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Pope Francis speaks with the Redemptorists...

October 01, 2022

ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE GENERAL CHAPTER OF THE
CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER (REDEMPTORISTS)
Clementina room
Saturday, 1st October 2022

___________________________________

Dear brothers, good morning and welcome!

I greet with joy all the Redemptorist missionaries present in the 85 countries in which the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer operates. I also greet all those on the path of formation, the Redemptorist religious, the whole charismatic family and the laity associated with the mission. I greet you with affection and I thank the new Superior General, Father Rogério Gomes, for the words he addressed to me.
Celebrating a General Chapter is not a canonical formality. It is living a Pentecost, which has the capacity to make all things new (cf. Rev 21,5). In the Upper Room the disciples of Jesus had doubts, insecurities, fears, they wanted to remain firm and protected; but the Spirit who blows where he wants (cf. Jn 3: 8) causes them to move, to go out, to go towards the peripheries to bring the kerygma, the beautiful News.

In these days you are addressing five important themes for your Congregation: identity, mission, consecrated life, formation and governance. These are fundamental themes, connected to each other, to rethink your charism in the light of the signs of the times. This community discernment is rooted in the capacity of each of you to seek the mystery of Christ the Redeemer, which is the reason for your consecration and your service to the men and women who live on the existential peripheries of our history today. It is rooted in the fruitfulness of the Alphonsian charism, as the lymph that nourishes the spiritual life and mission of each one and makes it flourish again. I encourage you to dare, having the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Church as the only boundary. Do not be afraid to take new paths, to dialogue with the world (cf. Const. 19), in the light of your rich tradition of moral theology. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty in the service of the most needy and people who don't count.

In your Constitutions there is a very beautiful expression, where it is said that Redemptorists are willing to face every trial to bring Christ's redemption to everyone (cf. n. 20). Availability. We do not take this word for granted! It means giving oneself entirely to the mission, with all one's heart; dies impendere pro redemptis, right up to the last consequences, with the gaze fixed on Jesus who, "despite being in the condition of God [...], emptied himself by assuming the condition of a servant, becoming similar to men "(Phil 2: 6-7); and he became a good Samaritan, a servant (cf Lk 10,25-37; Jn 13,1-15).

Successor of Saint and Doctor Alphonsus Maria de Liguori...

Most Rev'd Fr Rogerio Gomes CSsR

was elected by the

26th CSsR General Chapter

as the

Superior General

of the

Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer

(the Redemptorists).

Please pray for him as begins this journey ahead.

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Newly Elected Superior General speaks...

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The peace of the Lord be with you all!

I would like to address you with my first simple message:

To all the capitular confreres,

To the confreres of each Conference, especially to those who live in situations of war, persecution and in situations of pain and suffering in their lives, our seniors,

To all of our formation candidates and to those in formation: I love you very much! Yesterday, we remembered our dear Blessed Gaspar. In his figure, I remember all our formators,

To the Redemptorist family,

To the Redemptorist nuns,

To the Oblates, lay men and women associated with our mission,

To our former Redemptorist seminarians.

Today is a special day for us: on 27 September 1696 St. Alphonsus Liguori was born in Marianella, Naples. Last night, as I was writing this message, I was thinking about the significance of this new mission which coincides with the birth of our holy Founder. God has his language!

I thank you for your confidence in asking me to undertake this arduous and challenging service to the Congregation. I will not be alone, I will count on my Council and also on the major superiors of the Congregation. I am at peace! Because I believe piously and deeply in the Holy Spirit, the helmsman of history, the One who was present at the creation of the world, on Jesus in the synagogue, at the resurrection, at Pentecost, on Alphonsus at the foundation of the Congregation, in the lives of our Saints, Blessed, Martyrs, Venerables and in each one of us present here today, at this Chapter. The Holy Spirit is here! Today is our Pentecost!

A snap of the 26th General Chapter...

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Redemptorists Brothers at General Chapter...

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The Redemptorist Brothers of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer participate at the at the 26th General Chapter. Following the footsteps of the first Redemptorist Brother, the Servant of God Br. Virtus Curzius, CSsR and the miracle-worker Br. Saint Gerard Majella, CSsR, the Brothers fulfill their religious calling in community and mission as sons of Saint Alphonsus di Liguori. They represent the Redemptorist Brothers from all five conferences.

Br. Jeffrey Rolle, CSsR – General Consultor

Br. Fernando Batista Cordeiro, CSsR from the Province of Campo Grande – Vice-Secretary General

Br. Benjamin Posvo, CSsR from the Region of Zimbabwe – Regional Superior of Zimbabwe and Brother Representative of the Conference of Africa-Madagascar

Br. Allan Queveno Manzano, CSsR from the Vice-Province of Manila – Brother Representative of the Conference of Asia-Oceania

Br. Michael Duxbury, CSsR from the Province of London – Brother Representative of the Conference of Europe

Br. José Mauro Maciel, CSsR from the Province of São Paulo – Brother Representative of the Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean

Br. Eumir Bautista, CSsR from the Province of Canada – Brother Representative of the Conference of North America

2nd week of the 26th CSsR General Chapter...

September 19th 2022

After the first week of opening of the XXVI General Chapter, the Chapter members were led through few important aspects of the Chapter. They were opening of the Chapter with the Holy Mass presided over by Fr. Michael Brehl, CSsR, a two-day retreat preached by Fr. Daniel Huang SJ, report by the Superior General Fr. Michael Brehl, and the report by the General Curia Treasurer Fr. Vincente Soria, CSsR.

Rejuvenated by the first week of General Chapter presentations and discussion, the Chapter members began the first day of the chapter with the morning prayer at 8.30 am in the central hall. The members gathered together once again to discuss the first of five important topics i.e., Our Redemptorist Identity.

These important topics are the work of the first phase gatherings of the Chapter in the various Conferences. They are: 1. Our Redemptorist Identity, 2. Our Redemptorist Mission, 3. Our Redemptorist Religious Life, 4. Formation for Mission, 5. Leadership for Mission.

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After the day’s discussion and presentations, the chapter members will gather to know and learn each conference followed by discussion and clarification. During the second week of the Chapter, lay partners in mission representing all the five Conferences will take part in the entire sessions. We keep all chapter members in our prayers for a successful week ahead.

Scala News

Sr Máire Brid OSsR renews her Vows...

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At the beginning of this month our nuns in Dublin celebrated a renewal of vows.
As the nuns themselves said,

"Sister Máire Bríd renewed her vows yesterday in our community.
She’s a real blessing to us!"

#nunsoftwitter #vocations #Godstillcalls

@redemptorists @RedemptoristsGB @redsireland @VocationsIrela1 @ukvocation

Fr General CSsR addresses the General Chapter...

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After a two-day retreat, the Capitulars started ordinary Chapter business, as scheduled. Thursday morning, during the first session, moderated by Fr. Joaquim Parron, Fr. Michael Brehl, Superior General, presented his concise report on different conferences of the Congregation. He summed up the last six years for one and a half hours. He gave an account to what extent the Congregation succeeded to embody in the inputs and decisions given by the previous General Chapter in Pattaya, Thailand.

Fr Brehl’s report consisted of several parts. First, he gave the social and cultural context of our apostolate, which has had a substantial impact on our lives and activities – in particular, he mentioned the Covid-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine.