Click here to subscribe to RSS feed version of Scala| S C A L A |
Where your heart is, there will be your treasure
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| Redemptorist Newsletter | Number 31 |
Rome, Italy
November 16, 2007
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NEWS FROM THE PROVINCES
Gars (M.Ss.R.) Sisters celebrate 50th anniversary
Peru: Earthquake claims lives in families of Redemptorists
Peru: Bolivian confrere relates what is was like being in the earthquake
Madagascar: 40th anniversary of founding of mission
THE VATICAN AND REDEMPTORISTS
Holy Father congratulates Redemptorists on 275th Anniversary
VITA APOSTOLICA
Father Félix Catalá inaugurates a year-long series on the Consecrated Life
REPORTS FROM THE SECRETARIATS AND COMMISSIONS
Secretariat for Evangelization meets in Rome
24th General Chapter Preparatory Commission meets in Rome.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Various announcements from around the Redemptorist world
ALPHONSIANUM
Newly published works by Academy professor and student
PHOTO GALLERY (on-line only)
Photos from around the Redemptorist World
FEATURED MEDIA
Peru: This month we link to a powerpoint presentation that shows the devastation caused by the Peruvian earthquake.
Vienna: A new blog
TRANSITIONS
Professions, Ordinations, Anniversaries, Deaths, Electoral News
Because of instantaneous communication, we are much more aware of natural disasters around the world. Whether they are earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanoes, fires, tornadoes, drought, or flooding, oftentimes our Redemptorist confreres and the people they serve are caught in the midst of them. This month we have two stories about the earthquake that struck Peru in mid-August and its effects on our confreres and their people, and the efforts at recovery.
You will notice two new additions to SCALA this month. First, a change of theme in our masthead. To celebrate the Year dedicated to the Consecrated Life, we will use the theme expressed in the first of a series of articles on the Consecrated Life we are launching with this issue. These reflections will be provided by Father Félix Catalá, Director of the Center for Spirituality.
In his first installment, Father Catalá reminds us that where our heart is, there will be our treasure. He also provides some stimulating questions about the Consecrated Life that you may use for your individual or community reflection.
Don´t forget our request that every unit send us 4 or 5 photos of special interest on the life and work of your unit that we will use in a special photographic edition of ORBIS 2007-2008 to celebrate our 275th anniversary year and our Consecrated Life. Please send them in .jpg form to GaryZ@cssr.com.
Grace & Redemption for all!
Gary Ziuraitis, C.Ss.R.
Gars, Germany
Missionary Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer
50th Anniversary
Sr. Anneliese Herzig, M.Ss.R.
"For what has been: thanks! To what is to come: yes!"
This quotation from Dag Hammarsckjöld was the motto for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. Around 450 guests came to Gars am Inn, the place where the community was founded, along with all the sisters of the Germany/Austria Region and sister representatives from the Regions of Japan, Bolivia, Chile and Ukraine.
Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, emphasised in the homily how important it is today that the church be missionary. If it did not preach the Gospel in word and deed, it would lose its purpose. The Cardinal encouraged the Sisters to not tire of ministering to the poor and showing them the love of God through their commitment and service. Germany is a mission country. This awareness has come to the fore over the last 50 years and has become stronger today. Precisely for this reason religious orders have the task of developing their charism and being present to those people who have little sense of the Redemption that Christ has given us.
At the presentation of the gifts at the Anniversary Mass it was clear how this charism took on different forms in different places. Sisters from the five regions brought a symbol to the altar which was to be an expression of what was particularly important in the respective regions. The symbol of the German-Austrian region, for example, was a clock. It symbolized the time that the sisters in this region give to people. Time is such a precious item for which many people have a longing. They are grateful when someone listens to them and has an open ear.
After the liturgy, there was ample time in the Redemptorist house for listening. During the festive meal it was possible to mix with the sisters and other guests and to view the displays representing the work of the sisters in the different regions. During the celebration the Superior General of the Redemporists, Fr. Joseph Tobin, praised the fruits that the work of the sisters has brought in the course of the years. In particular he noted the many good things that have been realized through the Sisters' collaboration with the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers.
Sister Anneliese Herzig, the Superior of the Community, recalled the "Founding Sermon" of Fr. Johannes Mayer on the 3rd of October 1957, the day the first Novitiate began. In beginning this foundation both the Redemptorists and the Sisters took a real risk: "With fearful hearts, we arrive at this hour, those who are calling and those who are called. But if we look for and see only human effort then we find nothing in this hour and will never understand what is happening…. It is a day of the Lord, the divine Redeemer and his calling, abounding, redeeming love".
Carried by and trusting in this redeeming love, more than 50 years ago five young women set out on their way, to try something new, to work "at the margins" (Fr. Mayer) – where people do not have much sense of the love of God.
Like St. Alphonsus, who knew himself called to the poor and abandoned, these first members took up their missionary calling in their hearts. Even if the understanding of mission changes in the course of time, the principle is still the same: to be with people on their journey, looking for answers to their questions and problems. That can take on very different forms, depending on the demands of the day, the society and the country. Everywhere there are people who are searching, who feel alone with their questions and fears, who occupy the lowest places in society.
For the Gars Sisters, to be a missionary means above all to be present to people and to accompany them on their journey. What one has as a task is secondary to this. Whether one is active in pastoral or social work, in service within or outside the monastery, at the sick bed or in the kitchen, whether voluntary or paid, in every form of service it is possible to be with people on their journey and to share life and faith with them. Sometimes that also means simply enduring with them their suffering as a result of serious mishaps, sickness or loneliness. To live as a human being among human beings, to preach the gospel eye-to-eye as it were, that is a way of following Christ concretely, Sister Anneliese emphasized.
From the seeds of those five young women who at that time took the risk of founding a new religious community has grown a group of around 115 Sisters, spread over five regions. In the afternoon, native vocations from these regions presented, sometimes in their mother tongue, the country and its history as well as the specific work of the Sisters. In this way it was possible for the guests to have a very direct experience of how life and work is shaped in each region.
First to give their presentation was the Germany-Austria region, which, with 45 Sisters, is at the moment the largest Region. The Sisters live in five communities in Southern Germany as well as two houses in Austria. The house, St. Theresia in Stadl, close to Gars, is the regional house of the congregation. The Sisters are engaged in different types of work of a social and pastoral kind. In 1989 in Vienna, Sarepta House was founded as a place for parents and children who find themselves in emergency situations. In 2004 in Waldkraiburg a holistic health center called Efrata was founded, which specializes in natural healing methods and spirituality.
Sister Kumiko and Sr. Katharina reported that the Sisters first went to Japan in 1965 in order to work with the Redemptorists in pastoral ministry. Today they have a home for children and a residence for female students. In the midst of a culture influenced by Buddhism, it is not easy to pass on the Christian faith. In Japan seven sisters live in two houses.
In 1974, at the initiative of the Swiss Redemptorists, five sisters were sent to Bolivia. Their main work in this country is the education of young people, social and pastoral work and financial help to those – who are everywhere to be found- who have no insurance or help from the State. Of the 23 Sisters 18 are Bolivian. Sr. Lucila, Sr Fani and Sr. Johanna Baum, who have been in the community since 1957, represented the Region in attractive local dress.
The Region of Chile was founded in 1980. As Sr. Marlene and Sr. Narcisa reported, this country has been through major political, social and economic change in the last three decades. The 17 years of dictatorship have left their mark. Despite everything, by Latin American standards, things are going fairly well. This is one reason why there are so many female immigrants in the country, especially in the large cities. For this reason one of the main tasks of the 17 Chilean and 3 German sisters, alongside other pastoral work, is ministry to these immigrants.
The youngest group is the Ukraine. At the time when the Ukrainian-Greek-Catholic Church was able to come out of hiding, a group of young women asked for help in setting up a religious community. In 2001 the first German sisters were sent to Lemberg. The community there now numbers 20 members. As a post-communist country the Ukraine has been shaken by many political and economic crises. Particularly for young people there are few prospects and they trend towards leaving the country. The work of the Sisters in the social and pastoral field is aimed at helping young people to set up a life in the Ukraine and to live according to Christian values. Sr. Jelena and Sr. Klementija finished their presentation with a song which they themselves composed in the local language.
The celebration concluded with a ceremony of light. A candle was passed from person to person to express thanksgiving "for what has been and for what is yet to come".
Perú Sur
Earthquake
Francisco Arias Magallanes C.Ss.R.
Viceprovincial
Editor's note: We present two accounts of the devastating earthquake in Peru Sur last August. The General Government sent out a request to the Units for donations and Peru received a $25,000 donation from the Edmonton-Toronto Province to assist in the recovery.
The 15th of August dawned cloudy and cold like winter. That day we were celebrating the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady and had arranged to have the community supper at 6.40 p.m. when suddenly the earth began to tremble violently for three minutes.
The epicentre was 220 km. south of Peru's capital, Lima, where there is a population of about 250,000 thousand people between Cañete, Chincha, Pisco and Ica, areas near the Pacific Ocean. This tragedy affected 80% of the population causing a total of 650 deaths and many victims.
We Redemptorists were on mission in the parish of ‘Our Lady of Fatima' of Chincha and at the same time doing a renewal mission in the parish of ‘St. Martin de Porres' of San Clemente, Pisco. The families of eight of our confreres lived in the stricken area. Our first reaction was to organize ourselves to bring help. Two priests and laypeople were assigned to the district of Grocio Prado-Chincha to look after the families of the confreres who lived there. Two Bolivian priests, two professed brothers and four laypeople went to where the mission was being preached and two priests with Sisters and laypeople went to St. Martin de Porres of San Clemente. These were moments when we felt strongly our commitment to who we are and what we want to be as Redemptorists -- missionaries of hope. We stirred up the people, organised community centers, distributed food, tents, blankets etc. Coordinating with the authorities and being the voice of those who have no voice, we demanded, pleaded and begged that help be provided for the more isolated and those most affected. At present we continue to help the parish of St. Martin de Porres of St. Clemente, Pisco.
As we mentioned above, among the victims were families of our confreres. One of the confreres lost two members of his family. We could not neglect them. We visited them and showed our solidarity with them. With aid from the General Government we are reconstructing their ruined houses.
We are grateful to all the confreres who have shown their solidarity with us and continue to do so. Our confreres in the south are in great need of help. We believe as Redemptorists that this is a great opportunity to be poor and to be among the very poor.
Bolivia
I thank God continually for being alive.
Lin Antezana Gonzales, C.Ss.R.
On Thursday, August 9, Fr. Efrain Canaviri and I set out from the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia for Lima, Peru, to take part in a parish mission given by the Redemptorists of South Peru in the city of Chincha. We arrived there on Saturday, August 11, having passed through Pisco, San Clemente, where we celebrated the evening Eucharist. During the journey from Lima to Chincha we admired the nearby sea and the coastal beauty that the Divine Creator has bestowed on Peru. When we reached Chincha the whole city, or rather the whole mission territory, gathered to find out about the mission. It was in the parish of Fatima where Fr. Santiago Calle Santos is pastor.
Let me now describe what it is like to experience personally an earthquake that measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. At 18.45 on Wednesday August 15, I was in the area called ‘Sorana de los Angeles' in Chincha and about to begin what we call a "Family Assembly" when I felt a slight tremor that I thought was caused by a heavy truck passing by, but which in a few seconds became a terrible earthquake. I was inside the meeting hall and the whole building began to tremble. We immediately ran into the street as the walls collapsed behind us, but thank God none of us suffered any injury. From the street I could see how the whole building crumbled with no walls left standing and everything reduced to dust. With no poles to support them, all the lights went out and across the street was a children's home; all the children were crying for help, the windows of the home shattered and broken glass scattered everywhere.
During the earthquake, which lasted about three minutes, the people were praying at the top of their voices and begging God with tears in their eyes to calm things down. At this time I did not know what to do but I noticed that there was a woman behind the house with three children. She was calling me to help her and at the risk of being crushed to death I trusted in God to protect me. While going through the alley to reach her all the walls fell behind me but I arrived where the lady and children were. We went back out into the street and joined a group. We embraced and comforted one another. I felt so powerless that all I could do was to beg the people to remain calm and we prayed a lot. Because of what had happened everyone was crying and nervous, some running distraught from one side of the street to another.
I also felt very upset but at the same time I was grateful to God for having spared my life and that I had not died in the rubble of the earthquake like so many others who had perished. In less than half an hour 24 dead were counted and many badly wounded as if they had returned from a terrible war. I don't know how I was able to endure this sight. Arriving back at the Parish Center, there were more dead than I could count. I went in to the Health Centre near the Fatima parish and assisted in receiving the many dead and wounded, especially children and young people, as well as adults and elderly whom I imagine were not able to get out of their houses quickly enough and were trapped inside until they could be dug out.
From that moment the parish mission changed its focus. It was now a more important mission taking care of the wounded Christ present in all these brothers and sisters who had no place to sleep, nothing to eat and no clothes to wear; the same Christ whose house was the street and who had for a roof the open sky. In a few short minutes the earthquake resulted in many helpless poor people trying to find a place in the street to sleep or rest, without blankets or shelter, and in the very cold inclement weather. It was a dreadful sight to see so many people without a house, whose only hope was in the relief services and these were very slow in arriving. Thank God the Fatima parish, however, with its pastor in the lead, were the first to arrive to provide some bread each day. Fr. Efrain and myself spent the early hours going through the city helping distribute food, clothes, blankets, canned food, water and all we had in the parish. We managed to set up centers where we shared the little we had among all the victims.
You will find this almost incredible! One day after the earthquake when I had finished celebrating Mass a lady came to me and brought me to a house with only a wall standing. This wall had an image of Our Lady on it. ‘What do you make of that' she said to me. I did not reply but she was quick to answer that Our Lady had protected them. Truly it is incredible that on that one wall standing was an image of Our Lady. I do not know what to think, but I suppose that it was Our Lady of Perpetual Help who protected many of her children during the earthquake.
An event that filled me with dread was the story of the prison with 600 inmates, Tambo de Mora, located about a kilometre from Chincha. The walls fell without anybody being injured but it provided an opportunity for the prisoners to escape. Perhaps it illustrates what the Lord has said that he wishes not the death of a sinner, but that he be converted and live. However, the trouble is that once free, the prisoners were not so appreciative of their good fortune and committed many crimes. I think that the earthquake caused less fear among the people than all those prisoners let loose through the streets and waiting for the night to carry out their evil deeds. We remained four days without light, water or telephone.
This is the saddest event in my life that I hope will never be repeated and I pray to God that these people can soon return to calm and peace. However, one thing is certain: that the world without God is so fragile that in a second, history can change its course and plunge us into despair. I ask God to allow me to continue proclaiming his Gospel wherever I am sent and to endure those trials that may remain for me. I am your instrument, Lord and send me wherever you wish. Thank you, Lord, for my new life and never shall I cease to thank you for this new opportunity. Lord, it is worthwhile to be your missionary and with you everything is possible and without you I can do nothing.
Madagascar
40 years in Madagascar
17 October 1967 - 17 October 2007
Fr. Vincenzo Sparavigna, C.Ss.R.
The number 40 always brings to my mind certain events: the 40 year reign of Elizabeth 1 of England; 40 years of wandering in the desert by the Chosen People; and the infamous Italian proverb, "at 40 years every year brings illness"!
And now I am asked to speak of "my forty years" living in community in Madagascar. Of course I was not alone. There was an experienced missionary from Calabria, Fr. Luigi Pentangelo, and others who have dropped in during the intervening years. But even if I had been alone, I realized I was sent in the name of the universal Church, my Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and by my Redemptorist Province of Naples.
But to return to the "forty year theme" - for Elizabeth it was forty years and then the end; or, to quote the French king, Louis XV, "after me the deluge"! Far be it from me to have such an idea! Ours has been a humble, discreet and hidden service to the Church and especially for the diocese of Diego Suarez where we were sent at the request of the missionary bishop, Mgr. Jean Wolff.
I don't think that Redemptorists ever wish to reign, display pomposity, project economic power, or seek adulation. Nothing like that! One of our mottos is: "to evangelize the poor and to be evangelized by the poor." Poverty is the absolute sign of the Kingdom of God. We do not count on power or money. Our strength comes from being Redemptorists. We have relied on our faith in Christ, the Redeemer, and the poor ones of Yahweh from whom virtue comes, as well as liberating, renewing and healing powers. We depend on Jesus who gave and gives himself, and who in his gift of himself did not merely count on what he could give or distribute.
Forty years of pilgrimage with the Malagasy people "in the desert"! Forty biblical years of reality during which we were often tempted, like the Hebrew people, to turn back, give up and rebel. It was tempting to want to go back to the world of abundance and consumerism that promises and gives ‘manna' in plenty, but a manna unsatisfying and mixed with poison; a manna that makes one a slave, a manna that gives death rather than life.
Forty years lived one day at a time, day after day, because each day has problems of its own even without worrying about what we will eat, what we will consume tomorrow, but trusting in the Providence of God who alone causes the manna that gives life to pour down from the heavens.
God has helped us. He has been with us on our difficult journey and has been always faithful. Our mission was and continues to be his work and not ours. Indeed if this work was of human origin it would have failed but it is the work of God and impossible to be destroyed (Acts. 5, 38-39).
The work has progressed little by little and taken root. The Malagasy Redemptorists are increasing from year to year and in this Jubilee year there are 12 young Malagasies who will make their profession, 5 temporary and 7 perpetual. The ‘Mission' that was made a ‘Region' on March 16, 2005 faces a promising future. It is a future dependent on our fidelity to the charism of St. Alphonsus. It is claimed that Alphonsus once said: "This little Congregation will last as long as there are Redemptorists who are not ashamed to appear poorly dressed and who prefer the country people to those of the city for their apostolate". May the Lord who formed and increased our first little group of Redemptorists in Madagascar continue to pour out his blessings and grant that Redemption may be abundant!
THE VATICAN AND REDEMPTORISTS:
Vatican City
October 31, 2007
Rev. P. Joseph Tobin
Redemptorist Superior General
Via Merulana, 31
00185 Roma
On the occasion of the 275th Anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the Holy Father spiritually unites himself with you in thanking the Lord and expresses his gratitude for all the good and generous works accomplished. The Holy Father prays that this happy occasion may stimulate renewed missionary zeal in constant fidelity to the charism of Saint Alphonsus in its members with the constant purpose of ever striving to be faithful to Christ and to the Church. With these sentiments the Holy Father invokes through the intercession of the Virgin Mary continual divine assistance on the entire Institute and heartfully bestows on you and the Confreres the requested Apostolic Blessing.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone,
Secretary of State to His Holiness.
Vita Apostolica
For your heart will always be where your treasure is (Matt: 6:21)
Félix Catalá, C.Ss.R.
We have been asked as a Congregation to join in a year of intense reflection on the apostolic life of Redemptorists, beginning on November 9 of this year (Letter of the Superior General, September 17, 2007). This invitation responds to the call of the XXIII General Chapter which asked us to examine afresh the consequence of the "definitive act of our whole missionary life as Redemptorists", that is, our religious profession (Message, 4). I would like to offer some brief considerations that I consider important for our reflection. This reflection on religious life is not only opportune but necessary. It brings us face to face with fundamental questions and issues. It is a critical call to an effective conversion as well.
Religious profession defines our life style; it ought to be the definitive act of our lives (Constitution 46; 54). This may seem self evident. And yet the Congregation faces the temptation, in practice, to define itself in terms of the ordained priesthood. The Brothers, from the very beginnings of the Congregation, have been reminding us of this quite explicitly. At the origins of the Congregation the Brothers challenged Alphonsus (in 1755 and 1772) and claimed that all should follow the same life style. They went as far as presenting a recourse to the Holy See in 1782, claiming that the Fathers did not pay attention to their demands of equality before the Rule. We heard loud and clear the complaints and requests of the Brothers in the last two General Chapters. It is urgent that we become more and more conscious of the deeper meaning and consequences of being a community of religious in the Church.
Our religious life is rooted in baptismal consecration (Constitution 47). From its origins religious life seeks to live the Christian life in a radical way, in a deep and unreserved dedication to God. Saint Alphonsus never tired of saying that we could not aspire to less than sanctity. Perhaps one of the most important challenges we face is the deepening of our faith in the living God. At the source of our decision to be and continue to be religious is a personal relationship with God. This relationship is not simply an emotional experience but a conviction that gives meaning to our lives and drives us continually to the transcendent. It is lived in Christ, who reveals to us the heart or will of the Father. Our faith in Jesus leads us to live in the Spirit, who generates life in us and empowers growth in love in our personal lives and as community for mission.
As Christians who seek to embrace radically the wonder of the love of God, we are also filled with a passion for God's people, particularly the poor and most abandoned. The love for God and the love for the poor and most abandoned are experienced as one love, the one flowing into and from the other as the one Gospel commandment. The love for Jesus Christ generates in us the dynamic of God's own love, who in Christ emptied himself out of love for humanity. In following the Redeemer, the Redemptorist dedicates himself entirely to the loving design of the Father, to the realization of the Kingdom. Evangelization in the strict sense together with the option for the poor is the very reason why the Congregation exists in the Church and is the badge of its fidelity to the vocation it has received (Constitution 5). When one experiences the love of God, one seeks to lead others to God's way of loving. Our vocation and life style are radically missionary. We are to be like Jesus, the First Missionary of God's love. This missionary dimension does not refer just to the activities that we carry out. It expresses a way of being, as members of a body, the Church, which is intrinsically missionary. Alphonsus stressed that Redemptorists become saints in living the end of the Institute, the charism (Consideration XIII).
Religious life is by definition prophetic. Although the term prophetic may have been abused and even rendered innocuous by some in proclaiming it from a comfortable bourgeois life style, we must recover its fundamental meaning. The prophetic character of religious life springs from the Spirit. The Holy Spirit generates religious life as a gift to the Church and, therefore, also to the world. In the Spirit we are nourished by the God who proclaims: I make all things new! (Revelations 21:5). It is in the Spirit that Redemptorists respond with a liberty and generosity that knows no obstacles (Evangelica Testificatio, 3) to the challenges of evangelization. In the Spirit we discover the creativity and originality that has characterized us since Alphonsus, expressed particularly in our way of relating to and serving God's little ones.
The charism of our Congregation brings us together in community for the service of the Gospel (Constitution 22). From the time of Alphonsus we have learned that we can live our charism if we do it in community. Our life in community does not exist just for psychological reasons. Our community life is theologically rooted in our vocation as religious and in our charism. It witnesses to the holiness and dynamism of the life of the Church, to the thirst of the Church for God and her desire to give herself completely to the radical demands of the Beatitudes (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 69). In this way we reflect the "madness" of God, who as the first of all communities, has given itself in love to humanity that they may all be one (John 17:11).
I would like to finish these introductory reflections with some questions that may help us hone in on some critical issues.
a. How do we grow in our relationship with God? How do we describe our relationship with Jesus Christ? What means do we use to grow in and strengthen our relationship with God?
b. Are we overly concerned with internal problems and unconsciously seek to preserve certain privileges, social status or comfort? In other words, to what extent have we become bourgeois and at the service of a capitalistic culture?
c. Do we seek that inner freedom (Galatians 5:1.13) that comes from the Holy Spirit and produces in us the necessary distacco to live fully our Redemptorist life?
d. Is the religious community our first and basic community? Is this community open to the world in such a way that, through contact with people, it may learn to understand the signs of the times and of places (Constitution 43)?
e. Why should young men join our Congregation today?
REPORTS FROM THE SECRETARIATS AND COMMISSIONS
Rome
Secretariat for Evangelization
Pedro López, C.Ss.R.
The General Secretariat for Evangelization met in Rome during October 1 - 5, 2007. All the members of the Secretariat took part with the exception of Fr. Enos Bulu Bali. Those present were Fr. Athanase Nsiamina, chairperson, Fathers Roger Michel, Afonso Savassa, Paul Hansen, Joâo Pedro Fernández, Pedro López and Jerome Chaverria.
During the last few years the Secretariat has produced a Directory for Evangelization in order to offer the whole Congregation some common guidelines. It has prepared as well some documents on different fields of ministry such as parish missions, parishes and Sanctuaries.
During the meeting, the Secretariat also worked on topics such as Justice and Peace, integrity of Creation, immigration and interreligious dialogue. As a result it has produced documents on each of the subjects proposed.
At the next meeting the Secretariat plans studies in the field of Moral Theology, Foreign Missions and the Media in the service of evangelization.
All this material is accessible on the website of the Congregation (www.cssr.com) in the specific menu section of the General Government – Secretariats and Commissions -- Secretariat for Evangelisation.http://www.redentoristas.org/sge/inicio.html.
A very privileged moment was the meeting with Fr. Félix Catalá, Director of the Center for Spirituality, in which he stressed the importance of the Secretariat for Evangelization. In his opinion it should be a catalyst in planning the role of the Congregation for the future and as a result stimulate the Congregation to be creative and not maintain the status quo. He also encouraged us to make the Secretariat and its work better known in the whole Congregation.
The Secretariat will continue its work along these lines and will meet in November 2008 when it will conclude its work for the sexennium. Before then it will provide each Unit with the Directory on Evangelization as well as a questionnaire to find out the present state of Redemptorist evangelization around the world.
Rome, Italy
General Government
2009 General Chapter Preparatory Commission Meets
The 2009 General Chapter Preparatory Commission met for three days in October to begin planning the process that leads up to the convening of the 24th General Chapter at Rome's Casa Beato Michele Rua, commonly known as the Salesianum in mid-October, 2009. You will be hearing much more about the work of the Preparatory Commission through communications from the General Government and materials that will be developed over the course of the next two years.
Members of the Preparatory Commission are: Consultor General Jacek Dembek, President; Vicar General Serafino Fiore; Edmonton-Toronto Provincial Michael Brehl, Chapter Moderator; Surinam Missionary, former Dublin Provincial and former Fortaleza Vice Provincial Brendan Callanan, Chapter Moderator; outgoing Colombian provincial Francisco Antonio Ceballos Escobar, Chapter Moderator; Secretary General Joseph P. Dorcey; Alphonsianum professor Sean Cannon, Canonical Consultant; Director of Communications Gary Ziuraitis.
North America
Spirituality Commission
Clementine Centenary Pilgrimage in 2009
The Spirituality Commission of North America is planning a pilgrimage for the centenary of St Clement Hofbauer's canonization. The tentative dates are from Thursday, May 14, 2009 to Sunday, May 24, 2009. The trip will include stops in Munich, Fussen, Budweis, Vienna, Taswitz, Catowice, Cracow, Czestochova, and Warsaw. For more information contact Father John Murray, C.Ss.R. at MurrayCSsR@aol.com
Denver Province
275th Anniversary Production
"Praying the Rosary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori,"
The Denver Province has produced a rosary CD in the English language that includes music composed by Saint Alphonsus peformed and sung by members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Padre Serra Children's Choir. Meditations are from "The Glories of Mary." Father Peter Schavitz, C.Ss.R. leads the listeners in the Rosary. For more information on how to obtain a copy please go to the Denver province website at http://www.redemptorists-denver.org/News_and_Events/News/rosarycd.php
Puerto Rico
Moral Theology Seminary
Casa Cristo Redentor Retreat House
The Casa Cristo Redentor Retreat House in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico is having a moral theology seminar the week of December 3 -7, 2007. The theme of the seminar is "Violence in Puerto Rico." The seminar is for priests, deacons, religious men and women, pastoral agents, lay leaders and anyone interested in promoting peace. Redemptorist moral theologians Márcio Fabri dos Anjos, Damián Wall and Henry Beauchamp Torres will provide orientations on the theme with participation from, among others, economists, sociologists and psychologists. Reservations are advised. The fee for room and meals is $150.00.
For more information contact:
Casa Cristo Redentor Retreat House
www.casacristo.com
787-732-5161
FAX 787-732-1115
The seminar will also we webcast. For more information about the webcast go to www.paulinaspr.org.
Rome
Alphonsianum
Newly published works
Victor Paul Furnish's Theology of Ethics in Saint Paul by Academy alumnus Michael Cullinan (2005) of the diocese of Westminister in Great Britain is the third volume published in the new Tesi Accademia Alfonsiana series that began last year to recognize outstanding research and scholarship. The volume was unveiled at a special assembly in the Aula Magna of the Academy on November 7th.
On November 22nd, Ave Maria Press, Casa San Paulo, and Alban Books will hold a book event in the Thesis Defense Hall of the Alphonsian Academy for the third volume of Father Dennis Billy's Classics with Commentary Series, published by Ave Maria Press. This volume is dedicated to the Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to Most Holy Mary by St. Alphonsus.
1 – 4: Father Lin Antezana Gonzales, C.Ss.R. of Bolivia was taking part in a mission in Chincha, Peru when it was struck by an earthquake. He sent these pictures along with his personal account of the experience.
1, 2, 3, 4
5. 450 guests came to Gars am Inn to celebrate with the Missionary Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer from the Germany/Austria Region and representatives from the Regions of Japan, Bolivia, Chile and Ukraine.
6. Cardinal Friedrich Wetter, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Father General, Joseph W. Tobin and Edmund Hipp, Provincial of the Munich Province, concelebrate the anniversary Eucharist with the M.Ss.R. sisters.
7. Sisters from the five regions brought symbols to the altar, which were to be expressions of what was particularly important in the respective regions.
8. Cardinal Wetter, Father Tobin and Sister Anneliese Herzig participate in the closing ceremony of light. A candle was passed from person to person to express thanksgiving "for what has been and for what is yet to come".
9. The Preparatory commission for the 2009 24th General Chapter poses with Father General after celebrating the Eucharist. From left to right: Fathers Sean Cannon, Gary Ziuraitis, Michael Brehl, Jacek Dembek, Superior General, Joseph Tobin, Vicar General Serafino Fiore, Joseph Dorcey, Brendan Callanan, Francisco Antonio Ceballos Escobar.
10. Newly first professed and finally professed Madagascar Redemptorists pose for a picture with Father Antonio De Luca, Provincial of Naples, and Madagascar Regional Vicar Vincenzo Sparavigna.
11. At the time of his death, Father Thomas O'Brien, C.Ss.R., of the Edmonton-Toronto Province, was the oldest living Redemptorist in the world. He was still hearing confessions once a week and concelebrating weekend mass at St. Peter's Catholic Church in St. John's, Canada as a centenarian. He died at the age of 103 years, 8 months and 4 days.
Peru
Powerpoint (.pps)
Earthquake!
Follow the link to a powerpoint presentation that shows the devastation caused by the Peruvian earthquake. The text is in Spanish but the images speak a universal language.
http://www.cssr.com/scala/ppoint/peru.pps
Vienna
C.Ss.R. Blog
Olive Branches
Father Martin Leitgöb of the province of Vienna informs us of a Redemptorist blog in the German language called "Oelzweige," which means "Olive Branches". The address is: http://oelzweige.blogspot.com. The Blog's name was inspired by a magazine founded by Saint Clement in 1819 with the same title that had the purpose of renewing the ecclesial and spiritual life of the faithful. This is also the aim of the new blog.
Father Leitgöb believes that blogging is a very good way to evangelize in today's world. He would like to hear from any other Redemptorists around the world who are blogging. His e-mail is: martin.leitgoeb@cssr.at
Recent noteworthy events in the Redemptorist Family. For a complete record of Transitions visit the Officialia site
First Profession of Temporary Vows:
Kevin Bellot, Region of the Caribbean, August 8, 2007
Germain Befanivana, Region of Madagascar, September 9, 2007
Clovis Jean Rafidison, Region of Madagascar, September 9, 2007
Lantoarivelo H. Rakotoarisoa, Region of Madagascar, September 9, 2007
Philippe Euphraim Ramanantsoa,Region of Madagascar, September 9, 2007
Elisé Franck Razafimahatratra, Region of Madagascar, September 9, 2007
Gavin Steven Stokoe, Province of South Africa, October 16, 2007
Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Alonso Chérrez Martínez, Province of Quito, July 31, 2007
Segundo Andrade Cedeño, Province of Quito, July 31, 2007
Peter Davidson Hill, Jr., Region of the Caribbean, August 8, 2007
Alfonso Suico, Jr., Province of Cebu, September 15, 2007
Théophile Bary, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Brice Narivelo, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Aubin Zacharie Rafidiarisoa, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Marcel Marie Rajaovita, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Jerémie Josaphat Randriambololona, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Janvier Marie Razafindrabe, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Jean Georges Marie Tsakaniasa, Region of Madagascar, September 29, 2007
Ordination to the Priesthood:
Fabio Edilson Cardenas Suarez, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Carlos André Carreño Durán, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Javier Hernández Duarte, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Angel Miro Pinto Salazar, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Idalecio Rayes Suárez, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Carlos Darwin Rojas Medina, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Adriel José Ruíz Galván, Province of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
José Humberto Toro Palacio, Provnce of Bogotá, February 3, 2007
Reverdy Jacques Aholou, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, July 7, 2007
Augustin Fiacre Hounkpe, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, July 7, 2007
Lamoussa Justin Ouedraogo, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, July 2007
Désiré Zante, Vice Province of Burkina-Niger, July 7, 2007
Constancio Alipio Flores Nina, Province of Bolivia, September 13, 2007
Román Oscar Ibarra Aquilar, Province of Bolivia, September 13, 2007
Daniel Pacheco Vargas, Proviince of Bolivia, September 13, 2007
Deaths:
Br. Beverley (Reginald) McGuire, 84, Province of Canberra, September 30, 2007
Rev. Michel Laliberté, 92, Province of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, October 3, 2007
Cl. Chrisantos Terseungwe Igbudu, 36, Region of Nigeria, October 3, 2007
Rev. Raul Alberto Montoya Ugaz, 65, Vice Province of Perú-South, October 5, 2007
Rev. Josef Schmitz, 67, Province of Cologne, October 5, 2007
Rev. Mark Fitzsimon, 87, Province of Dublin, October 10, 2007
Rev. John Michael Maquire, 74, Vice Province of Manila, October 11, 2007
Rev. Salvatore Alessi, 76, Province of Naples, October 22, 2007
Rev. Roberto Alves Escudeiro, 78, Province of São Paulo, October 22, 2007
Rev. Joseph Tran Huu Thanh, 92, Province of Vietnam, October 24, 2007
Rev. Thomas Stephen O'Brien, 103, Province of Edmonton-Toronto, October 23, 2007. At the time of his death, Father O'Brien was the oldest living Redemptorist in the world. (cf. photo gallery).
Sister Felicia Grismer, O.Ss.R., 81, Monastery of St. Alphonsus, Liguori, USA, October 25, 2007.
60th Jubilee of Profession:
Xavier Richter, Province of Strasbourg, November 9, 2007
Heinrich Prokl, Province of Vienna, November 22, 2007
Electoral News:
Rev. Vasyl Ivaniv, re-elected Provincial Superior of the Province of Lviv. Confirmed October 1, 2007.
Rev. John Michael Brehl, re-elected Provincial Superior of the Province of Edmonton-Toronto. Confirmed October 12, 2007.
Rev. Joaquim Parron Maria, elected Provincial Superior of the Province of Campo Grande. Confirmed October 17, 2007.
Rev. Henríque Aparecido de Lima, elected Vicar Provincial of Campo Grande. Confirmed October 18, 2007.
Rev. José Manuel Araya Chavarría, re-elected Vice Provincial Superior of the Vice Province of San Salvador. Confirmed October 18, 2007.
Rev. Fábio Bento da Costa, re-elected Provincial Superior of the Province of Goiás. Confirmed October 24, 2007.
Rev. Alejandro Irizar Irizar, re-elected Provincial Superior of the Province of Santiago. Confirmed October 29, 2007.