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Fr Johannes Römelt CSsR RIP Funeral...

fr johannes cssr rip funerl

Redemptorists, relatives and friends bid farewell to Fr. Johannes, Coordinator of the Conference of Redemptorists of Europe, who died unexpectedly on 9 March this year. The funeral ceremonies took place on March 21-22 in Bonn, Germany.

Bonn was where Fr. Johannes grew up and took his first steps towards being a Redemptorist. On March 21, a vesper for the deceased was held in the monastery church. The liturgy was led by Father Jack Umbu Warata C.SS.R, provincial of Indonesia Province. He expressed his gratitude for the fact that Father Römelt, as then provincial of St. Clement, initiated cooperation between the two provinces.

On March 22, the requiem mass took place in the St. Aegidius parish church, where Fr. Römelt celebrated his first mass after his priestly ordination. The mass was presided by Father Jan Hafmans C.SS.R., superior of St. Clement Province, assisted by Father General Rogério Gomes C.SS.R. and the General’s vicar, Fr Francis Stanula C.SS.R. Many confreres from all over Europe concelebrated and expressed in this way their condolences and solidarity. There were present the superiors of neighbouring European provinces; one confrere from the Vice-province of Matadi who represented COREAM (Conference of Redemptorists of Africa and Madagascar); Fr Jack mentioned already represented the Asia-Oceania Conference. Many people also joined the prayer online.

In his homily, Father Hafmans reflected on the gospel of the Emmaus Disciples. He described Father Johannes Römelt as a witness to faith in the Risen Lord, who accompanies us on all our paths.

Father General Rogério Gomes C.SS.R. addressed a farewell word on behalf of the General Government and the entire Congregation. He expressed his belief that every human heart finds its destiny in the all-embracing heart of God. He said:

Fr. Johannes finds himself in God. His life on this earth was short. Now, we will all hand him over to God as a gift, and there will be consolation and strength for us to continue living despite missing him. From heaven, he continues to accompany us with his characteristic smile. I thank God for his life, consecration, and service to the people of God in the Congregation.

These were powerful words of hope and faith for the many people present: for Johannes’ brothers (including Joseph, also redemptorist) and family members, for the confreres and partners in the mission of the Province of St.
Clement and the Conference of Europe, and for many friends of Father Johannes as well.

Three hundred people filled the church and finally escorted Father Johannes’ body to the monastery cemetery. After this, they could share their feelings in the Bonn monastery, where the local redemptorist community offered much hospitality.

Eric Corsius

Fr Gerard Mulligan CSsR RIP Funeral Arrangements...

copiosawindow

Fr Gerard Mulligan CSsR RIP

Requiem Mass will be celebrated on

Monday 25th March 2024 at 11.30am

in St Mary's Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth PH2.

Burial will follow immediately afterwards

in the monastery grounds.

Vivat in aeternum!

Requiescat in pace.

Ite ad Ioseph - Go to Joseph...

ite ad joseph

GO TO JOSEPH

By St. Alphonsus Liguori

From the Magnificat for March 19, Solemnity of St. Joseph

St Bernardine of Siena used to say; "There is no doubt about it; in heaven, Jesus Christ not only continues to show St Joseph every sign of the familiarity and respect with which he showed him during his life on earth, as Son to father, but adds to them with fresh honors." Notice these two words: familiarity and respect. The Lord, who on earth honored St Joseph as a father, will certainly not refuse him anything he asks in heaven.

At this point we ought to add that St Joseph had on earth no authority over the humanity of Jesus Christ as a natural father would have, though he did, in a certain sense, have authority over him as husband of Mary who had authority over him as his natural Mother. Whoever has the right to a tree, also has the right to the fruit it bears. Consequently, on earth Jesus Christ used to respect Joseph and obey him as his superior, and it follows that St Joseph's prayers in heaven are treated as orders by Jesus Christ. This is Gerson's thought: "When a father prays to his son," he says, "his prayers truly are commands."

Now let us listen to what St Bernard has to say about St Joseph's intercessory power on behalf of his supplicants: "There are some saints who have the power of protecting in certain specific circumstances; but St Joseph has been granted the power to help us in every kind of need, and to defend all who have recourse to him with pious dispositions."

That was how St Bernard put it; St Teresa confirms his opinion from her own experience and tells us: "It would seem that God has only granted the other saints power to help us in one kind of necessity; but experience shows that St Joseph can help in every kind of need."

Requiem Mass - Fr. Bev Ahearn C.SSR

On Monday 11th March we celebrated the Requiem of Father Beverley Ahearn C.Ss.R. A recording of the Mass can be viewed below.

Fr Gerard Mulligan CSsR RIP…

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Please remember in your prayers

Fr Gerard Mulligan CSsR

who went to the Father's house this morning.

Funeral arrangements will be communicated

when they are organised.

Requiescat in pace.

Born 11 - iii - 1943

Professed 4 - ix - 1960

Ordained 24 - ix - 1966

Died 15 - iii - 2024

Fr Johannes Römelt CSsR RIP...

On Saturday, March 9th, Father Dr.Johannes Römelt died unexpectedly in Basel (CH). He was a member and former superior of the Province of St. Clement of the Congregation of the Redemptorists. Most recently, he was coordinator of the Order's Europe Conference. Information about the funeral will be published asap.

In memory of Father Dr Johannes Römelt, Redemptorist (1960-2024)

Fr Bev CSsR Funeral…

On the 11th of March the confreres gathered for the funeral of

Fr Beverley Matthew Ahearn CSsR

Footsteps of St Alphonsus...2024...

(From the Blog of the Alphonsian Academy )

On the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, January 21, 2024, Pope Francis officially began the Year of Prayer. The next few months will lead us to the Jubilee of 2025, and it is necessary to prepare for this special year of Grace with intense, fervent, true, and sincere prayer. An entire year dedicated not only to praying but also to rediscovering the value of personal prayer and its absolute need in the life of each one, of the Church and of the entire world. When we talk about prayer, Saint Alphonsus is also called into question. For two things in particular, he is known everywhere: the song ” Tu scendi dalle stelle” and the aphorism: “He who prays is saved, he who does not pray is damned.” Today, as in Alphonsus’ time, we cannot deny the need for prayer for every believer. Lukewarm souls can cite many reasons to justify their lack of commitment to prayer, such as: I don’t know how to pray, I don’t have the charism of prayer, I don’t have time, praying is reciting formulas by heart…and so on.

Alphonsus, as a wise man and knowledgeable of the fragility of the human soul, composed a work entitled “Prayer: Great Means of Salvation and Perfection” to encourage prayer. Here he writes that: «Prayer is a safe anchor for those who are in danger of shipwreck; it is an immense treasure of riches for those who are poor, it is a very effective medicine for those who are sick, and it is a certain protection for those who want to preserve themselves in holiness. » [1]; it allows you to open yourself to Grace to daily carry out the will of God and achieve your own sanctification; it makes friends of God; it is an internal dialogue with Him, a source of fortitude and creativity indispensable for moral life.