News 2014
Sant'Alfonso - the British Connection
Sant'Alfonso - the British Connection...
The first English language newspaper in Italy, “The Italian Insider” writes an interesting story about the Redemptorist Shrine, “Sant’Alfonso”. The article tries to bring out the historical factors about the shrine and tries to find out the reasons why it is important to the Titular Bishop of the this church Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster.
Choosing obscure Sant’Alfonso on the Esquiline Hill as titular church for Britain’s highest Catholic, Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, came as a surprise in many quarters.
Sant’Alfonso, or, to give it its full name, Santissimo Redentore e Sant’Alfonso, is a 19th century edifice built in an unfashionable neo-gothic style and wedged into a corner facing on to Via Merulana, the tree-lined avenue that links the two basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. It is not one of the churches on normal tourist itinerary lists, although it possesses an icon much revered in Haiti, the Philippines and several Eastern European countries and has a special relationship with the resident Polish community, with a social centre and masses in Polish on Sundays.
Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger CSsR
Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger CSsR...
On the 26th September,
the Redemptorists around the world
keep sacred the memory of
Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger CSsR
A friend of Blessed Kaspar wrote to his mother on his death, he said,
"As long as I had contact with him, I enjoyed his solidly devout personality, his striving to live with an orientation toward God above. I am obliged openly to confirm that your son lived as an ideal priest. Now his life has been crowned by the death of a saint."
Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger CSsR died on Sept 26th 1899 before he reached the age of 29! He was a beloved educator, who worked with great love for the students of our Congregation. Today is a fitting day to pray for our CSsR students in every part of the world, especially those within our Province of London and the Region of Zimbabwe.
A most precious icon
A most precious icon...shot at during WWII
Look closely at this icon and see clearly, in Jesus' halo,
where this icon was shot at by a soldier during World War II
Our three confreres CSsR in Albania
Our three confreres CSsR in Albania...
On Sunday the Holy Father, Pope Francis was in Albania visiting the nation - and our three confreres who moved there last week! If you watched the Papal Mass on EWTN on Sunday you will have spotted Fr Dominic distributing Holy Communion!
Fr Dominic CSsR, Fr Laureano CSsR and Fr Andrzej CSsR
(London Madrid Warsaw Provinces)
in white Redemptorist habits.
Please pray for them and their new mission in Albania
The first Redemptorist community and mission ever in Albania.
Home Mission Sunday 2014
Home Mission Sunday 2014...
...Evangelisation "in the heart of the family"
"On 21 Septemeber 2014 the Bishops of England and Wales invites parishes and religious houses to celebrate Home Mission Sunday to encourage every massgoing Catholic to respond urgently to the call to evangelise. With most massgoing Catholics feeling the pain and sorrow caused by a large number of family members and friends not practicing their faith there is an urgency for us all to consider afresh how we might respectfully and joyfully reach out to our absent brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for all that are already doing in this regard."
Bishops' Conference Dept for Evagelisation and Catechesis.
For ways to get involved in this great work, see the web addresses below
and be sure to pray about it!
New Redemptorist mission in Albania...
New Redemptorist mission in Albania...
We are well used to the fact that the numbers of active Redemptorists in Europe is diminishing: a concernshared with most Religious Congregations. However, we, in faith, take this as an opportunity: to give ourselves generously to areas we identify as missionary: whether in the developing world or closer to home. The Redemptorists of Europe have, this week, initiated a new missionary community in Tirana, Albania. Three confreres are involved in the new mission: Laureano (Madrid Province), Andrzej (Warsaw Province), Dominic (London Province). Each will be a sore miss to their home province, but each is a generous investment in the Redemptorist mission of the evangelisation of those most in need.
CSsR Virtue for September
CSsR Virtue for September...
Virtue: Mortification
Patron: St Matthew, Apostle
Text: "He that hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life eternal"
(Jn 12: 25)
Perpetual Succour (Help), Icon of Love
Perpetual Succour (Help), Icon of Love...
Icon of Love
150 years
"Make her known"
1866 - 2016
In 1866, Pope Pius IX
entrusted the Icon of
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
to the Redemptorists
with the mission to
"Make her known"
throughout the world
Blessed Dominic Methodius Trcka CSsR
Blessed Dominic Methodius Trcka CSsR...
The 25th of August is the feast day of our confrere,
Blessed Dominic Methodius Trcka CSsR
he is a martyr
who died on the
23rd March, 1959.
To read more and watch a video, click here.
Lord our God,
you gave to Blessed Methodius
your priest and martyr
outstanding bravery in the face of trials and torture.
With the help of his prayers,
may we remain faithful to the Gospel of truth
and come with him to contemplate
your face for all eternity.
We make this prayer through
Our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God for ever and ever.
CSsR Historic Stained Glass
CSsR Historic Stained Glass...
When the monastery in Sunderland was sadly closed, the windows from the community oratory were removed and packed up in a crate. They remained crated for a few years until it was decided that their new home would be in one of our oldest monasteries in the UK. These lovely windows are over a hundred years old and they portray some of our holy men; Saint Alphonsus Liguori CSsR, Saint Gerard Majella CSsR and Saint Clement Hofbauer CSsR. See the windows below in the community oratory Liverpool...
Feast of the Assumption of BVM
Feast of the Assumption of BVM...
Taken from St Alphonsus’ “The Glories of Mary”:
MARY dies; but how does she die? She dies entirely detached from any affection for created things, and dies consumed with that divine love with which her most holy heart was always and entirely inflamed. Oh holy mother, thou hast already left the earth; do not forget us, miserable pilgrims, who remain in this valley of tears struggling against so many enemies, who desire to see us lost in hell. Ah, by the merits of thy precious death, obtain for us detachment from earthly things, pardon of our sins, love to God, and holy perseverance; and, when the hour of our death shall arrive, assist us from heaven with thy prayers, and obtain for us to come and kiss thy feet in paradise.
