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Published: 22 September 2018

I first starting thinking about Religious Life...

This was the sentence given to both Fr Richard CSsR and Fr Peter CSsR and this is how they completed it...

I first starting thinking of Religious Life when I was six years old! Never did the idea leave me and now 40 years later I am convinced that I am one of the happiest people on this planet. I am a Redemptorist Priest and all I can say is, Thanks be to God

Read more: I first starting thinking about Religious Life...

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Published: 21 September 2018

Fr Provincial speaks to the Spanish CSsR...

(Madrid, Spain) A gathering of 15 confreres under the age of 45 from the Province of Madrid took place from the evening of 16th until the afternoon of 19th September in the retreat house of the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer.

The group received some input sessions and actively participated in lively discussions on the major areas of our ongoing Redemptorist formation.  Among the areas covered were the apostolate, the community living, human sexuality, relationships, our partnership with the laity and transition to ministry.  The facilitator, Fr. Ronnie McAinsh of the London Province, also gave 5 input sessions as well as processing the reports from the groups’ sessions.  There was a remarkable degree of openness, transparency, and a common desire to continue developing our shared mission and ministry.  The Provincial Superior of Madrid, Fr. Jose Luis Bartolome, participated in each plenary session and was open to receive the feedback and process it.

Encounters such as this are ongoing in the Province, and both the Provincial government and the participants are committed to this continuing dynamic which they find to be life giving and energizing.

Fr. Ronnie McAinsh, CSsR.

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Published: 18 September 2018

XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops...

(Rome) The Press Office of the Holy See published the list of the Participants in the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which will take place from 3 to 28 October 2018.

Among the participants there will be the following Redemptorist confreres:

1.     As elected by the Union of Superiors General Rev. Fr. Michael BREHL, C.Ss.R. Superior General of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (The Redemptorists)

2.     As a member of the Pontifical Nomination His Eminence Rev. Cardinal Joseph William TOBIN, C.Ss.R., The Archbishop of Newark (United States of America).

3.     As a member of the representation of Great Britain (England and Wales) His Excellency Rev. Msgr. Ralph HESKETT, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Hallam (England)

4.     For the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Excellency Rev. Msgr. Bryan J. BAYDA, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Saskatoon of the Ukrainians

5.     As a Consultor Rev. Fr. Sabatino MAJORANO, C.Ss.R., Professor Emeritus of Systematic Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy of Rome

We wish our confreres good work and we join with St. Alphonsus in prayers for the outcome of this universal church event.

Scala News

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Published: 17 September 2018

Fr General CSsR writes - Feast of the Holy Cross 2018...

CONGREGATIO SS. REDEMPTORIS

Superior Generalis

September 14,2018

Feast of the Holy Cross

Prot. 10.0000 138/2018

"I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me;

insofar as I now live in the flesh. I live byfaith in the Son of God

who has loved me and given himselfup for me. " (Galatians 2: 19b-20)

Dear Confreres,

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross, we remember the first Novena that St. Alphonsus preached in Scala, from September 6 - 14, 1730, in honour of the Holy Cross venerated in the cathedral of that city. This Novena strengthened his conviction about his vocation to preach the Good  News to the abandoned poor. He offered himself to be crucified with his Redeemer so that Christ's life might be made manifest in him and the Copiosa Redemptio more freely available to others.

Perhaps this message is more important to us than ever this year as we celebrate the Holy Cross. For this reason, I have decided to write specifically and directly to you as my beloved brothers, professed together in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.

My brothers, so many confreres have spoken to me in recent weeks of their discouragement and disillusionment in the light of the recent revelations and scandals, both the abuse and the coverup, and now the overt and public attacks on Pope Francis. Many of you have asked me: "Is the Institutional Church beyond Redemption? Why do we stay, and how can we continue to preach Good News when this bad news is all around us? When and how will this scandal end?" Certainly, in tlle north and west, we have seen our Churches empty, our people lose faith and trust, and young people give up. And now this crisis seems to be growing in the south and east, and we are no longer surprised by situations such as Chile and Peru. 

Read more: Fr General CSsR writes - Feast of the Holy Cross 2018...

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Published: 14 September 2018

Fr Peter Morris' reflections on Grenada 2018

Back in July Fr. Peter was one of the many who took part in the Redemptorist Youth Congress in Grenada Spain. Here he looks back on the event and shares his experiences and thoughts.

Read more: Fr Peter Morris' reflections on Grenada 2018

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Published: 11 September 2018

Bl Maria Celeste Crostarosa OSsR Feast Day...

We thank God for our Sisters and their ministry of Prayer

- they are a wonderful gift to us.

Vivant CSsR & OSsR

Blessed Maria Celeste Crostarosa - Pray for us

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Published: 06 September 2018

The Provincial writes 2nd Sept 2018...

2nd September, 2018

Dear Confreres and friends,

As we move into the autumn, I hope that those who have been able to take a holiday have returned refreshed. I am hoping to have a break in October.

This coming week, Fr. Richard and I will be attending a meeting of Provincial Councils of Europe in Wittem, Holland. There, among other things, the proposed Apostolic Plan for the Conference will be discussed.

Also in the coming days, the Preparatory Commission for the Provincial Chapter will be sending out nomination sheets for the next Provincial Superior and also ballot papers for membership of the Provincial Chapter for the new quadrennium. Obviously with members of the Province and Region in many places, some time will be required for the return of the ballots. However, as in previous years, it will be accomplished, and I thank the members of the Commission for this work.

Read more: The Provincial writes 2nd Sept 2018...

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Published: 28 July 2018

Fr General writes for St Alphonsus 2018...

CONGREGATIO SS. REDEMPTORIS

Superior Generalis

August 1st 2018

Solemnity of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori

Prot. No 0000 115/2018

WITNESSES OF THE REDEEMER:

ln Solidarity for Mission to a Wounded World

"When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd"

(Matthew 9:36)

Dear Confreres, Sisters, Lay Missionaries and Associates,

Once again, we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, C.Ss.R. in a spirit of joy and gratitude for the great gift of our Missionary Charism which we received through his faithful following of Jesus the Redeemer.

One year ago on this feast, I wrote you to announce the Extraordinary Visit of the General Government to the whole Congregation. ln the spirit of the 25th General Chapter (Decision 44), this Extraordinary Visit has gathered Confreres, Sisters, and lay Redemptorist Associates from different (V) Provinces, Regions, and Missions for Assemblies in every Conference and on every Continent. As we celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsus this year, I would like to share with you some reflections on this extraordinary event in the life of our Congregation.

As I write to you, the General Government with the Conference Coordinators has already conducted over 80% of the Assemblies of this Extraordinary Visit. The Assemblies of the Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean and of the Conference of Africa and Madagascar have been completed. The remaining Assemblies will be completed before November this year. lt is already clear that the large majority of confreres, of all ages, have participated in these Assemblies, along with many Sisters from affiliated Congregations and lay Redemptorist Associates. ln addition to the Assemblies, we have also met with most of the Major Superiors and Councils in the Congregation. As well, the Conference Commissions for the Apostolic and Restructuring Plan have been meeting regularly and carefully considering the reflections, recommendations and suggestions which you have contributed at each Assembly.

Once the whole Extraordinary Visit has been completed, the General Government will evaluate the experience, taking into account the evaluations we have received from you during each Assembly. At this time, I would like to offer you some reflections on the experience so far as we begin the Conference Assemblies at which the first draft of the Conference Apostolic and Restructuring Plan will be presented.

First of all, the General Government would like to express our gratitude to all of you who have participated in this Visit. Confreres of all ages, from novices to seniors, engaged fully in the Assemblies. Others who were unable to attend an Assembly sent their contributions through the community preparation. Many who could not attend supported the Visit in their prayer, especially our infirm confreres, as well as many Sisters and lay associates. Thank you for your generous and enthusiastic response to the invitation contained in my letter of August 1, 20171

Every Assembly affirmed the value and importance of this Visit. Many confreres and lay associates thanked the Consultors and Coordinators for their closeness and availability, and they also expressed the conviction that they went home from the Assemblies with a much better understanding of the process of restructuring. More importantly, the majority of participants made concrete personal commitments to continue to engage fully in this process of renewal and revitalization of our Congregation.

The Assemblies strongly affirmed the importance of the day of retreat on the Theme of the Sexennium. I urge you to continue your reflection on this theme in each local community, and in your personal prayer. As we move forward with the work of the Commissions and the Conference Assemblies, we recognize that we are in a process of discernment, attentive to the movement of the Holy Spirit and the call of the 'signs of the times'. May St. Alphonsus, an expert in discernment, continue to accompany and guide us in this process!

Recognizing the reality of the Congregation at this time, many Confreres expressed a greater openness to the reconfiguration of their (V) Provinces and Regions in order to create stronger Provinces more capable of carrying out the mission to which we are called. At the same time, you expressed your concerns and fears, as well as criteria and concrete proposals for this reconfiguration. Each Conference Commission has found this information very helpful, and these Commissions will continue to pay close attention to your reflections and further contributions after you have received the first Draft of the Plan for your Conference. This Draft will be sent to each Unit once it has been approved as a working document by your Conference Assembly. This should be received in time for consideration in local communities, as well as in Assemblies and Chapters as we prepare for the next quadriennium.

As we continue this process of preparing the Plan in each Conference, we are also beginning the discernment of the kind of leadership we need for the next quadriennium. As you know, this discernment relates not only to the choice of Superiors, but also their Councils. This leadership will be very important as we continue the process of restructuring and renewal of the Congregation. We need leaders with the courage to face the risks involved, and to animate the (V) Provinces and Regions for the sake of our mission.

The ongoing participation of every confrere will continue to shape this process. As we celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsus this year, it is our hope and our prayer that we remain faithful to his vision and attentive to the 'signs of the times' today, so that we will continue our mission to "follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, by preaching the word of God to the poor..." (Const. 1).

We are living in an extraordinary era, a time of great challenges and great opportunities. ln communion with the whole Church, guided by the leadership of Pope Francis, we commit ourselves once again to the theme of this sexennium: WITNESSES OF THE REDEEMER: In Solidarity for Mission to a Wounded World.

As genuine disciples of St. Alphonsus may God bless us with the grace to follow Christ the Redeemer with hearts full of joy. Denying ourselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding, ffiay we share fully in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it in Gospel simplicity of life and language, that we may bring to people the gift of plentiful redemption (cf. Cons. 20)

May our Mother of Perpetual Help accompany us always.

Your brother in our Redeemer,,

Michael Brehl CSsR

Superior General

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Published: 28 July 2018

The Provincial writes...

27th July, 2018

Dear Confreres and friends,

Tomorrow I leave for a retreat to 35 Presentation Brothers and so my August letter will arrive only after the first week.

I therefore take this opportunity to wish you all, confreres, friends, families and associates, every blessing for the feast of our founder St. Alphonsus on 1st August. May you be abundantly blessed.

I have just returned from Dublin and have been asked by the Redemptoristine Sisters to convey their gratitude for the many kind wishes sent by members of the Province on the death of Sr. Patrick, the last member of 'the Chudleigh community'. As you are aware, I have also thanked them for the great care they showed to Sr. Patrick during her final years with them. The funeral was a very blessed moment.

Read more: The Provincial writes... 27th July 2018

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Published: 21 July 2018

Sr M Patrick OSsR - RIP...

Of your charity please pray for the happy repose of our dear

Sr M Patrick OSsR - RIP

a Redemptoristine Nun

when went home this morning to 

Our Most Holy Redeemer.

Originally Sr Patrick, Irish by birth,

was a member of the Chudleigh/Gillmoss OSsR Monastery

she died peacefully as a member of the

Dublin Monastery of St Alphonsus.

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Published: 14 July 2018

Message from Superior General - Holy Redeemer...

CONGREGATIO SS. REDEMPTORIS

Superior Generalis

Nairobi, Kenya, July 13, 2018

WITNESSES OF THE REDEEMER:

In Solidarity for Mission to the Wounded World

Dear Confreres, Sisters, Associates and Friends of the Redemptorists:

On Sunday, July 15th, we celebrate once again the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer. This feast has a very particular significance for the Redemptorist Family: we are privileged to bear his name. God sends us ‘as helpers, companions and ministers of Jesus Christ in the great work of redemption’ (Const. 2). We remember that ‘at the heart of the community, to form it and sustain it, is the Redeemer himself and his Spirit of love’ (Const. 23).

This year, each (V) Province, Region and Mission is beginning the process of prayerfully discerning the leadership we need as we continue the process of Restructuring and Apostolic Planning mandated by the 25th General Chapter. This weekend, every Redemptorist community around the world will spend some time in prayerful discernment. It is this Spirit of love, the Spirit of the Redeemer, whom we ask to help us and guide us.

I especially invite all of our Redemptorist Sisters, Associates, and friends to join us this weekend in communion of prayer that we might listen attentively to the voice of God in this period of discernment. May Jesus, our Redeemer, who calls us his friends and witnesses, accompany us every day and strengthen our missionary availability to preach the Gospel ever anew.

May you all experience a joyful, blessed and prayerful Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer! May his Mother, our Mother of Perpetual Help join us in prayer as she gathered the disciples. May she accompany us as we continue to follow her Son, our Redeemer.

Your brother in Christ our Redeemer,

Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R.

Superior General

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Published: 11 July 2018

Homily preached at Fr John Milcz's funeral...

FUNERAL HOMILY FOR FR JAN MILCZ, CSsR

BISHOP ETON, WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 at NOON

“As a man lives, so shall he die” is a phrase that will resonate with all Redemptorists of a certain vintage: the vintage mainly represented on the sanctuary today. These were the words at the beginning of one of those classic mission sermons that, as students, we were expected to learn by heart and use to hone our skills as preachers. No doubt Fr Jan himself, as a young man, proclaimed them to the assembled brethren at one of those mission academies in Hawkstone back in the 1960s. Of course, these sermons were all designed to stir the so-called lapsed and wayward to mend their ways, but today I would like you to reflect that those words – as a man lives so shall he die – can very aptly be applied in the best possible way to this good and holy man. Jan died a very peaceful death in the Marie Curie Hospice on Tuesday evening last week. When I saw him for the last time on the Sunday morning before I left for Hampshire there was a wonderful serenity about him. In the final weeks of his life, I have rarely met anyone who so continually expressed his gratitude for any little kindness. This natural courtesy was much appreciated by the staff at Marie Curie as well as the carers and nurses who tended to him in the monastery and the staff at Christopher Grange, where he spent a short time a few weeks ago. To them all and to our own wonderful resident team, we, as a Redemptorist family are immensely grateful, as we are to his family and his many friends in this congregation today: he treasured your love and support.

By what seems to me an act of divine providence, a couple of years ago Jan and others among our older confrères had to stay in Hawkstone Hall while the lift was being repaired in Bishop Eton. During that time as the result of a chance conversation with the wonderful Sr Jackie Smith we have a unique record of Jan’s early life. She was so fascinated by what he told her that she spent hours with him during those days and the result of their conversations was published in the Lent Extra of 2016. Redemptorist Publications have kindly furnished us with the text so that copies have been made available at the back of the church today. If we have not produced enough, just put in your order and we will duly respond. As many of you know, not long afterwards, Sr Jackie herself was suddenly struck down with a serious cancer and died. Please God, she and Jan are now reunited in that home where Jesus promised he was going ahead to prepare places for us all.

Read more: Homily preached at Fr John Milcz's funeral.

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Published: 10 July 2018

A long great life....

Fr Jan Milcz C.Ss.R. – a story of goodness and mercy  – a shortened version

Fr Jan, an elderly Polish Redemptorist, showed Sr Jackie Smith S.P. that great suffering can also reveal great goodness.

When did you leave Poland?” I asked the gentle, elderly priest with a slight Polish accent. He looked up and replied, “During the war, when I was fourteen, in a goods truck.” It was a startling revelation: one of those significant moments when time stands still. Thus began a series of conversations at Hawkstone Hall with Fr Jan, now aged 88, during which he related the story of his early life.

“I was born in the small village of Podchybie, about 20 km from Krakow in Southern Poland.  My parents, Jan and Hermenegilda, were basket makers. They had their own small business, but as you can imagine, life was hard. I never heard my parents complain and we were happy and content with the little we had.

Read more: A life for the Redeemer

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Published: 09 July 2018

Short Biography of Fr Jan John Milcz CSsR - RIP...

FATHER JAN (JOHN) MILCZ

29.8.1927 - 3.7.2018

Father John Milcz was born in Podchybie, Poland. He attended primary school from 1933-1940 after which he attended grammar school but because of the 1939-1945 war his education was interrupted until 1956  when he attended Campion House Osterley in London, the late-vocations house run by the Jesuits.

On the 6 of September 1958 he entered the Redemptorist novitiate in St.Mary's Kinnoul Perth where he made his first profession on 6.9.1959. From Perth he went to the house of studies at Hawkstone in Shropshire where on 6.9.1962 he made his final profession. He was ordained at Hawkstone on the first ofJuly 1966.

From July 1966 his apostolic career was appointments to:

July 1966 to Bishop Eton, Liverpool; February 1967 to Erdington, Birmingham; August 1967 Capetown, South Africa; July 1975 Salisbury in the then Rhodesia; March 1980 Bishop Eton, Liverpool; February 1981 Clapham; May 1987 Bishop Eton; May 1993 Sunderland; 1999 Sunderland; 2011 Bishop Eton.

Latterly he had not been in good health. He died in Bishop Eton on 3rd of July 2018. He is to be buried from Bishop Eton on July II 2018.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

REQUIESCAT in PACE

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Published: 07 July 2018

Fr. Kevin Callaghan's Diamond Jubilee

On the 6th July 1958, Fr Kevin Callaghan C.Ss.R was ordained to the priesthood. Today the 7th July 2018 he marked his Diamond Jubilee of Priesthood with a Mass which was attended by many of his friends, relatives, confreres and parishioners from far and near.

Read more: Fr. Kevin Callaghan's Diamond Jubilee