Fr Provincial writes Aug 2014...
30th August 2014
Dear confreres and friends,
St. Augustine's feast this week always gives me great hope. I find a quotation from the 9th Book of the Confessions very encouraging: "I did not know how sick I was; nor did I know how well I could become". Perhaps this can give some thought for reflection.
At the beginning of the month I informed you that Fr Gerry and I would visit Bishop Eton for the feast of St. Alphonsus. I was happy to see Fr Barrie O'Toole in good form and dealing with the chemotherapy, and all the confreres coping well with various infirmities. Archbishop Kelly and Bishop Ralph joined us for a lovely Eucharist followed by a marvelous lunch and celebration together with our Redemptoristine Sisters.
I likewise found our confreres in Zimbabwe in good space. I was there on a pastoral visit to do a consultation about proposals for the next Regional government which will take office at the same time as our next Provincial government. I did send to each community in the Province a letter which I wrote to all the confreres in the Region outlining the achievements they have accomplished in the past few years.
The four Zimbabwean students who were in Poland preparing for Final Vows with our two students, made their eight day retreat in the Province and were able to have some time with Fr. Joseph Musendami in Clapham. They are immensely grateful for the experiences and great hospitality they received. They are due to make Final Vows on 20th September, and be ordained Deacon on 21st. Please keep them in your prayers.
I should also mention the Pilgrimage made by many of the students from the Conference of Europe to our Alphonsian Shrines. As a member of the Formation Secretariat I was actively involved in this and I was edified and encouraged by the interest and commitment of so many of our young men. There were 66 of us all together on the Pilgrimage, and this included our four students, two of whom had worked with pilgrims in Astorga (Spain) as part of their pastoral experience.
The OPC met this week with some of those tendering for the work of refurbishment in Kinnoull, and a recommendation about a decision will be passed to the Trustees in the next few days. Previously, Frs. Gerry, Maurice and I had our annual one day meeting with our counterparts from the Provinces of Dublin and St. Clements in Bonn.
Last month Fr Gerry visited Fr Kevin McEwan who was in good spirits. We continue to be very grateful to his sister, Maureen and her husband Bob for the devotion they show to Kevin.
Birthdays this month: Fr J. Corrigan 3rd Br Benjamin Posvo 3rd Fr J. Clancy 4th Br Michael Duxbury 5th Fr F. Allinson 8th Fr Tim Buckley 19th Fr Kevin McEwan 28th Br Tendai Lemeyu 28th . (Zimbabwe included)
In Christ the Redeemer,
Ronald J. McAinsh, C.Ss.R.
Provincial Superior
