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Conf of Europe Phase III of XXVI General Chapter Day 1…

Yesterday, Tuesday, 12 September, the Redemptorists of the Conference of Europe began Phase III of the XXVI General Chapter in Tuchów (Poland). As the Superior General, Fr. Rogério Gomes reminded us in his first talk, it aims to implement the decisions taken in the Canonical Phase of the General Chapter.

In his opening remarks, Fr. General addressed the Assembly, encouraging everyone to be more available and fraternal. At the same time, he made us reflect on the doors that – as a Congregation – we have closed; the walls that we are called to break down and the fears that impede life and creativity in our units. At the same time, he reminded us of our missionary essence as congregants and the themes that were developed in the canonical phase of the General Chapter: identity, mission, formation, community life and leadership.

Afterwards, he invited us to prayer with a meditation centred on “hope” in four aspects: theological, anthropological, in the world and in the congregation. What is the meaning of being Redemptorists today if we do not live in the key of hope? Will we be able to communicate the charism received as an invitation of the Spirit? Will we be willing to take sometimes risky decisions inspired by evangelical choices? These were some of the questions he confronted us with before the time of silence.

First Mass of our 3rd Phase of European General Chapter...

Fr General CSsR, Rogério Gomes CSsR led the celebration of our Mass as we committed ourselves and all our future business to the Lord. At the end of the Mass we turned to the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour, sang the Salve Regina and entrusted everything to her.

Fr General CSsR, Fr General SecretaryCSsR and Fr Vicar General

Fr Maurice O'Mahony CSsR (London Province)

Third Phase of our 26th General Chapter…

Thirty six men have gathered from all over Europe to meet in our Monastery and Shrine in Tuchów, Poland for the 3rd Phase of our 26th General Chapter. This is an exciting time and we try and discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to us and where the Holy Spirit is trying lead us. Please keep us in your prayers.

As you pray, pray the Spirit will

guide us, guard us and embolden us!

Letter to the Formandi from Fr General CSsR...

Click here to read the whole letter...

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Pope Francis...

ukrainian cssr priests prison

On the morning of 6 September, a private audience with the Holy Father Francis was held at the Vatican for the Bishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). In a frank conversation, the Hierarchs of the UGCC expressed the Ukrainian people’s pain, suffering, and a certain disappointment.

On Pope Francis’s initiative, the meeting started an hour earlier than scheduled “to have the opportunity to talk with the Ukrainian bishops for a longer time.” According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, “this meeting was a time of mutual listening and an opportunity for frank and sincere dialogue.”

The bishops of the UGCC asked Pope Francis to begin the meeting with a joint prayer for a just peace in Ukraine and for all those “who are dying in our country at this moment at the hands of the Russian aggressor.” The Holy Father thanked for the initiative and, together with the Ukrainian bishops, prayed the “Our Father” prayer for Ukraine and its “long-suffering people.”

ukrainian church

“In a conversation with the Holy Father, we expressed to the Pope everything that our faithful in Ukraine and throughout the world entrusted us to convey to His Holiness. Our bishops spoke in Ukrainian, English, Portuguese, and Italian,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized. The bishops said that certain statements and gestures of “the Holy See and Your Holiness are painful and difficult for the Ukrainian people, who are currently bleeding in the struggle for their dignity and independence.” Misunderstandings that have arisen between Ukraine and the Vatican since the beginning of the full-scale war, the bishops explained, are used by Russian propaganda to justify and support the murderous ideology of the “Russian World”, therefore “the faithful of our Church are sensitive to every word of Your Holiness as the universal voice of truth and justice.”

Referring to his own words and comparisons that he had addressed, in particular, to Russian youth, the Holy Father explained: “Returning from Mongolia, I stated that the real pain is when the cultural heritage of a people undergoes ‘dilution’ and is subjected to manipulations from the side of a certain state power, as a result of which it is transformed into an ideology that destroys and kills. It is a great tragedy when such an ideology intrudes into the Church and replaces the Gospel of Christ.”

The Holy Father also admitted that “the fact that you doubted whom the Pope is with was particularly painful for the Ukrainian people. I want to assure you of my solidarity with you and constant prayerful closeness. I am with the Ukrainian people.” As a special gesture and symbol of closeness to the Ukrainian people, Pope Francis brought with him an icon of the Theotokos (Mother of God), which he showed to the bishops of the UGCC. “This icon was given to me by His Beatitude Sviatoslav when he was a young bishop in Argentina. I pray for Ukraine every day in front of her.”

The bishops also thanked Pope Francis for his constant support of Ukraine at the international level, his humanitarian actions, his personal efforts to free prisoners, the peacekeeping mission of the special papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, etc. “Ukrainian youth were sincerely moved by the humility of your words in asking to forgive the fact that it was not possible to do more to end the war in Ukraine,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

Releasing Redemptorist priests

The Synodal Fathers asked the Holy Father to continue his efforts for the release of prisoners of war, in particular, they mentioned the Redemptorist priests, Fr. Ivan Levytskyi CSsR and Fr. Bohdan Haleta CSsR, who are still in Russian captivity.

At the conclusion of the audience, on behalf of the Bishops of the UGCC Synod, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented the Pope with some of the captive Redemptorists’ personal belongings: a missionary cross, a prayer book, and a rosary. “These things, Your Holiness, testify to the suffering of our Church together with its people amid the horrors of the war caused by Russian aggression. As a priceless treasure, we hand them over to you with the hope that soon a just peace will come to Ukraine.” The Head of the UGCC also presented His Holiness with an icon of Jesus Christ, which had been saved from the church burned by the Russians in the village of Chervone in the Zaporizhia Region.

ukrainian cssr priests in prison

Among the personal belongings of the Ukrainian priests Fr. Ivan Levytsky CSsR and Fr. Bohdan Geleta CSsR arrested by the occupying Russian authorities in Berdiansk on November 16, 2022, are a missionary cross, a prayer book, and a rosary, as well as photographs of the clergy themselves.

Scala News

CSsR Perpetual Profession in the Roman Province...

Sunday, September 3, 2023 in our church of San Gioacchino in Rome, two of our confreres issued the Perpetual Profession of vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, together with the vow and oath of Perseverance:

Fabrizio Podda CSsR and Gianluigi Colucci CSsR

profession romaix

Both prepared, together with three other confreres from other Units, for the profession with the month of spiritual renewal, which took place last July in Svatá Hora (Czech Republic).

The solemn celebration of the Profession was presided over by the Provincial Superior of Rome, Fr. Antonio Cirulli, and also attended the Vicar General Fr. François Stanula, the General Councillor Fr. Nicolas Ayouba and the Coordinator of the Conference of Europe Fr .Johannes Römelt.

profession romeiv

St Mary's CSsR Redemptorist Church Clapham SW4...

Have a look at this beautiful booklet,

highlighting some of the beauty of our stunning church.

Click here to see the booklet.

Cello Concert in St Mary's Monastery CSsR Clapham London...

Fr Brian Espejo CSsR, a confrere from the Vice Province of Manila, has been in London for the past few weeks learning the art of playing the cello. By way of saying - thanks you - he held a concert with his teacher, Joanna Twaddle.