Fr Provincial writes Jan 2014...
31st January, 2014
Dear confreres and friends,
I am beginning this letter in San Gioacchino, our house in Rome, where I am attending a Formation Secretariate meeting of the conference of Europe. We have been working on the preparation for Final Vows in Poland this coming July, in which our London Province confreres will participate; and also the Alphonsian Pilgrimage in August for all Redemptorist Students in Europe. In addition we have been pondering what best way, we can help, as a Secretariate, to prepare for the Year of Consecrated Life which will begin on 2nd February, 2015.
This month there is not much news from the communities, although plenty of activity. I am very pleased to let you know that Paul Murphy, our Youth Coordinator, met at Hawkstone with a core group of young people, and that with Fr Maurice they are setting up an ad hoc service group to take forward our work among young people. Fr Richard Reid is going to talk to a discernment group at St. Andrew's University during Lent as an initiative of our Year of vocations
Fr Charlie Corrigan was due to make a pastoral visit to Br Peter Morris in Zimbabwe this month. However just before he was due to fly, Fr Charlie contracted a bad dose of bronchitis and was laid low. I hope to see Br Peter in a weeks time when I visit the Region, and also visit our Novices and Fr. Tryvis in Merrivale, South Africa. Fr Maurice will also be present for this visit to Zimbabwe.
I am also delighted to inform you that we are sending the money raised from the various communities and parishes to the Philippines, to help with their disaster appeal. Clapham have already sent around US$8,900 and the Province has made a donation in addition to what has so generously been collected and sent. The final total from the London Province will be around US$40,000 (which includes Clapham's donation). I am grateful for the sensitivity and generosity of so many people, and I know that you will offer them our gratitude. I also know that the money will be well spent, with no administration costs.
Continuing some thoughts on Evangelii Gaudiuum... One of the most striking things, it seems to me, about this Exhortation is its missionary dimension and its evangelical outreach. Right from the beginning, Pope Francis speaks about 'going out'. In fact this phrase "go forth" occurs countless times in the early pages. It is a gospel imperative, but is it also part of our Redemptorist vocation, and what he calls "our missionary joy".
If we recall the heritage of our Province, we can see Redemptorists from the earliest years (in the 1840's) going out, preaching in all parts of Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland. By the late 1880's they were preaching in Australia and Tasmania. Before the end of the century they had sent Fr. Lubienski to Poland to preach (and eventually refound the Polish Province). In the early 1900's they were preaching in Scandinavia, before setting off for Africa where they worked in South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia (as were) as far north as the Congo, and also in parts of what are now Botswana and Malawi. And of course this missionary activity, this going forth, has continued in our time, with our Region in Zimbabwe.
However I write this not simply to recall the past, but to state that this evangelical thrust still exits among us. The word of God is still being preached by Redemptorists in the islands of Scotland, the industrial cities of UK, in the North East, in London and in other parts - to the laity, to the clergy, and to Religious.
This "going forth" is utterly integral to our Redemptorists vocation. In fact St. Alphonsus, in his petition to the Pope for approval of our Rule, stated that although many other Orders did similar work to us, we are different insofar as we go out, and seek out the most abandoned so that they may have the word of God preached to them. To get 'the smell of the sheep', we have to get close to them.
Pope Francis offers various evangelical insights so this can be done, and perhaps as the year goes on I can share some thoughts on this. The sections of the Exhortation on 'the evangelical power of popular piety', 'culture, thought and education', and 'person to person' are all very helpful. Toward the end of the Exhortation, Francis speaks about, "fidelity to the gospel lest we run in vain", which is a challenge to continue thinking with the Church in our multi cultural and secularized environment.
As I reflect on this, I truly believe that for those in formation or joining us, the challenges are great......great in the sense that I believe we live in a healthier Church in which we can take risks and go 'to the margins' - where we are, or in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. This is, I believe, the greatest challenge for the Province, and is also the key to our future vitality.
I have acquired a rather exciting book, "My Journal of the Council", which is the diary of Fr. Yves Congar's observations and insights over the years of the Second Vatican Council. It provides a wonderful background to many of the documents of Vatican II and a refreshing look at ecclesiology in general. The downside is that it is huge! Over a thousand pages and in small print. Not easy to carry around - but I recommend it!
Birthdays this month:
Frs Philip Jones, 4th, Desmond Keegan, 14th, Michael Henesy, 24th.
With best wishes,
In Christ the Redeemer,
Ronald J. McAinsh, C.Ss.R.
Provincial Superior
