Vocations-news

Vocation News

If you think you may have a Vocation to be a Redemptorist Father or Brother, please contact Fr Royston Price CSsR the Vocations Director by clicking here.

Please pray for Redemptorist Vocations.

Living Joyfully 2015...

He is...!

....Are you?

living joyfully

If you want to know anything or everything about religious life then come along on Saturday 7th Feb 2015 to Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral!

You will be made most welcome and without doubt,

Why did I become an OSsR Nun?...

Sr Mary Bernadette OSsR, one of our enclosed Redemptoristine nuns, shares some of her fascinating story with us. Thank Sister!

rev sr m bernadette ossr

WHY DID I BECOME A NUN?

Two years ago I celebrated my Golden Jubilee of profession as a Redemptoristine Nun. A friend of a cousin of mine wanted to come to the celebration to see what someone who had been a nun for 50 years looked like! She was quite surprised to see I looked quite normal!

The Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (O.Ss.R.) is a contemplative Order which means that our main work is prayer. We were founded in 1731 by Sister Marie Celeste Crostarosa in Scala, Italy. She was helped by St. Alphonsus Liguori who founded the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers in 1732. The two groups complement one another - the Fathers preach missions and Retreats, do a certain amount of publishing - books, pamphlets, leaflets etc. - and the Nuns pray for the success of their apostolic work.

What made me become one? Good question, because the last thing I wanted to be on leaving school was a nun, despite having been educated by nuns. When the second World War broke out in 1939, I had just started my secondary education. During that time my maternal grandmother died and then 18 months later by dear Father died. Two people I loved very much - so what was God playing at - taking them away from me. My Father's death coincided with my starting my first job - a trainee draughtswoman in a huge engineering firm. They were very kind to me and on hearing of my father's death and knowing I was the only wage earner at home, they doubled my wages from £1.17.6p a week to £3.17.6p a week - a huge help to my mother.

Year of Consecration 2014 onwards...

In many dioceses the Year of Consecration has been inaugurated as it is due to officially begin on Sunday 30th November 2014, the First Sunday of Advent. As we are preparing to celebrate this year, here is a poster that you might think of displaying or posting on other web sites!

cssr consecration year 2014

New Book on the Consecrated Life...

consecrated life

Fr Ronnie McAinsh CSsR,

the Provincial Superior

of the London Province,

has recently written a new book entitled,

Living the Consecrated Life

in the Third Milennium

This book is a most welcome resource

for this coming

Year of Consecrated Life.

Fr Ronnie McAinsh describes himself as "passionate about religious life."

He teaches formation courses and retreats around many parts of the world.

To order this book click here for

Redemptorist Publications

CSsR Students on tour in Italy...

st gerards tomb

In August, the students of the London Province joined students from other units in Europe for a pilgrimage to the sites where the Redemptorists began. Museums were visited, Churches were viewed (and prayed in), talks were given and sights were seen. Not to mention visiting the Redemptoristines and receiving their unmatched hospitality.

(Here the brothers stand by the tomb of

St Gerard Majella CSsR

- Patron of Pregnant mothers and babies)

Photos of the Way - Santiago...

Below are some of the photos taken by one of the group...

...follow the yellow arrow

santiago 1

the scenery is stunning

santiago2

time for personal sharing and reflection

santiago3

Santiago de Compostella...

We made it! Last night we arrived at Monte de Gozo, the massive pilgrim centre about 6 kms from Santiago de Compostella. From here we began our walk (march) into the city and to the cathedral of Santiago. As a group we wore our Redemptorist Missionary Vocation blue t-shirts, and one of the group was in his Redemptorist habit, so we looked like a fine gang of people. As we walked into Santiago de Compostella we could see the people giving us a second look, wondering who on earth we were. This shouldn't surprise us as we were every age range from 82 years young down to 23 years old. We were a group of men and women, young and old, but all with one thing in common, we all are praying for vocations to the Redemptorists.

As we approached the cathedral we all walked close by one another and the oldest member of our group led the procession into the square in front of the cathedral. It was a joy to be standing there just taking in the sights, knowing that we had finally arrived after our pilgrim way!

Mark McManus - An Alphonsian Journey...

Ad multos annos - Mark!

Fr Michael Brehl, CSsR Superior General of the Redemptorists, has led the tributes to Mark McManus on the occasion of his First Profession of Consecration to the vowed life in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, on 6th September this year. Mark first met the Redemptorists in the parish of St Patrick’s, Edinburgh and was actively involved in the life of the parish and its mission in the diocese; He was a member of the parish when it operated as a Redemptorist Mission Development Community (from 2000 until 2012), exploring new ways of spreading the Gospel according to the charism of St Alphonsus. Mark has been both attracted to this mission and actively engaged in supporting it, running the parish bookshop, catechising in the parish, closely involved in the Redemptorist Youth Vocations Ministry and acting as a constant welcoming presence for visitors in the church during the week. Fr General warmly congratulated Mark and his desire to live the Redemptorist charism, saying,

'Greetings from Rome and heartfelt congratulations on your profession to live a

Consecrated Life in the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, as inspired by

St. Alphonsus and the Charism of the Most Holy Redeemer…'

The ceremony of Consecration was conducted by the Rt. Rev. Leo Cushley, archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. with a grand gathering of priests and Religious present. It was with great joy that the Redemptorists of the London Province, the parishioners, and the young people with whom Mark has shared so much over the years in RYVM celebrated this day with him.

The Camino V...

The day starts as always with morning prayer where there are many references that I directly connect with our group....in particular the phrase 'extend hospitality to strangers' strikes a chord. Up until the previous day we were a group of individuals united in our common goal ....but something happened the day before to change the dynamic after we stopped to remember an Irish pilgrim, we prayed together there on the Camino Way and then walked together but in profound silence thereafter.....the group changed from that point.

Today we walked @15km, there was no race against the sun and despite sore feet, legs and bodies we made a conscious effort to walk together. Many members of the group commented on the sounds and smells of the Camino and this continued today...on one corner we hear the music and smell the aroma of coffee from the cafe we pass and then a couple of yards away we encounter a dog with her two young pups and then further on we see a family with their three young children walking. We continue the way until Lavacollo and then follow in the pilgrim tradition of cleansing our feet in the river.

As a group we are relaxed, sharing prayer, sharing silence and above all sharing the unique pilgrim experience. Our day concludes after we reach our destination at Monte do Gozo with mass. We are tired but happy that we have shared and supported each other this far....only 6km to go tomorrow and we finally reach our destination.

Know ow that you are all being held before the Lord in prayer.

Walking the Way - the Camino IV...

Our day began with morning prayer, led by one of the Irish group, who is actually an English sister! During the reflection she spoke eloquently about forgiveness. She then went on to talk about how holding onto a hurt is terribly painful to ourselves, while the person "responsible" maybe quite unaware! She went on to suggest that the forgiveness given by us to others is truly a great gift to ourselves first and foremost! So we were asked to reflect on this today.

After yesterday's gruelling walk(!) we walked only 19kms today, which gave great relief to the group who are now running out of blister plasters!

En route we came across a memorial in the middle of a forest, dedicated to a lady, Myra Brennan, from Ireland, who had died in Santiago de Compostella. It was here that we all gathered to remember our dead - family members, confreres, OSsR sisters, friends, benefactors and co workers. It proved to be a very moving experience as we prayed the first decade of the glorious mysteries of the rosary - the Resurrection!

Evening Mass was celebrated by one of the young Irish fathers, who celebrated the Mass of St Gregory with the intention of one of the group's organisers, whose birthday it was today!

Just to keep things interesting, the homily was e-mailed to us from Dublin! Our friend, who hurt his ankle and had to remain behind, was due to look after the homily for this Mass. Being a good and responsible man he typed it up and sent it on for the priest to read out. It was a wonderful homily that gave us much to think about.

Know that you are being held before the Lord in prayer here on the Camino - and that goes especially to those we haven't met yet but whom the Lord is gently directing towards us!

Walking the Way - The Camino III...

Today was the longest walk that the group had ever done! There were no incidents apart from several blisters on the feet of most of the group, but thank God nothing serious.

Our morning began in Palais de Rei and ended in Arzua 28.5kms away. As we left after morning prayer, even earlier than yesterday, no one had any idea just how difficult this walk would turn out to be! The last eight kilometres were exceptionally gruelling and many of the group said that they had only endured the ordeal as long as God was good and sent us vocations!

Our morning prayer focused on the fact that no one of us, be we a priest, a religious, a married couple, or a co- worker, whatever we may be, are ever alone.

We had a lovely surprise during the morning prayer when our brother who injured his ankle in Dublin the morning we were leaving, and as such had to stay behind, appeared on the computer screen and read the scripture passage for the group. Isn't technology a fantastic thing!

During our mass this evening, led by one of the Irish fathers, had us contemplating on the Holy Spirit, and the fact some us choose our paths and some of us don't. Those who don't choose their paths are those who were made to walk to the ghettos, those who marched 100 years ago to the trenches, and those brother and sisters of ours in Iraq, Syria, Palestine. We are reminded to pray for all these people and to be attentive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

On another note, one of the Irish fathers was in a bit of a state when his shoes fell to bits! He said he had brought them because they were well broken in, but he had no idea just how broken they would become!

Know that you are being held before the Lord in prayer as we walk this way!

Walking the Way - The Camino II...

Camino II

We decided, wisely, to begin the walk earlier that we had done yesterday. So just before 8 o'clock we were all on the road, again with a sense of purpose and prayerful determination.

At our morning prayer this morning we were reminded that Fr General, Michael Brehl CSsR, has asked that today be dedicated to prayer for all our forthcoming elections that will take place throughout the whole world in the coming months. The confreres are electing new chapters, new provincials, and new provincial councils - or voting to reappoint existing ones!

So we have this prayer intention to accompany us along the way.

The scenery was, as one would expect, stunning! We all walked at different paces and arrived at our destination at different times, but thanks be to God we all arrived safely. However it would seem that many of the group are now treating blisters and caring for muscles that they didn't know they had!

As always we thank everyone who is accompanying us in our walk by their prayers. Know that you are being held before the Lord here on the Camino.

Now we are going to celebrate mass, the main celebrant will be one of the Irish Redemptorists, and at this mass you will be remembered. God bless!

The Way - Walking the Camino I...

Twenty two of us, having just got off a flight from Dublin to Santiago de Compostella, are now on the bus driving 120 kms (100miles) away to a place called Sarria.

It is hot and very humid, (I don't think the air con on the bus is working!) Sadly one of the group, one of our brothers fell this morning (in Dublin) and is no longer with the group, he will be missed and we were sad to leave him behind!

Before we left this morning, Fr Michael Kelleher, the provincial of the Irish Redemptorists, celebrated the mass. His preaching made a signicant impact on the group as spoke of the shredded snakes skin being removed from the creature in order to let the snake see with new eyes and live within new skin! Over the course of the Camino he suggested that we might be able to see with new eyes and live within new skin!

So far our group, (praying especially for CSsR vocations, and thanking God for our own) have met on the plane a group coming here to fund raise for Guide Dogs Ireland and the Heart Foundation.ie.

So we look forward to meeting so many new people from all different parts of the world, walking this Camino for all different intentions.

Day One

Vocations CSsR Camino...

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Thanks to Br Piotr Kochanski CSsR from Poland!

Walking the Camino - the way...

camino shell

In just under two weeks a group of Redemptorists,

co-workers and friends

from the Provinces of Dublin and London

will begin the walk to

Santiago de Compostela!

For those of you who may not know anything about a walk to Santiago de Compostela, it should be noted that the group will walk 100 miles!

Why do this seemingly mad thing?

Simple!

The group are doing the walk...

...(of a hundred miles!)

to thank God for the gift of the

REDEMPTORIST VOCATION!

and the group are also making their pilgrimage with the intention of ...

SECOND NOVITIATE...

FOR THOSE APPROACHING FINAL VOWS, IN TUCHÓW, POLAND

cssr poland 9

Br Peter Morris CSsR and Br Charles Randall CSsR recently took part in the three week ‘second novitiate’ at the Redemptorist seminary in Tuchów, Poland. The gathering, organized by the Redemptorists’ European Conference, lasted from 14^th July to 5^th August. Participants included those preparing for perpetual vows in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and numbered 13 brothers form different countries of Europe: Slovakia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and also from Zimbabwe in Africa. Two fathers from Italy and eight from Poland also participated in the first weeks of the course, as they celebrated the 10^th anniversary of their perpetual vows.

Read more: SECOND NOVITIATE… in Poland