sin is neither cheap grace nor guilty self-obsession but rather the free offer of God’s restored peace in Christ to those who have gravely sinned and who sincerely repent.

The Instrumentum laboris treats the moral aspect of the Eucharist in a most useful way by showing how it is the font of Christian morality. This emphasis recalls the importance of a proper understanding of the ecclesial and sacramental dimensions of the Eucharist: if people do not comprehend the gift of the Eucharist to the Church in the sacramental presence of Christ in a way that entices them to full participation, then how can we say that the Eucharist is the font of Christian morality? There are many people who are not participating in the Eucharist because they cannot, will not, or feel excluded. How, logically, can they be faithful to Christian morality if they are not nourished by its font? We must be more determined to find solutions to the practical problems of exclusion from the Eucharist precisely for this moral reason: we all need the nourishment of the font and none should be excluded on grounds that are not demonstrably adequate.

The moral aspect of the sacrament of Penance is self-evident. In relation to the Eucharist, however, there is a point that needs to be underscored. It is not our human effort that reforms us; such change is entirely the work of Christ in us. A better celebration of the penitential rite at the Eucharist will not diminish the sacrament of Penance. Rather, by placing the confessing of our sins as an integral part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist where we confess the greatness of God, we will be reminded of the need to continue along the road of conversion by celebrating the sacrament of Penance too.

The Church has always been concerned for the respect due to Eucharist and Penance The disciplinary aspect is clearly important for the correct celebration of the sacraments, but it receives its deeper significance because it is a practical application of the truths expounded at the previous levels.

We face very grave problems with regard to the tension between the celebration of the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. These will not be easily or quickly solved. The pain of those who feel excluded is real and actual; the concern of the Church that the two sacraments be celebrated worthily is also real and actual. It is worth considering, in the light of the Instrumentum laboris, how we proceed on this question. We should begin with the ecclesial dimension of both sacraments, and then continue to the proper sacramental presentation of both. In the light of these two foundational aspects we may proceed to the moral questions and the juridical problems involved. This is a better way and more faithful to Scripture and Tradition than the tendency to begin with moral and disciplinary aspects, which may needlessly provoke division in the Church. The way I propose has the potential for identifying the unifying aspects of both sacraments. The human realities of both sacraments are important, but not as essential as the fact that the sacraments receive their deepest significance from the Paschal Mystery of Christ, which is the key to understanding the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the freeing from the bonds of grave sins in the Sacrament of Penance.

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Monthly Picture Gallery (  for online viewing only)

1.   Father Joseph Grzywacz, C.SS.R. with members of the Island of the Tide lay missionaries in Bahia, Brazil.

2.   Many Redemptorists from around the world have visited Picture Rocks Retreat House in Tucson, Arizona, USA.  Fire struck the main dining room, kitchen and meeting room the early morning hours of October 7th.

3.   Firemen stand vigil so that the flames do not jump to Retreat House Chapel.

4.   Remnants of retreat house building after the fire.

5.   Remnants of the retreat house building from another view.

6.   The meetings of  Asian Brothers

7.   The meeting  was held in Ho Minh Chin City, Vietnam.

8.   Hurricane Stan and a volcanic eruption left many San Salvadorans helpless.

9.   Workers dig out of San Salvadoran mudslides caused by combination of hurricane and volcanic eruption.

10.  Hurricane-volcano combination caused mudslides that destroyed many hamlets.

11.  Redemptorists and laity work  to bring food and aid to the victims in San Salvador.

12.  Workers from Redemptorist community in San Salvador prepare food for victims.

13.   Opening Mass in Rome for the Alphonsianum´s Academic year , from left to right: Fathers Sean Cannon, Sabatino Majorano, Joseph Tobin, Enrique López, and Sergio Campara.

14.   Redemptorists of the Academy, Redemptorists attending other institutions of higher learning and Sant' Alfonso community members concelebrate the opening Mass of the Academy.

15.  Father Real Tremblay, C.SS.R. gives the opening lecture of the Academy year

16.  The official opening of the 2005-2006 academic year at the Institut Superior de Ciencias Morales in Madrid, the Alphonsian's sister academy, took place on October 7, 2005. From left to right: Vicente Garca Secretary of ISCM, José Luis Bartolomé, C.SS.R.,  President, Santiago Madrigal, SJ, Dean of the Comillas Pontifical University, Alberto de Mingo, C.SS.R., Director of ISCM, and Marciano Vidal, C.SS.R., Professor  at ISCM.

17.   Thousands gather at Materdomini  for the closing of the "Anno Gerardino."

18.  The "new tomb" of St. Gerard Majella in the "old Basilica."

19.  Cardinal Re, Father Tobin and Cardinal Vithayathil  cut the Gerardian cake!

20.  Bishop Dowling with a member of his flock at the diocesan clinic.

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Activities of Father General and the General Council

Interested in knowing where the members of the General Government are and what they are doing? The following link will take you to the Calendar of the General Government.

English: http://www.cssr.com/calendars/CalEN.htm

This link is in our cssr.com website under the Redemptorist section and requires  passwords. If you do not have them; a pop-up box will direct you to request them from the Secretary General.

Featured Redemptorist Website

The Secretariat for Youth and Vocation Ministry has informed us that the Naples region has a website at http://www.pgvrna.it/ Be sure to click on the scrolling link on the homepage that gives you an introduction to the wonderful, smiling faces of the Redemptorist youth of the province of Naples.

The Vice Province of Bangkok now has a website at: http://www.cssr.or.th/ It is a very thorough presentation of our Redemptorist history, presence and life in Thailand. It is in two languages, English and Thai. Their monthly newsletter, The Visitor, is made available to read online.

Finally, please see our announcement under the Secretariats section on the new webpages for the Secretariat for Partnership in Mission. That address is www.cssr.com/pim

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Reports from the Curia, Secretariats, Institutes, and Committee

Brothers’ Seminar on St. Gerard Majella
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
August 7 – 10, 2005
Br. Joel de Guzman y Banez, C.SS.R.

From August 7 to 10, 2005, confreres from the Asia-Oceania Region came together for a Seminar and workshop on St. Gerard Majella. This was held at the Redemptorist House at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. There were 57 participants – Brothers and Fathers – from 9 units in this Redemptorist Region [Vietnam (37), Manila (4), Cebu (6), Canberra (1), Aotearoa (1), Bangkok (2), Korea (3), Singapore (2), and China (1)]. Unfortunately 1 brother from Sri Lanka was not allowed to enter Vietnam and was stranded in Thailand. We regret that the Brothers from the other units in the Region, such as India and Indonesia, were not represented during this gathering.

This Seminar on St. Gerard was organized by the Asia-Oceania Regional Secretariate for Brothers. This was part of the on-going Formation program of the Secretariat especially for the Brothers of the Region, but also open to others. The objectives of this gathering was to study the life and spirituality of St. Gerard and to discover how to inculturate this spirituality in the context of Asia-Oceania. We chose Vietnam to be the venue of this gathering to allow the Brothers from this unit to participate in the Seminar since they have the largest number of Brothers in the Region.

Fr. Ivel Mendanha, CSsR from the Center of Spirituality in Rome provided the input on St. Gerard while Bro. Karl Gaspar, CSsR, from the Province of Cebu, facilitated the workshops and provided input on inculturation. Fr. Enrique López, CSsR, General Consultor and also member of the General Secretariat for the Brothers, spoke about the situation of the Brothers in the different Regions of the Congregation around the world and presented the objectives of the General Secretariat for the Brothers and its members. A Letter of Solidarity from Bro. Jeffrey Rolle, CSsR, chairperson of the General Secretariat for the Brothers was read during the Seminar. Fr. Matthew Phung, CSsR was the main interpreter during the Seminar and during the Liturgies since most of the Vietnamese confreres did not speak English.

The Seminar was not all inputs and workshops, the visiting confreres to Vietnam had a chance to visit some of the Formation and Mission Communities of the Province. This happened before and after the Conference. Bro. Peter Thuan, CSsR, our very efficient organizer in Vietnam, not only organized all the logistics of the Seminar, but also organized these tours.

At the business meeting the participants discussed future plans regarding the Brothers in the Region. This was led by Bro. Joel de Guzman y Banez, from the Vice-Province of Manila and member of the General Secretariat for the Brothers from the Asia-Oceania Region. Fr. Enrique López, our General Consultor, encouraged the Brothers to meet regularly in the Region. Some of the very concrete suggestions from the Brothers for the Region were as follows:

a)    Reorganize the Regional Secretariat for the Brothers for Asia-Oceania Region who will organize regular activities for the Brothers in the Region.


b)    To have a meeting of Formators and Vocation Directors in the Region to discuss formation and recruitment programs for the Brothers. All the units of the Region should be represented even if they do not have candidates for the Brothers or do not have Brothers. This could be done in co-ordination with the Secretariat for formation in the Region

c)     To tell stories of the Brothers, for the confreres to know what are their different ministries and talents. This could be done by publishing their stories in ASIOC NEWS or SCALA.


d)     Another possibility was to set up a Website on the Redemptorist Brothers.


e)     The next General Gathering of the Brothers in the Region would be in 2007. It was suggested that this would be a 3 day Retreat and another 3 day Seminar deepening the study on the Spirituality of St. Gerard and on the early Brothers of the Congregation. Bangkok, or once again, Vietnam , was suggested for the site of this gathering.

Fr. Ivel promised that the Center for Spirituality in Rome will help the Region in the continuing formation of the Brothers in whatever way they can. The Regional Secretariat will continue to discuss these suggestions during their next meeting. The members of this Secretariat will be finalized as soon as possible.

During the meeting, Bro. Joel also mentioned the standing offer of the Vice-Province of Manila to the Province of Vietnam, that they are willing to sponsor any of their Brothers for on-going formation in Manila to eventually become formators of the Brothers in Vietnam since they have many candidates for the Brothers but do not have any of the Brothers serving as Formators.

Bro. Karl Gaspar, the main facilitator of the seminar, will write a paper on the inculturation of the Spirituality of St. Gerard in the Asia-Oceania Region based on all the reflections of the Brothers during this seminar-workshop.

The Seminar ended with the final Liturgy led by Fr. Enrique López. This was followed by a cultural night and gaudeamus organized by the young Brothers of Vietnam.

On behalf of all the Brothers and participants of the Seminar, I would like to thank the Province of Vietnam for their very warm welcome and hospitality to all who came for this gathering.

Secretariat for Partnership in Mission
Rome, Italy

The Secretariat for Partnership in Mission, under the chairmanship of Father Ray Douziech, General Consultor, would like to announce the opening of their new webpage. They hope to keep you informed of their activities throughout the world and provide you resources for your own efforts at lay partnership in your area. Thank you to Jelle Wind, of the Netherlands, for volunteering to design and maintain this webpage for the Secretariat. It is presently available in English and Portuguese. Future additions and languages are planned. They invite your feedback.

The URL address is: www.cssr.com/pim It may also be accessed through the cssr.com website by going to http://www.cssr.com/english/whoarewe/secretariats.shtml where, for your convenience, a list of all the Congregation’s Secretariats, Commissions, and Committees can be found on cssr.com along with their members and their members’ e-mail addresses.

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