| S C A L A |
Giving our lives for plentiful redemption
|
| Redemptorist Newsletter | Number 21 |
Rome, Italy
November 16, 2006
NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES
Region of Korea celebrates 15th Anniversary
Life and Ministry in the Region of Madagascar
Redemptorist Retreats held in Italian Provinces
Lebanon: A long road to recovery
Sanctuary of St. Gerard in Rio di Janeiro Province celebrates
REDEMPTORISTS IN THE NEWS
Redemptorists named to Colombian Sanctuaries Board
IN SPIRITU REDEMPTIONIS
Sean Wales gives us a reflection on the new Communicanda
ANNOUNCEMENTS
From the Communication Director's office
PHOTO GALLERY (on-line only)
Photos from around the Redemptorist World
FEATURED WEBSITE
General Secretariats launch new websites and pages
TRANSITIONS
Professions, Ordinations, Anniversaries, Deaths.
One would not think that working in the General Government or for the General Government is a necessarily dangerous assignment, but recent months have shown that there is ample potential to "give your life for plentiful redemption!" Over the past several months several General Government Redemptorists and members of the Curia have been involved in dangerous situations or needing hospitalization.
The trend started back in July when Father Fred Brinkmann, from the Baltimore province and assistant to the Econome's Office, was mugged (asalto) and robbed outside the Via Pellegrino Rossi entrance to the General Curia House. Fortunately, Fred, although shaken by the experience, escaped without any injuries.
More recently, on their visitation trip to the Richmond Vice Province, Vicar General Serafino Fiore and Consultor General Jacek Dembek were driving in Florida from one community to another. The rigors of the visitation caused both of them to doze off in the car and they ended up in a roadside ditch, not far from the concrete pillars of a bridge overpass. Although the car was severely damaged, by the grace of God, Serafino and Jacek escaped unharmed.
Once again the Via Pellegrino Rossi door of the General Curia House was the scene of a robbery/mugging in September. This time Father Porfirio Tejera, Spanish translator from the province of Madrid, was the victim. He sustained injuries to his face and various cuts and bruises. Needless to say, this isolated entrance to the General House is now less frequently used in favor of the monitored main entrance on Via Merulana.
In mid October, the Vittorio Emmanuele subway stop near Sant'Alfonso, frequently used by the confreres, was the sight of a two-train wreck causing one death and many injuries. It was providential that no confrere was at the station or in those two trains at the time.
Father Athanase Nsiamina, Consultor General, on visitation to the Denver Province was experiencing shoulder pain from a lingering rotator cuff injury. He took the opportunity while in the United States to have it surgically repaired.
Father Jose Vidigal, Director of the Collegio Maggiore and Portuguese translator at the General House, while home in Brazil to celebrate his anniversary and the launch of a new Portuguese language Bible he produced, had a more ordinary emergency circumstance of needing arterial angioplasty. Padre Jose has fully recovered and is back in Rome.
Secretary General Joseph Dorcey recently attended the inauguration of a new Region in Russia and defied the recent trend by returning without experiencing any harrowing experiences. But he was given a sobering tour of a Stalin era mass grave site. He promises an article about the trip for a future SCALA.
Coincidentally, the General House has established a program whereby the House Physician has interviewed and/or examined all the members of the community to establish a baseline health and medical history in order to be prepared for any emergency that may occur while in Rome above and beyond reach of the members' own homeland physicians. And we've all gotten our flu shots!
Many of our General Government members are still on the road and so we pray for and wish them a safe and speedy return to the bosom of the Mother House.
Grace and Redemption for All,
Gary Ziuraitis, C.Ss.R.
Korea
Fifteenth Anniversary
Willy Jesena, C.Ss.R.
Fifteen years is not so long in the history of a foundation. Usually 25 years or more are considered worthy of public celebration. However , we in Korea, decided that 15 years is a good enough occasion to thank God publicly for His blessings. This is the first time that we celebrated in a big way our presence as a community in Korea. The anniversary date was August 1st, the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori. Considering the convenience of our Bishop and guests, we fixed the celebration on August 12th. Bishop Basil Cho is one of the Auxiliary Bishops of the Seoul Archdiocese. He is in charge of the Western Region where we are located. The Region is composed of about 50 parishes and a good number of religious convents. So we sent invitations to these places and Bishop Cho kindly accepted the offer to be main celebrant of the Eucharist. The response of the clergy and religious was rather poor but the laity came in good numbers and filled up our public basement chapel. It was a lively liturgical celebration and a small choir of men stirred the spirits of all. During the homily the Bishop thanked the Redemptorists for the work we are doing in the Archdiocese, especially as confessors. The agape that followed gave a very satisfactory close to the celebration.
A Brief History of the Fifteen years.
The pioneer community was formed in 1991. At the beginning of that year, there was an Asia-Oceania C.Ss.R. Superiors Meeting in Bangalore, India. It was there that the Korean project was born and enthusiastically supported by the majority of the 14 units of the Region. The foundation was placed under the supervision of the Generalate. Cebu, then a Vice Province, sent Fr. Willy Jesena. The Bangkok Vice Province gave Fr. Augustine Phaiboon Udomdej. The Campo Grande Province supplied the community superior, Fr. Man Yong (John) Lee. It was an all-Asian international community. From the beginning the Asia-Oceania units gave their moral and spiritual support.
The international community was required by Bishop Peter Kang who was in charge of the religious in Seoul Archdiocese. The financing of the project did not come so spontaneously. Korea in 1991 was already a developing nation. The daily cost of living and properties were rather expensive. So it made the Generalate wonder why this tiniest of units in the Congregation was asking for a large subsidy. One time, the community received a letter proposing the possible closure of the project. Providentially we were able to continue and vocations began coming during the first year of the foundation. The big financial assistance of the Generalate, the various units of Asia-Oceania Region and of a few units outside the Region was put to good use. Land was bought and two well-built community Houses were constructed.
In the last five years we have become self-supporting in our daily needs and the education of our seminarians. We are able to pay our debts, and have begun sharing material blessings with some needy units. In 15 years, we have 11 Korean priests and two foreign missionaries (A Thai and a Filipino). We have a Brother in perpetual vows and another in temporary vows. 5 professed Students and 2 novices complete the 21 members. We have lost several temporarily professed members and non-professed. We could lose more in the future, but we are grateful for those who have stayed and hope to continue growing in numbers. Being in a non-Christian country, it is a great blessing to have local vocations.
Those of you who have celebrated jubilees as a unit, perhaps have not experienced the difficulties of pioneering work. One of these challenges at this moment is being involved in a variety of apostolates; the clergy, religious and the laity are all experiencing our pastoral assistance. We give retreats, lectures, spiritual direction, and hear confessions in parishes and in our Houses. The sick and foreign workers have enjoyed our attention. Our Mother of Perpetual Help has now thousands of devotees. The word "Redemptorist" in its local translation, Kusokchuhwe, has been heard more often. It is worth celebrating these 15 years!
Like all our communities in different cultures, we also have to struggle to build up our apostolic community life and team spirit. Here in Korea, we face the challenges of strong blood relationship to the exclusion of others, the Confucian idea of separation of the senior and junior group members, the material orientation of the people, the strong legalistic orientation in society, almost blind acceptance of group decisions with no respect for personal opinions, "my kingdom" mentality and other unredeemed cultural values. When the burdens of apostolic community living get heavy at times, one of our young priests quotes from memory Constitution 20:
"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 St. 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."
We can only hope and pray that the spirit of these values will somehow find a place in our lives.
Fifteen years. It is a time of thanksgiving to God for His mercy. We remember the C.Ss.R. units and individual confreres who have helped us, the Bishops, the clergy, religious, and our 600 or so benefactors who believe in us and trust us. We think of Mary and her perpetual help. We are not alone in the Lord's vineyard.
The challenges: How can we contribute to the restructuring of the Congregation in Asia-Oceania Region? How can we be better form Redemptorists in our Korean culture? When and how can we proclaim the gospel to other nations?
Madagascar
Redemptorists and proclaiming Redemption
Father Lorenzo Gasparro, C.SS.R.
By local church option and according to what the confreres who work there have experienced, evangelization in Madagascar can begin only in the school-room. The government in Madagascar manages to maintain primary schools only in the big cities, but in the interior of the island illiteracy is rampant. This is why the Catholic missions all follow the same pattern: a little church, a school alongside, and in some places a small medical dispensary. In fact, the mission school is a splendid synthesis of what Christians might call the "integral development of the person." It is at the desks in the mission school that children learn to read and write, and also to pray and grow in faith. If later they can also get a good plateful of rice, as happens in our schools, the synthesis is perfect.
The actual number of children in the mission schools served by the Redemptorists is 4,242. The majority of these children receive schooling and a daily meal besides. It is sad to hear some of them say that the only meal they get each day is the one offered them at the school.
In the past two years the Redemptorists have built some new schools: three primary schools and one high school in the most abandoned areas in the rural region of Antananarivo.
The Naples province provides proximity and solidarity. Besides schooling they also offer medical help in a medical dispensary called "Virgin of Perpetual Help." In this dispensary two postulant brothers are on full time duty providing medicine for the sick. The dispensary offers medicine not only for the students of our schools in Antananarivo but also for a great number of poor people living in the area. About 3000 sick people are treated every month. There are some categories of people who are given special attention, for example, some 150 undernourished infants who need and receive special food, as well as some 1200 elderly persons, and a large number of poor persons who receive free medical care. The Sanctuary of St Gerard Majella (Materdomini) of the Naples province underwrites a dining room for the poor and very elderly who receive a hot meal every day. Also twice a week a special lunch is served for the most abandoned people of the neighborhood. For these people we have also organized some social activities; for example sewing projects for the women, and other projects (e.g., iron working) for the men. We have great hopes that this kind of experiment will succeed. We also offer a course in literacy, teaching reading and writing, which has been established in our schools for those adults who are interested in becoming literate.
All that the Redemptorists are accomplishing, always with the unique purpose of proclaiming a "copious Redemption", has been made possible thanks to the exchange of love and solidarity which unites the Redemptorist communities of the Province and many simple Italian families. To all of these we extend our continued thanks.
Madagascar
The Redemptorists in Madagascar.
Fr. Lorenzo Gasparra, C.Ss.R.
The members of the Madagascar Region held their first Regional Assembly July 3 to 9, 2006.The first missionaries from the Naples Province to arrive in Madagascar in 1967 were Frs. Vincenzo Sparavigna and Luigi Pentangelo. They were joined in 1969 by Fr. John Baptist Battaglia. Other confreres were sent between 1971 and 1974. They were welcomed by Bishop Tsiahaona of the diocese of Diego Suarez in the north of the Red Island, so named because of the red color of the soil. After three years the Redemptorists settled in Ampanefena and Volemar, both in the north. The main work of the confreres is the evangelization of the outlying areas where few have knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Gospel or the Catholic Church and where Animism is still very strong.
In 1989 the Province of Naples sent two missionaries to open a house in Antananarivo, the capital, with the purpose of accommodating young people for Redemptorist formation. The House of Studies ‘Foyer St. Alphonse' is situated in the Mandroseza section where we have a parish. In 1997 the ‘Maison St. Alphonse' was opened. The community runs the parish, schools and a dispensary dedicated to the Virgin of Perpetual Help, thanks to Italian benefactors.
In 1999 the Redemptorists came to Anjiro, 78 km. from the capital. Some years later the Bishop gave the Redemptorists a center for catechetical formation for the families of his diocese. At present the center receives young boys in the hope of getting vocations.
The Mission of Madagascar became a Region, March 16 2005 by decree of Most Rev. Fr. General, Joseph Tobin. It must be said that great encouragement has been given by our two last Provincials, Frs. Antonio Di Masi and Antonio De Luca. The Region now numbers 32 confreres: 22 priests of whom one is Mexican and another is from Bratislava, 3 Brothers and 7 students. There are also about 30 postulants and aspirants. The challenges facing the Redemptorists in Madagascar remain the same as some years ago: initial and permanent formation and the proclamation of Copiosa Redemptio to the most abandoned.
Materdomini
Retreat: Provinces of Naples and Rome
Fr. Calogero Sciortini, C.Ss.R.
The Italian Redemptorists held their annual retreat at Materdomini in two parts: June 19 to 21, 2006 and September 4 to 8, 2006. Confreres from both the Provinces of Naples and Rome took part. The respective Provincials had previously arranged for these gatherings to facilitate an update in moral theology and assist our spiritual formation.
The first meeting was directed by Fr. Sabatino Majorano, President/professor of Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome and by Fr. Ernesto della Valle, professor of Holy Scripture. It offered an updating and discussion on current trends in moral theology.
The second gathering was special as the retreat was led by Ms. Silvana Manfredi of Palermo. She is a Doctor in Theology and has a licentiate from the Biblical School of Jerusalem. She teaches biblical exegesis in the Regional Seminary of Palermo. Between priests and students we were about fifty who took part. There was a common celebration of the Eucharist and two lectures each day lasting 45 minutes. At the end of each lecture there was time for shared reflection.
Ms. Manfredi spoke to us on the Book of the prophet Jeremiah on the topics of: theme, scope, style and called by God. She stressed the scope of the Book of the prophet Jeremiah basing it on the words of Chapter 1, 10: "…send you to uproot and plant, to destroy and build up…" using images taken from rural and city life. We very much appreciated her contributions that have enriched our spirit and life.
On the final day, September 8, in the afternoon we took part in the procession of Our Lady of Materdomini. We thank our respective Provincial Superiors for having provided us once again with an opportunity to grow in our knowledge of moral theology and in our spiritual life.
Lebanon
Redemptorist Community in Zahle
A Dream to Rebuild Christianity after the War
The war in Lebanon during July-August 2006, as all wars everywhere, proved to be disasterous for the country's inhabitants.
10 billion dollars in total losses touched every single home. The main targets of Isreali bombing were Shi'a positions, mainly related to Hezbollah. Many Shi'a homes and headquarters were demolished during the month long war after the Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, gave orders to kidnap two Israeli soldiers and announced his readiness for "all consequences".
But the Shi'a readiness was not all Lebanon's readiness. The Christian community of Lebanon has also suffered severe losses.
The Hezbollah is now distributing money for all the Shi'a whose homes were damaged or who lost family members during the war. Sadly, what happens to one Lebanese group affects all the others. The losses are far beyond any single group's or government's capacity to recover. And the Christian community is in severe need of aid also.
Here is a study done on the country's economic losses published by the Asseyasa newspaper, based on the report of Lebanese ministries, issued on August 22, 2006.
"As of the end of July, the losses in Lebanon caused by the War are estimated to be at least 10 billion dollars.
-The total cost of destruction is estimated at two billion, four hundred sixty four million dollars:
-785 million dollars for infrastructure and 464 million dollars for homes and commercial institutions, 190 million dollar in the industrial sector, and 26 million dollars in gas distribution stations and military installations.
-The estimated loss in tourism dollars reached 3 billion, without counting the anticipated income of 4.5 billion dollars during the high tourism season.
-The war resulted in the death of 1,200 civilians and the injury of 4,047 others.
-One million civilians were displaced, which caused a social disaster. Beside external aid from outside the country, the Lebanese Government spent one and a half billion Lebanese pounds in aid, not counting the untold number of volunteer services which came to assist in relief efforts.
-The transportation and transit sector is also among the most damaged. 94 roads and 70 bridges were completely destroyed, which is estimated at a loss of 349 million dollars. 55 million dollars in damages were caused at the three bombed airports. That's without counting the losses due to the bombing of hundreds of cars, trucks, and others transportation vehicles.
-The country's electrical grid sustained losses of 208 million dollars: 128 million in electricity transportation, 80 million dollars in electrical production. 5 fuel tanks were destroyed in Jiyyeh, which resulted in 15 thousand tons of fuel spilled into an 80 kilometer area of the Mediterranean Sea, threatening the region with an ecological disaster, the lasting effects of which have still not been estimated.
-The media and communication industry suffered losses of 99 million dollars. The water company lost 74 million dollars."
After a month's absence, most of the displaced are now going back to their villages. But there are many Christian Lebanese who lost their homes and properties too. This is in addition to the thousands of those who lost their homes and were displaced since the civil war of 1975-1990 and who still live in temporary placements, mainly in Beirut.
The Redemptorist community, and more specifically, "The Friends of St Alphonsus Liguori," a group of interested helpers formed to help desperate Lebanese Christians, has a dream and vision for a better future.
We have done a very serious study about the possibility of building 100 new homes for families who are struggling to find stability.
Lebanon, in such rough circumstances, is suffering from the migration of the best of its youth. The church is losing Lebanese Christians who would prefer to stay in Lebanon if only they could find help to build houses and create homes.
To build 100 new homes, including land, engineering costs, approvals and permits, construction, parking and common areas, "The Friends of St. Alphonsus" estimates that it would cost around $5,000,000.
The "Friends of St Alphonsus" are absolutely committed to accomplish this project and will keep all potential contributors informed about the project every step of the way.
We hope that our concern that Christianity continues to exist in Lebanon in a stable manner may touch your hearts as we are fully aware of the Arab-Christians' crucial role in the diverse society of Lebanon.
For more information you can e-mail Redemptorist Father Elias Sader at elisader@hotmail.com.
Province of Rio De Janeiro
Centenary of the Curvelo Community
Fr. Jose Raimundo B. Vidigal, C.SS.R.
On September 18th, 2006, the Rio de Janeiro Province, along with the enthusiastic participation of many people and confreres, celebrated the centenary of the St. Gerard Majella community in Curvelo. In the words of the Redemptorist lay missionary, Felipe Coura, it was "the most festive Monday of the year, as evidenced by the people who attended and who were as happy as those who 100 years ago welcomed the three Redemptorist pioneers" to that city.
The extensive program began with an exposition of photographs and other mementos depicting the life and activities of the missionaries. At that time too Fr. João Batista Boaventura Leite, C.SS.R., brought out his new book entitled The Centenary of São Geraldo and the Redemptorists in Curvelo, which provides a history of these past one hundred years.
Following the exposition a Mass of praise and thanksgiving was celebrated in the church, commencing at the exact moment when the first Redemptorists arrived in the city a hundred years ago. Later, in the afternoon, the Municipal Government of Curvelo in a festive session paid homage to the Redemptorists. Fr. Braz Delfino Vieira, C.SS.R., introduced his new book, entitled Padre Pãulo Rutten, a Grace that Blessed the Interior", and is a biography of our holy confrere who died in 1972.
The celebration ended with a beautiful liturgy presided over by Archbishop Dom Pãulo Lopes de Faria, with dozens of priests concelebrating. At the end of the Mass a plaque commemorating the occasion was affixed to the wall near the main door of the basilica. Following this, there were artistic presentations of dance, theatre and music. The happy event ended with a cocktail party in the patio of the monastery.
Our church in Curvelo is the only basilica in the world dedicated to St. Gerard Majella, except for Materdomini in Italy. Each year thousands of pilgrims converge upon it, especially in September, when some 50,000 faithful visit the shrine.
Our house in Curvelo was always a residence for missionaries. Lately it has also become the novitiate.
Here is a brief chronology of the Curvelo community:
1904 Canonization of St. Gerard Majella
1905 Five Redemptorists preach missions in Curvelo
1906 Beginning of the Redemptorist community in Curvelo
1911 Launching of the magazine: "O Santuario de Sao Geraldo"
1912 Beginning of the construction of the Sanctuary of St. Gerard Majella
1918 Beginning of the construction of the Redemptorist monastery
1966 The sanctuary of St. Gerard is elevated to a Basilica
Colombia
Meeting of Board of Directors of the Federation of Colombian Sanctuaries
Noel Londoño, C.Ss.R.
At the last National Congress of Rectors of Sanctuaries held in Bogotá, Colombia from October 23 to 26 at the Colombian Episcopal Conference Center, 25 delegates representing 20 national sanctuaries were in attendance. They established the new Board of Directors of the Federation of Colombian Sanctuaries (FESANCOL) for the period 2006-2011.
The group elected the following:
PRESIDENT: Fr. Noel Antonio Londoño Buitrago, C.Ss.R, Rector of the Basilica of Señor de los Milagros, Buga.
VICEPRESIDENT: Fray Omar Alberto Sánchez, O.P., Rector of the Sanctuary of Chiquinquirá.
TREASURER: Fr. José Daniel Falla Robles, Rector of Señor Caido, Monserrate, Bogotá.
SECRETARY: Fr. Gabriel Londoño Sepúlveda, C.Ss.R, Pastor of San Alfonso (Sanctuary of Señor de los Milagros), Bogotá.
REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE: Fr. Pedro Alberto Prieto Sierra, Rector of the Sanctuary of Señor de los Milagros, Ubaté Cundinamarca.
The same Board, starting in January 2007, will be also in charge of the Association of Latin American Sanctuaries and will begin preparations for the Latin American Congress that will be held in Colombia in 2011. Taking part in that Congress will be about a hundred delegates representing 15 countries.
Communicanda 2: Redemption
Hunting for God
Sean Wales, C.Ss.R.
The second Communicanda of the current sexennium captures well the spirit of the last General Chapter: a spirit of urgency about the defining characteristic of the Congregation, continuing the mission of the Redeeming Christ. A Communicanda takes the literary form of a letter from the Superior General and while its composition involves wide consultation, it bears the stamp of the General's own personality. In this instance the new Communicanda is a cri du coeur about the central reality of our lives: our relationship with Jesus our Redeemer.
Starting with the way St. Alphonsus internalized the mystery of redemption, the letter goes on to look at the situations we face today and how we are to root our religious experience in the soil of the contemporary world. It finishes with a consideration of the consequences of this mystery of redemption in our personal lives and in the life of the Congregation.
It seems clear that in terms of classical soteriology St. Alphonsus was not an innovative theologian. We can find what redemption meant to Alphonsus more in his "robust pastoral practice" than in his dogmatic theology. It is the Redeemer who reveals redemption; it is in a loving relationship with Jesus that Alphonsus lives this mystery. The Redeemer is love itself and this love is disclosed in the self-giving or self-emptying of Jesus: in the incarnation (crib), in the Passion (cross) and in the Risen Life (eucharist). In the life and ministry of Alphonsus we encounter an absorbing love for Jesus and an insatiable zeal for those in greatest need of God's love. Redemptorists have inherited this way of experiencing redemption.
From the beginning Redemptorists have had to take account of the changing world around them. In the second part of the Communicanda our attention is drawn to the various contexts in which we live and preach redemption today. We find ourselves in many different situations: some face a bleak prospect where redemption is a "meaningless category" or where there is a loss of its "salvific relevance". Others find themselves among people who are genuinely searching for meaning, who are ‘hunting for God', who have a spoken or unspoken need for redemption.
And always, we face the "mystery of evil", personal or impersonal, individual or structural, local or global. In all such contexts the proclamation of abundant redemption through a loving, redeeming Christ, is at the very heart of the Christian phenomenon and at the heart of our vocation as Redemptorists.
In the final section of the Communicanda attention is drawn to some consequences for ourselves and our Congregation. A personal relationship with God in Christ our Redeemer is a non-negotiable. Without that our life is empty, our preaching becomes "vapid" or "superficial" and our whole mission become "insipid". If we ourselves are not "hunting for God" we will be hunting for someone else or something else which can never fill the God-shaped space within us.
Our continual conversion discloses itself in a series of self-givings or self-emptyings : the story of Jesus becomes our story. As he gave himself for others, so we give our lives for other. As he was compassionate, so we are compassionate, as he was in solidarity with the abandoned poor, so we are in solidarity with the most abandoned. Our very communities are in themselves proclamations of the kingdom of compassion and love. Even our call to restructuring is a redemptive grace "in order to express the compassion of God for the abandoned poor" (43).
Fr General writes "It would be wonderful for the Congregation to have a forum in which the members of the Redemptorist family might share this continuing reflection, thus providing for an opportunity to enrich each other with the insights from our diverse regions" (9). On a humbler level, it would be wonderful if we could use this enthusiastic Communicanda among ourselves in our local communities to share the richness of redemptive grace we already experience in our lives and to study how we can best communicate the joy of living in the Redeeming Christ with others, especially with those in greatest need.
Attention!
Important SCALA e-mail information:
Guarantee your SCALA newsletter is delivered to your inbox. Add
scala.pt@scalanews.com (Português)
scala.pl@scalanews.com (Polski)
scala.it@scalanews.com (Italiano)
scala.fr@scalanews.com (Français)
scala.es@scalanews.com (Español
scala.english@scalanews.com (English)
scala.dt@scalanews.com (Deutsch)
to your address book and spam filter "whitelist" today. Or tell your company's IT department to allow this address to pass through any spam filtering software they may be using.
Never reply to this scalanews.com e-mail nor use your "reply to" function for SCALA related correspondence. It is for delivery purposes only. Contact or reply directly to the editor at: GaryZ@cssr.com or GaryZ@cssrim.com
Now available: Sign up for a cssrim.com e-mail and have your SCALA newsletter sent to a cssrim.com address, which offers you notification and forwarding options. You can obtain a cssrim.com address at: http://cssrim.com/phpmail2
Photos from around the Redemptorist World
1. The 2006-2007 class of novices in the Region of Nigera.
2. The interior of the newly opened and dedicated Redemptorist Church of the Archangels in Satellite Town, Lagos.
3. The Northern European Region of the Brothers' Secretariat hosted a meeting in Perth, Scotland in August.
4. The Brothers attending the Perth, Scotland meeting pose for a group photo. Over 60 Brothers participated in the meeting.
5. Pe. Jozef Grzywacz, CSsR of the Vice Province of Bahia, a member of the General Secretariat for Partnership with the laity, meets with the Redemptorist novices and lay missionaries of some Latin American units.
6. 15th Anniversary Cake is cut by the C.Ss.R. Community in Korea. From left to right: Father Man Yong (John) Lee, pioneer member; Father Raphael Lee, Regional Superior; Bishop Basilio Cho, celebrant; Father Willy Jesena, pioneer member; Father Juventius Andrade, Consultor General representing Father General.
7. The Korean confreres pose with Bishop Basilio Cho and Father Juventius Andrade, C.Ss.R. during their 15th anniversasry celebration.
8. The Alphonsianum opened its academic year on October 9th with a liturgy presided over by His Excellency Bishop Salvatore Fisichella, Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical Lateran University. Concelebrating with Bishop Fisichella were the Most Reverend Father Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. Superior General and Moderator General of the Academy, Reverend Father Sabatino Majorano, C.Ss.R. President of the Academy, Reverend Father Sean Cannon Vice-President, and Father Darci José Nicioli, Rector of Sant'Alfonso Community.
9. Father José Mauro Alvarado of the Province of Mexico, on the right, is congratulated with a festive pranzo for his service to the Sant'Alfonso community these past years as House Econome. On the left is his successor, Father Waltier Magalhaes, from the Province of Goiás. Thank you Padre Mauro and welcome to Padre Waltier.
This month we want to feature three of the websites of the Secretariats of the General Government. Next month we will feature the others.
The General Secretariat for Redemptorist Spirituality
http://www.redemptoristspirituality.net/ This site includes reflections and homily helps on the Sunday readings from Father Kevin O'Shea and the liturgies for Redemptorist feastdays.
The General Secretariat for Collaboration with the Laity.
http://www.cssrpim.com/ This site includes resources and prayer services for sharing our Redemptorist charism with the laity and developing partnerships in ministry with the laity.
Both of these websites are still under development but you will be able to find many useful resources already for your reflection and use. Take a few minutes to explore them.
The General Secretariat for Redemptorist Youth and Vocation Ministry.
http://www.cssr.com/english/whoarewe/SecsAndComms/PGVR/sec.pgvr-MenuPage-EN.shtml This site is in seven languages and contains news of present and future Redemptorist youth events.
All of these sites can be also accessed through the menu links on our General Government website: http://www.cssr.com/
TRANSITIONS
Recent noteworthy events in the Redemptorist Family. For a complete record of transitions visit the Officialia site
Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Rasika Jayasuriya, Region of Colombo, September 8, 2006
Anthony Albert Bidgood, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, September 27, 2006
Suain Ziomar Durán Vivas, Vice Province of Caracas, September 30, 2006
Jonathan Eduardo González Oviedo, Vice Province of Caracas, September 30, 2006
Alexander Hernández Garcia, Vice Province of Caracas, September 30, 2006
Alexander Jaimes Rojas, Vice Province of Caracas, September 30, 2006
José Vicente Ramírez Meza, Vice Province of Caracas, September 30, 2006
Meyassar Behnam Moussa Al-Kas, Province of St. Clement/Mission of Iraq, October 1, 2006
José Wilker Rosário Nunes, Province of Rio de Janeiro, October 12, 2006
Sameem Youssif Balius Al-Menno, Province of St. Clement/Mission of Iraq, October 14, 2006
Tuan Anh Nguyen, Province of Denver, October 15, 2006
Thong Dinh Ngo, Province of Denver, October 15, 2006
Ordination to the Priesthood:
Gerard Anil Louis, Vice Province of Ipoh, October 6, 2006
Gaetano Desiderio, Province of Naples, October 28, 2006
Deaths:
Rev. Bernard Clinton, 89, Province of Canberra, October 2, 2006
Rev. Harold Joseph Thiel, 76, Province of Denver, October 11, 2006
Rev. Luigi Petrosino, 65, Province of Naples, October 15, 2006
Rev. Jim Travers, 77, Province of Dublin, October 23, 2006
Rev. Donald Charles Bolton, 80, Province of Baltimore, October 27, 2006
60th Jubilee of Profession:
Louis Crausaz, Province of St. Clement/Region of Helvetica, November 1, 2006
Bernard Larivière, Province of Lyon-Paris, November 1, 2006
Jean Monnat, Province of Lyon.Paris, November 1, 2006
Roger Schaller, Province of Bolivia, November 1, 2006
Alfons Kleine, Province of St. Clement/Region of Cologne, November 1, 2006
50th Jubilee of Ordination:
José Jesús Brito Olivares, Province of Santiago, November 4, 2006
25th Jubilee of Ordination:
Devasia Mathew Mangalam, Province of Bangalore, November 5, 2006
Plácido Palmier Alvarez, Province of Madrid, November 21, 2006