News and Events
News and Events... Updated regularly
New Apostolic Nuncio - A CSsR Welcome!
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New Apostolic Nuncio - A CSsR Welcome!...
The Redemptorists of the London Province are delighted that
His Execellency, Archbishop Edward Adams
is now the current Apostolic Nuncio here in Great Britain.
Some of our men, particularly our Fr Provincial, Ronald McAinsh CSsR
knew Archbishop Adams when he was the Nuncio in Zimbabwe.
Archbishop Adams is the Titular Bishop of Scala,
the place, above the Amalfi coast in Italy, where the Redemptorists were founded.
God bless your Ministry, Archbishop Adams!
The Provincial writes... 31st may 2017
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The Provincial writes... 31st may 2017...
31st May, 2017
Dear Confreres and friends,
This evening I celebrated Mass in Clapham with sixteen other confreres present (of seven nationalities) during which I invested Bro. Christopher Reynolds with our Redemptorist habit, and also conferred on him the ministries of lector and acolyte. At the same ceremony Bro. Massimiliano Mura received the ministry of acolyte.
Both ceremonies are important rites of passage in terms of the formation programme, but also are a sign of brotherhood and solidarity among us all. Please continue to pray for those in formation and ask the Lord to send good vocations to our Province and Region.
CSsR Clothing with the Habit
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CSsR Clothing with the Habit...
Wednesday evening, on the Feast of the Visitation, was a very special occasion for our community here in Clapham as one of our brothers (Br Chris Reynolds) was clothed in the Redemptorist Habit. He also received the ministries of Lector and Acolyte, while another brother (Br Max Mura CSsR) also received the ministry of Acolyte. See the photos below...
The Provincial and the community at St Mary's Monastery Clapham
Upcoming Mission in Glenrothes & Leslie
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Upcoming Mission in Glenrothes & Leslie
Click on the image below for the full mission schedule
Reality - Informing, Inspiring, Challenging Today's Catholic
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Reality - Informing, Inspiring, Challenging Today's Catholic...
REALITY is one of the excellent productions found at
Redemptorist Communications in Dublin,
our fellow partner with
Redemptorist Publications in Chawton, Hampshire.
Have a look at somehting advertised on next month's front cover,
"The beautiful Lady Chapel of St Mary's Clapham."
Reality is a Redemptorist Publication,
published by the Irish Redemptorists,
Unit A6, Santry Business Park, Swords Road, Dublin 09 X651,
Tel: 00353 (0) 1 4922488
Check out their web page www.redcoms.org
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Our Lady of Fatima - 100 years
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Our Lady of Fatima - 100 years...
13th May 1917 - 13th May 2017
Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta
Pray for us
The London contingent at the Madrid Perpetual Succour Conference
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The London contingent at the Madrid Perpetual Succour Conference...
Eddie Loughton, Fr Ronnie McAinsh CSsR, Maureen Loughton
The Redemptorists from all around Europe gathered in Madrid for a Conference on Our Mother of Perpetual Succour.
Our Province was represented by our friends from Kinnoull, Perth.
Mother of Perpetual Succour
Pray for us.
Vocations Sunday May 2017
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Vocations Sunday May 2017...
Here is one of the stories being told by the
National Office for Vocations for this Vocation Sunday.
Please pray for Vocations for the Priesthood and/or Religious Life.
Pray especially for us the Redemptorists!
To Commemorate the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
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To Commemorate the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help...
The 150th anniversary of the restoration of the icon of our Mother of Perpetual Help for public veneration will stir up in people many theological, spiritual and personal thoughts.
As a preacher of the Word of God, I often give conferences on the role of our Blessed Lady in our lives. As a Redemptorist, I recall the urging of our founder St. Alphonsus that we should not omit on any mission or retreat, a conference on Mary the mother of Jesus. And of course as a member of the Redemptorist family I have a personal devotion to Our Lady - especially under this title of Perpetual Help. As a member of the Church, I recall chapter 8 of Lumen Gentium, on the role of Mary in the economy of salvation.
It is good to call to mind the debate that took place during the Second Vatican Council prior to the completion of this great document on the Church. Many Council Fathers wanted a separate document on the role of the Virgin Mary in the Church. This was just fourteen years after the solemn declaration of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven by Pope Pius XII on 15th August 1950, and just over ten years after the conclusion of the Marian Year of 1954 which was celebrated throughout the world. So one can see why many of the Council Fathers thought that a separate document was important.
However, the periti, that group of wise and I also believe pastoral men, who were the theologians preparing the documents, together with a sizeable group of bishops, argued differently. They did not wish to downplay the role of Mary. However, they wished to situate her exactly where she belongs: that is, at the heart of the Church. It is for this reason that the final chapter of this great and seminal document of the Council is named: The Role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.
Of course Mary is not given one specific title in this document. Every local Church, and many Religious Orders and Congregations honour Mary under a title that is meaningful and suitable for them. As we know, St. Alphonsus had his own personal devotion to Mary under the title of our Lady of Good Counsel. And of course his appreciation of her as the Immaculate Conception is at the heart of his Marian doctrine. We also know that at one stage he wanted all Redemptorists to take a vow to defend the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. However, this was removed from the early outline rule by Rome.
Read more: To Commemorate the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Fr Provincial writes 30th April 2017
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Fr Provincial writes 30th April 2017...
30th April, 2017
Dear Confreres and friends,
As we begin this month traditionally dedicated to Our Lady, I offer a few words from Constitution 32.
"Let them take the Blessed Virgin Mary as their model and helper. For she went on her piIgrim way in faith, and embraced with her whole heart the saving will of God. Indeed she still serves as the perpetual help of God's people in Christ. Therefore let them relate to her as a mother with all the love and veneration they owe her as sons.
Let them be generous in fostering devotion, especially of a liturgical nature, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and celebrate her feasts with special fervour".
I will try and keep this letter short, as I intend to enclose an article I have written on our Lady of Perpetual Help which may appear in Scala soon. It is I hope theological, but also personal and devotional.
The OPC has just returned from three days of meetings. During these days we did a complete and comprehensive audit of every confrere who is attached to the London Province, reviewed the situations in our restructured communities, and tried to brainstorm in terms of our future as a Province within the Congregation and the Conference of Europe. We will share the latter reflections initially with the EPC.
Celebrating one of our great Patrons!
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Celebrating one of our great Patrons!...
We will celebrate liturgically tomorrow,
however, we celebrate our great Patron
St George
today.
Celebrated in the five continents, we are glad to have this special link.
Everyone in England, have a Happy Feast Day!
God bless England!
CSsR Redemptorist World!
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CSsR Redemptorist World!...
Click here to see the Redemptorists in every part of the world!
We think you will be impressed!
Easter Message from Fr General CSsR...
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Easter Message from Fr General CSsR 2017...
WITNESSES OF THE REDEEMER: In Solidarity for Mission to a Wounded World
“Through this total dedication to the Mission of Christ, Redemptorists share the self-renunciation of their crucified Lord, the virginal freedom of his heart, and his whole-hearted offering of himself for the life of the world. They must therefore become signs and witnesses before people of the power of his resurrection, proclaiming the new and eternal life” Constitution 51
Dear Confreres, Sisters, Partners in Mission, Associates and friends:
As we celebrate the great mysteries of our Redemption during Holy Week and Easter, it is a great joy to greet you and to offer these brief reflections. Constitution 51 captures the very heart of our missionary vocation – we are called to participate fully and whole-heartedly in the paschal mystery of Jesus our Redeemer so that we become living signs and prophetic witnesses of the power of the resurrection!
The Gospels remind us forcefully that the power of the resurrection does not erase the wounds of the crucifixion. Jesus continues to bear these marks in his body, and on his soul. He invites Thomas to touch them, and to place his hand in his wounded side. As the Theme for this Sexennium reminds us, it is in this wounded world that we are called to witness to the power of the resurrection to heal and transform, and to accompany those who suffer with compassion.
As Holy Week began we were confronted by the news of the terrorist attacks in Egypt, which followed closely on the attack in Stockholm, and the news of chemical attacks and air raids in Syria, and violence in so many parts of this wounded world. Ukraine, Venezuela, Philippines, Congo, Syria, Iraq and so many other places call us to a new solidarity in mission among all people of good will. The fear of refugees and migrants in Europe, the United States, Australia, and among so many other nations, calls not for building walls to keep people out, but for a prophetic witness to compassion and welcome.
Holy Thursday
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Holy Thursday...
An amazing amount of stuff! This was one of the most pivotal days in the life of Jesus Christ. Here are some of the things the gospels record for this day (including events that happened after midnight). Jesus:
- Sent Peter and John to arrange for them to use the Upper Room to hold the Passover meal.
- Washed the apostles' feet.
- Held the first Mass.
- Instituted the priesthood.
- Announced that Judas would betray him.
- Gave the "new commandment" to love one another.
- Indicated that Peter had a special pastoral role among the apostles.
- Announced that Peter would deny him.
- Prayed for the unity of his followers.
- Held all the discourses recorded across five chapters of John (John 13-18).
- Sang a hymn.
- Went to the Mount of Olives.
- Prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Was betrayed by Judas.
- Stopped the disciples from continuing a violent resistance.
- Healed the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant, after Peter cut it off with a sword.
- Was taken before the high priests Annas and Caiaphas.
- Was denied by Peter.
- Was taken to Pilate.
Read the Gospel passage for yourself; it is all there.
Sr Bernadette OSsR Funeral RIP
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Sr Bernadette OSsR Funeral RIP...
It was a strange start to Holy Week for the Redemptorists and the Redemptoristine Nuns of Dublin as they all gathered in Liverpool for the Requiem of the last English Redemptoristine Nun - Sr Mary Bernadette OSsR. They gathered to thank God for her life and to lay her to rest.
Along with her own blood family there were also six OSsR Nuns who had left the enclosure and sang the Requiem Mass. Fr Provincial Ronnie McAinsh CSsR presided at the Funeral Mass, accompanied by many other Fathers and Brothers. Bishop Ralph Heskett CSsR was in attendance as was Archbishop Kelly, Emeritus Archbishop of Liverpool.
