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

From the Editor:

Since the March edition of SCALA events in Rome moved quickly. The Holy Father’s lack of participation in Holy Week liturgies signaled an ominous change. His attempts to speak at his public appearances during Easter week were especially poignant and troubling. I was in St. Peter’s Square Easter morning and felt that the end was drawing near. But who would have realized that it would only be six days later! We managed to provide you with two special reports on his death and the participation of the two Redemptorist Cardinals in the conclave.

Rome was inundated with millions of people during the funeral rites for the Holy Father. The atmosphere was one of pilgrimage. Over two million viewed his body lying in state at the Vatican. Many hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million, were unable to have that opportunity. Father General and I stood and waited and walked for nine hours ourselves. The crowd was unmistakably young – a witness to the Holy Father’s devotion to youth and their love and respect for him in return. It is said that the Holy Father’s last words were a thanksgiving to the youth who had gathered beneath his window to keep vigil during his final illness.

All of the confreres here at San Alfonso have been eye-witnesses to these historic and moving events throughout the weeks and many have participated in them. Father General wrote a letter to the Vatican expressing the Congregation’s condolences. You may find a translation of that letter here in this issue under Spiritus Redemptionis. There are also pictures in the picture gallery of the memorial Mass held at St. Alfonso, hosted by the Alphonsian Academy. The Holy Father’s funeral at St. Peter’s on the following Friday was attended by numerous confreres, especially our Polish confreres from both here in Rome and from Poland. I am sure you participated by television.

Now we wait for the work of the College of Cardinals to begin and conclude with the election of a new Holy Father. Of course, we will not be able to “scoop” the media (be first to give you the news), but we will send you notice and give you the Redemptorist perspective.

Due to these breaking events and time constraints we’ve had to re-arrange our news items you recently sent. They may not appear until next month or later. But please know that we have received them – and remind you to keep sending them! The universal life and apostolic work of the Congregation continues. This issue of SCALA gives you another glimpse into some of the corners of that activity as we were preparing them for this issue when the Holy Father died and stopped the presses!

All past issues of SCALA are archived at http://www.cssr.com/scala/index.shtml

-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:
Sidney Martins da Silva, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
André Ricardo de Melo, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Alexandre de Assis Peixoto, Province of Goiás, Janaury 29, 2005
Vinícius Pires da Silva, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Welinton Rodrigues Guimarães, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Héctor Manuel Opazo Valenzuela, Province of Santiago, February 2, 2005
Carlos Humberto Pérez Triviño, Province of Santiago, February 2, 2005
Gonzalo Ernesto Vilches Grandón, Province of Santiago, February 2, 2005
José Ailton da Silva, Province of Recife, February 12, 2005
José Rinaldo da Silva, Province of Recife, February 12, 2005
Andrzej Jodkowski, Province of Warsaw, February 25, 2005

Profession of Perpetual Vows:
Paulo Cezar Nunes de Oliveira, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Frederico Hozanan de Pádua, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Benedito Moreira da Silva, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Vanilson Sousa Silva, Province of Goiás, January 29, 2005
Celso Luiz Martins Junior, Province of Campo Grande, March 12, 2005
Renaldo Zierhut, Province of Campo Grande, March 12, 2005

Ordination to the Priesthood:
João Bosco de Deus, Province of Goiás, December 10, 2004
Alex Venâncio Gonçalves, Province of Goiás, December 18, 2004

Electoral News:
Rev. Jaroslav Stelbaský elected Vice Provincial Superior of Michalovce.
Confirmed March 1, 2005.

Rev. John Frederick Sianchuk re-elected Provincial Superior of Yorkton
Confirmed March 3, 2005.

Rev. Boris Kyba re-elected Provincial Vicar of Yorkton.
Confirmed March 3, 2005

Rev. Paul Pazhangatte elected Provincial Superior of Bangalore.
Confirmed March 9, 2005.

Rev. Stanislav Pribyl re-elected Provincial Superior of Prague.
Confirmed March 9, 2005.

Rev. Josef Michalcik elected Provincial Vicar of Prague.
Confirmed March 9, 2005.

Rev. Jean-Pierre Nlandu Mamona elected Vice Provincial Superior of Matadi.
Confirmed March 22, 2005.

Rev. Davide Perdonò re-elected Vicar Provincial of Naples.
Confirmed March 31, 2005.

New Regions:
Region of Madagascar (0202) of the Province of Naples
March 16, 2005

Suppression:
Vice Province of New Orleans (4502) of the Province of Denver
January 31, 2005

New House: St. John Neumann in the city of Kunnambatta, Kerala, India.
March 3, 2005.

Supression of House:
St. Anthony of Padua in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.
March 12, 2005

Deaths:
Rev. Antônio Braz de Figueiredo, 66, Province of São Paulo, November 12, 2004
Rev. Lionel McNicoll, 79, Vice Province of Tokyo, March 19, 2005
Rev. Charles Hugh Gildea, 76, Province of Baltimore, March 20, 2005
Rev. Józef Nowak, 73, Province of Warsaw, March 26, 2005
Rev. Denis Paquette, 91, Province of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, March 30, 2005

   Index

News from the Provinces

The Region of Korea
Korea
Rev. Willy Jesena, C.SS.R.

How It Began...
It was in January 1991, that the Asia-Ocean C.Ss.R. major superiors held a regional meeting in Bangalore, India. One big decision they made was to establish a Redemptorist foundation in Korea. Fr. Man Yong (John Lee), a young Korean priest from Campo Grande Province ( then a Vice Province) was given the task of starting the foundation. He arrived in Seoul, Korea on March 15th (St.Clement's day). After much difficulty, he found a suitable residence, and the foundation was officially opened on the feast of St, Alphonsus (August 1st).

His two companions were two other Asians: Fr. Phaiboon Udomdej (Thailand) and Fr. Willy Jesena (Phillippines). By the end of that year, two postulants had joined the pioneering community. Since then, through the midst of fourteen years of sufferings and joys, the community has grown to 22 professed and non-professed members. Give God the glory!

How Is It Now?
In January of this year the regional community gathered for it's second regional assembly (chapter). An all-Korean regional council was elected for the first time (cf. photo section). The regional superior and his 2 consultors are confreres who joined the Congregation since 1991.

The confreres have three communities. They are engaged in various apostolic works. Evangelization through Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help takes the first priority. Another priority is the service to the poor through our Sarnelli Center and our apostolate among the foreign migrant workers: Chinese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Thai and other nationalities. The clergy, religious and lay peopleencounter the Redemptorists in liturgical celebrations, sacramental ministry, spiritual direction, retreats, prayer meetings, convent masses, hospital ministry, etc....The .Alphonsian spirit lives on in these ministries.

Korea is mainly a non-christian country. However we continue to get two or three new members every year. Our formation programs are all in Korea, with Korean and Thai formators. This year, we have four professed students, three novice and two postulants. 1 finally professed and 1 temporarily professed and one novice Brother. We have thirteen priests, including two foreigners.

Financially, the region supports itself through apostolic work, mass stipends and donations. The region has an association of 600 benefactors who give a monthly contribution. We have a loan from the Generalate for our Central House construction, which is still outstanding. This we pay on every three months. On reflection , we really live through divine providence, as we do not have any investments to support us at present.

What About the Future?
Our regional area of apostolate is the whole Korean peninsula. Half of Korea, the North, is still a communist country. We have enough apostolic challenges in the South at present. But with the opening of the North to Christianity in the near future, we will have more to do – a mission abroad ! Having experienced the blessings of God these past fourteen years, we know He will provide the means for us to continue the work among His people. So we live in hope and enthusiasm as we journey onwards...

Peru
The ‘Gerardino’ of Peru North

On March 15, the feast of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, the ‘Gerardino’ was opened with a Mass. This is a Seminary whose purpose is to prepare young men to become Redemptorist Brothers. The name of the Seminary is in honor of St. Gerard Majella, who was not a priest but a Brother. It was precisely by this style of life that he sanctified himself.

At present we have three enthusiastic young men who are aspiring to the Brotherhood. They are: Nilson Alberca, Eduardo Namuche and Abanto Bobadilla. The Vice-Provincial Government has appointed Fr. Walter Malca in charge of the Seminary. This is one of few such Seminaries in the Congregation.

The fact that the Brothers have their own Seminary is very significant, as it enables them to acquire their own identity as a group and to be imbued with the richness of the vocation of a Redemptorist Brother. We believe that small beginnings lead to great things and we are full of confidence that the Lord will touch the hearts of many young men to follow the example of St. Alphonsus and St. Gerard. We feel that this little group of young men who have begun the first step in their formation will be a fertile seed that will produce abundant fruit.

Student News

Last November our theology students arrived back from Bogotá where they have been studying. Here they had an opportunity to do some pastoral work on the missions as well as sharing in the community life of our houses. They also were able to spend some days with their families. At the end of January they returned to Colombia ready to continue their studies.

Last December four young men went to Colombia for their Novitiate. They are: Eber Córdoba , Percy Yarllequé, Jimmy Ramirez and Jesús Bobadilla. The latest news from them tells us that they are very happy and enthusiastic about their vocation.

In January our postulants went to Lima to do summer courses. We hear that all went very well. At present they are meeting in Trujillo. We understand that they made a fervent week’s retreat at the beginning of the year and that they took part in the Cascas Mission in preparation for Holy Week.

On February 17, Manuel Moscol, Pedro Montero, Eric Sánchez, Daniel Castillo and Alex Águila will go to the city of Trujillo to begin their Postulancy. There they will be joined by Cosme Quispe from the city of Cusco.

This year we have thirty-five seminarians: 3 are in the Seminary of St. Gerard in Piura, mentioned above, 22 in the Seminary of St. Alphonsus in Trujillo, 4 in the Novitiate in Colombia and 6 studying theology in Bogotá. In addition to these, Brother Carlos Periche is doing his pastoral experience in Cascas and Brother Carlos Rojas is on leave of absence.

As far as we can see, thank God, the future is promising.

Index

In Spiritu Redemptionis

His Excellency, Mons. Leonardo Sandri,
Secretariat of State,
Vatican City.

Your Excellency,

Profoundly moved by the passing of our beloved Holy Father, John Paul II, in my own name and in that of the whole Congregation, I wish to express our heartfelt participation in the grief of the whole Church.

Faithful to the special love of the Successor of St. Peter that St. Alphonsus imprinted on us, the entire Redemptorist family, missionaries, sisters and lay associates, have been close to the Holy Father John Paul II in their prayers, during the final painful days of his earthly pilgrimage.

We continue our prayers in gratitude for the ‘great things’ that the Lord has done for the good of the Church and all humanity during the long and fruitful apostolic ministry of his faithful Servant. As Redemptorists we feel particularly committed to take to heart his teaching on the necessity of continuing with confidence on the road of evangelization starting with the poor and most abandoned, so that all mankind may encounter the Merciful Love that gives hope to every human being. We consider the words that the Holy Father John Paul II addressed to our last General Chapter as a basic command: “Go forward in hope! Like your Founder, keep your gaze fixed on the Redeemer and allow yourselves to be guided by Mary, his and our Mother. Only in this way can you be co-workers, companions and ministers of Jesus Christ in the great work of redemption”.

Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Superior General

Index

Redemptorists in the News

Father Real Tremblay, C.SS.R. (Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré), a member of the community at San Alfonso and professor of Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy recently wrote a commentary on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s letter “On the Collaboration of Men and Women in the Church and in the World” of May 31, 2004. The commentary appeared in the weekly English edition of L’Osservatore Romano under the title: Learning the “intimacy of Christ” from Mary.

Father Brian Johnstone, C.SS.R. (Canberra), also a member of the community of San Alfonso and a professor of Moral Theology at the Alphonsianum, was asked to comment by Catholic News Service on a report about an Italian woman who refused treatment for Melanoma cancer in favor of her unborn child. The woman died three months after giving birth to the child. Although the Vatican called her decision “heroic” and “courageous,” it did explain that it was within her moral right to seek treatment for her cancer. Fr. Johnstone was asked by Catholic News Service to explain the principle of “double effect.”

Index

Vatican News as seen from Via Merulana

Redemptorists and the Vatican

Redemptorist Bishop Antonio Baseotto of Argentina, was dismissed as Argentina’s Military Ordinate by the government because of dispute with government officials over the growing abortion debate in that country.

The BBC news reported that:

“Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia recently said he was in favour of legalizing abortion. Bishop Baseotto replied that the minister's stance made him an apologist for murder. Quoting a passage from the New Testament, he said Mr Gonzalez Garcia deserved to have a millstone hung around his neck and should be "thrown into the sea".

But the government said the statement evoked Argentina's controversial past. During the military regime that ruled the country from 1976-1983, political opponents were thrown into the sea during the so-called ‘death flights’.

The bishop says his comments were taken out of context. Bishop Baseotto holds his post because of a 2002 agreement between Argentina and the Vatican. But a new presidential decree has annulled the earlier agreement.

Cabinet chief Alberto Fernandez said the government would formally withdraw its support for the bishop and stop his salary. The move follows Rome's decision to ratify the bishop in his position.”

The government added that Bishop Baseotto may continue to administer spiritual care to the armed services. At the time of this writing, there was no further Vatican response

Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, has announced that our Superior General, Rev. Joseph W. Tobin, C.SS.R., has been named to the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist to be held this autumn from the 2 to the 29th of October.

   Index

Monthly Picture Gallery (  for online viewing only)

Click HERE

Front Row: Sr. Marie Anais Kiema from Burkina-Faso, Diabo; Sr. Chantal Lussier of Sainte-Therese, Canada; Sr. Marie Christiane Kammerlocher of Landser, France; Fr. Joseph Tobin piously kneeling!

Middle Row: Father Emilio Lage (General House, Rome), Sr. Kazimiera Kut of Bielsko-Biala, Poland; Sr. Joan Calver, Liguori, USA; Sr. Anna Marie Ceneri from Scala.

Last Row: Fr. Gabriel Boudreaut (General House, Rome), Father Louis Crausaz, (Helvetica), Fr. Augustin Phaiboon (Thailand), Fr. Miroslaw Grakowicz (Warsaw)

Korea Photos:

1) The Korean Regional Community with three newly professed (in habits and rosaries)

2) The all Korean Regional Council (in albs) and the Regional community

3) Regional Council: (left to right) Fr. Stephano Maria Jung, consultor; Fr. Raphael Lee, Regional Superior; Fr. Macario Lee, Regional Vicar

4) Newly professed Brother Jacobo Yoon introduces his parents and relatives to guests.

Memorial Mass photos:

1.)  Father General, Father Sabatino Majorano, president of the Academia Alfonsiana, Father Sean Cannon, Vice Rector of San Alfonso, and Father Sergio Campara, Rector of San Alfonso preside at Memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II, hosted on April 5th by the Academy.

2.)  Memorial display in the Church for Pope John Paul II.

3.)  Members of the Academy and the community of San Alfonso concelebrating the Mass

4.)  Perpetual Help shrine decorated for Easter

Index

Featured Redemptorist Website

This month we feature the website of the Province of Puerto Rico. It is still under construction but has a number of very interesting pages:

http://es.geocities.com/vocacioncssr

http://es.geocities.com/estacionmisionera

http://es.geocities.com/estacionmisionera/entrevistajc

  Index

Reports from the Curia, Secretariats, Institutes, and Committees

Center for Redemptorist Spirituality
Spirituality Course
Dates: June 5 - 26, 2005

The full cost of the workshop and pilgrimage works out to Euros 2,000 per person. Let us know if you need any financial assistance. We request that you inform us as soon as possiblwho will be participating from your unit. May the Lord continue to bless you in your mission.

Felix Catala, C.Ss.R.
Director
centro@copiosa.com

General Secretariat for Brothers
Rome, Italy
January 19 – 21, 2005

1. General Objectives:

The main goals of the Secretariat are:

To assist the General Government as a think tank, giving advice, suggestions, recommendations, and being an instrument for implementing the General Government’s aims and objectives in matters referring to the Brothers during the sexennium.

Affirm the vocation of the Redemptorist Brother and make it widely known.

Promote a better understanding of the vocation, identity and apostolic mission of the Brothers as an essential contribution to the authentic living of Redemptorist life.

Accompany and support the Brothers in living faithfully their vocation as Redemptorists.

2. Members:

The members of the General Secretariat for this sexennium are: Brother Jeffrey Rolle (Chairman), Bro. Michael Duxbury, Bro. João Batista de Viveiros, Bro. Joel de Guzman, Bro. Benjamin Posvo, Bro. Alvaro Ribeiro, Father José Samuel Torres and Father Enrique López (General Consultor).

The members of the Regional and Sub-regional Secretariats are Brothers, Priests and, when possible, a (Vice) Provincial Superior from the Region or Sub-region.

3. Objectives and Tasks of the General Secretariat:

The General Secretariat will seriously reflect on the role and mission of the Redemptorist Brother in the context of today’s situation and to suggest a response.

Will seriously consider the possibility of a Brother being a member of the General Council. (See the criteria proposed by the General Secretariat for Brothers in its August 28-September 1, 2000, meeting at Munich, Germany).

Will animate and encourage the units of the Congregation to implement the General Ratio for Formation, always taking into account also the 1996 Ratio for the formation of Brothers.

Will animate and encourage the units of the Congregation to develop and implement a concrete vocation promotion program for Brothers.

Will stimulate the forming of Secretariats (or Commissions) for Brothers in the various units.

Will advocate for Brothers who express a desire for an academic degree or qualification to enhance their apostolic life, in accordance with the needs of the unit. (See XXII General Chapter; Postulatum 5.2)

. Will promote continuing education of all Brothers, especially in the areas of Spirituality, Religious Life, Theology, Pastoral Ministry, etc.

Will promote participation by Brothers and all members in renewal courses and on-going formation, particularly in those organized by the Center for Redemptorist Spirituality and the General Secretariat for Formation

Will encourage participation in inter-provincial and inter-congregational initiatives regarding the vocation of Brothers.

Will encourage, promote and spread theological, spiritual, sociological and pastoral studies on the vocation of Brothers.

Will follow up on the recommendations made by the previous General Secretariat for Brothers, as contained in the section “Future considerations” of the Report presented to the XXIII General Chapter.

The General Secretariat has the responsibility to keep in Rome an archive of all material produced and received by the Secretariat.

4. Tasks of the Regional and Sub-regional Secretariats:

The Secretariat will do its work with and through the Redemptorist Regions and Sub-regions. There are six Regional Secretariats: 1) Northern and Eastern Europe, 2) Southern Europe, 3) North America, 4) South America (Northern sub-region, Brazil, and Southern Sub-region), 5) Africa, and 6) Asia-Oceania.

The Regional and Sub-regional Secretariats:

Will animate, initiate, facilitate and assist, if necessary, the organization and implementation of the objectives and tasks of the General Secretariat.

Will continue to animate, encourage, and facilitate the reflection process proposed by the previous General Secretariat for Brothers in the various units.

Will continue to encourage and verify the developments on the implementation of the “Ratio Formationis” for Brothers.

Will continue to encourage, assist and verify the Vocation promotion programs in the units.

Will offer suggestions and recommendations to the General Secretariat for Brothers.

The Regional and Sub-regional Secretariats will have a chairman and a secretary to facilitate their meetings and ensure the implementation of objectives.

The chairman of the Regional and Sub-regional Secretariats will ensure that copies of the minutes of the meetings will be sent to the chairman of the General Secretariat for Brothers.

5. Job Description of the Chairman of the General Secretariat:

The Chairman of the General Secretariat will be a Brother who can commit a generous amount of time to the work of the secretariat and familiarize himself with issues and activities of Brothers in the six regions of the Congregation.

The Chairman shall see to it that minutes of Secretariat meetings are kept and that a copy of these minutes be sent to the General Government. The chairman will work in conjunction with the General Consultor responsible for the General Secretariat for Brothers and support the other members of the Secretariat in their work in the respective Regions.

The chairman will accompany and animate men in the Regions and assist in the creation of Sub Regions where there is a need.

Should participate in the meetings of Regional Secretariats for Brothers.

Will facilitate communication among Regional Secretariats for Brothers.

Will keep contact with other General Government Secretariats.

Will communicate and disseminate positive experiences about the life and ministry of Brothers.

Will provide the “Office of Communications” of the General Government with material for the Brothers’ page on the Redemptorist website and newsletter.

Will make available to the Brothers material on the life of St. Gerard and other Redemptorist Brothers.

Redemptorist Secretariat for the Redemptoristines
Rome, Italy
March 4-5, 2005

The Redemptorist Secretariate to help the Redemptoristines, headed by Father General Joseph W. Tobin and Secretary Father Emilio Lage, met in Rome on March 4 and 5 with various Redemptoristines who were representing their various autonomous monasteries according to language and geographical division: Sr. Anna Marie Ceneri from Scala; Sr. Marie Christiane Kammerlocher from Landser, France; Sister Chantal Lussier of Sainte-Therese, Canada; Sr. Marie Anais Kiema of Burkina-Faso, Diabo; Sr. Kazimiera Kut of Bielsko-Biala, Poland; and Sr. Joan Calver of Liguori, U.S.A.

The group met in all day sessions during which a Ratio Formationis for the whole Order, which had been prepared by the Viva Memoria team, was discussed at great length. A decision on the Ratio Formationis was not made at this time. Each autonomous monastery still needs to evaluate the Ratio, and then an international meeting, with a Redemptoristine delegate from each monastery, will be convened to discuss and vote upon the document before it becomes law.

Other topics were discussed. One such topic was the situation in some monasteries of the Order where the sisters are few in number and elderly. The question was proposed: "How can autonomous monasteries help each other?" Some proposals were made and discussed. A spirit of willingness to help was very evident. This situation also calls for prayer!

On March 6, all the sisters, with Redemptorists Fr. Ignaas Dekkers (Amsterdam), Fr. Augustin Phaiboon Udomdej (Bangkok), and Fr. Miroslaw Grakowicz (Warsaw), went by train to the Redemptoristine monastery in Foggia where the remains of Venerable Mother Mary Celeste are interred. Mass was celebrated and the Sisters received the group very graciously. All prayed at the crypt of Venerable Celeste. The lovely museum in her honor was also viewed and admired.

On March 7th the sisters left Rome - grateful once more for the help and concern of Father General, Father Lage and all the Redemptorists.

Happy "Resurrection" feast - Sr. Joan, O.SS.R. Liguori

Index