Fr General - Lent 2014...

Dear Confreres, Sisters, associates and friends

As we begin the Season of Lent, we are invited once again to enter the path of conversion, following Jesus the Redeemer who “though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). The path of Jesus reminds us that the call to conversion is not only for our own personal holiness, but also for the sake of others, and especially for the sake of the most abandoned and the poor. Conversion must always lead to action for justice and peace, especially in a world torn by violence and division. “Spending themselves for others in this way for the sake of Christ (cf. 2Cor. 4:10ff), they will acquire that interior freedom which brings unity and harmony into their whole life.” (Cons.41). This ismissionary conversion – which brings true freedom (‘distacco’) so that we can truly “preach the Gospel ever anew”.

As Redemptorist Missionaries, sisters and associates, we know and appreciate the value of continual conversion. “For conversion of heart and continual renewal of mind should characterize their whole daily life.” (Cons. 41). The Season of Lent is a special time of grace in which we more consciously engage in this process of conversion and renewal. It is a constant reminder that formation for mission is a lifelong process.

Ash Wednesday 2014...

We entreat you O Lord, that, through works of penance and charity,

we may turn away from harmful pleasures and cleansed from our sins,

may become worthy to celebrate devoutly the Passion of your Son.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

CSsR Lenten Reflections...

This year we have some great reflections from our Redemptorist confreres of the Baltimore Province.

Read these and meditate on the wonderful story of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection.

 Click here to read the daily reflections

Fr Provincial writes March 2014...

1st March, 2014

Dear Confreres and friends,

As we prepare for the great season of Lent I wish you well. I know that there will be much extra work during this season leading up to Easter and I hope that the feasts of St. Clement on 15^th, St. Patrick on 17^th, St. Joseph on 19^th  and the Annunciation on 25^th provide some rest and relaxation.

During February I visited our Novice Master and Novices in South Africa. We are all grateful to Fr. Tryvis Moyo for his ministry there and it was good to see the Novices so engaged in the life. In Zimbabwe I was joined by Fr. Maurice and we managed to visit the three communities and had the opportunity to speak with the ORC on a variety of issues. For Fr. Maurice, this was his first visit to the new mission of Chiweshe which is in the rural areas with 18 Outstations, and the Region is planning to construct a Postulancy and community residence there. Plans will be submitted to the EPC within this coming month and work will commence if approved.

Redemptorist Youth Ministry...

The Redemptorist Youth Ministry has been on the move again, this time to the Redemptorist Monastery in Perth, commonly refered to as Kinnoull. A group of young adults (27 from every corner of the country) gathered together to pray, reflect and have fun. Read on to find out somebody's personal experience...

"Having just returned from the Young Adult Retreat in Kinnoull, it is safe to say that it was a retreat that will not be forgotten in a long time, its impact will have a lasting effect on me and my relationship with God. It was a weekend in which I could relax, unwind, reflect, meet new people and take that real time and space for God which is so hard to find in everyday life. It began with a group of us setting off from Liverpool on Thursday morning to begin the trip up North, we had an overnight rest in Glasgow before we headed on up to Kinnoull on Friday morning via some truly beautiful parts of Scotland. Once at the Monastery we were greeted with such warm hospitality, I felt at home straight away. From our first evenings session it was wonderful and humbling to see so many people from all over the country and from different backgrounds coming together united in their faith. Throughout the evening people were enjoying each other’s company and learning more about one another, the evening drew to a close with a time of prayer to help us focus ourselves for the weekend ahead and give thanks for what we had shared so far.

St David's Day...

Dydd Gwyl Dewi - 1 Mawrth

The first of March is the feast of St David,

patron of Wales.

(The image of the Icon of St David in Westminster Cathedral)

Virtue for the month of March...

Virtue: LOVE of GOD

Patrons: St. James the Greater, Apostle

Text: "You shall love the Lord your God

with your whole heart,

with your whole soul

and with your whole mind."

Mt 22:37

Fr. General CSsR and the Cardinal...

Dear Friends

I have just returned (with Fr. Luciano Panella) from the public consistory to create new cardinals. The Holy Father has appointed two of these cardinals as titulars of Redemptorist churches.

Cardinal Vincent Gerard NICHOLS, Titular of the Most Holy Redeemer and Saint Alphonsus in Merulana Street – Cardinal Nichols is the Archbishop of Westminster, London, England.

Cardinal Leopoldo José BRENES SOLÓRZANO, Titular of Saint Joachim of Prati di Castello – Cardinal Solórzano is the Archbishop of Managua, Nicaragua.

We met Cardinal Nichols, and now we must organize the celebration for welcoming him to our church.

Recently, Cardinal Nichols spoke strongly in defense of the rights of the poor in England. He was the Archbishop of Birmingham, and knows our confreres in the Province of London.

Let us pray for the visits going on right now, and for peace in the Ukraine, Thailand, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Syria and Lebanon.

All the best,

Most Rev. Michael Brehl, CSsR

——————————

Marriage Encounter and CSsR...

Fr Andrew Burns CSsR is currently in our Middlesbrough community in the John-Paul Centre. Here he shares with us some insight into his ministry with Marriage Encounter. 

"Since September 2012, I have been the priest member of the National Executive Team for Marriage Encounter in England and Wales. Together with Phil and Rita Jackson of Rubery in Birmingham, we lead the Marriage Encounter Community in this country. Throughout the country there are about 250 couples who have experienced the Marriage Encounter Weekend and who continue to support one another in their couple relationships by meeting together in small groups for ongoing formation and enrichment. Many more than this will have experienced the weekend and have decided not to have such a close involvement.

Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols - Auguri!...

Today H E Vincent Gerard Cardinal Nichols received

his scarlet biretta,

his cardinal's ring

and the news of

his Church in Rome.

The Holy Father has appointed him to our beautiful Church in Via Merulana,

the Most Holy Redeemer and St Alphonsus. 

To read an article published in The Telegraph, click here

Congratulations Your Eminence!

Formation - London and Dublin...

The Formation community of the London province were very blessed recently to be able to visit our counterparts in the Dublin province, for a few days of fraternal fellowship, prayer and recreation. It was a great blessing to be able to stay in the monastery in Dundalk, and visit some of our other monasteries on the ‘emerald isle’, in Belfast and the Esker retreat centre near Galway. We received a warm and generous welcome from all the communities we met, and it was wonderful to see some of the great works that the Redemptorists are performing, from reconciliation in Belfast and marriage preparation in Esker, to the preached Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Galway Cathedral – the spirit of enthusiasm and joy in the Gospel was infectious! 

New article about St Alphonsus...

A new article written by our confrere from the Naples Province,

Fr Sabatino Majorano CSsR

has just been put alongside

other articles we have on our Holy Father,

St Alphonsus Maria Liguori CSsR.

To read the article,

 "St Alphonsus - universal call to holiness" click here

Sr Patricia Fallon DC - Gone to God...

The Redemptorists were sad to hear the news of Sr. Patricia's death.

She was a wonderful servant to St Patrick's parish in Edinburgh for 60 years.

Below there is the homily, follwed by details from the application for the Papal Medal and then article written by the Redemptorists about our dear sister.

She will be missed

but always remembered with a smile!

Sr Patricia Fallon DC Benemerenti

Homily from the Requiem Mass

St Mary’s, Lanark 12/02/2014

Speaking on my own behalf, and I know on behalf of my Redemptorist confreres here, Fr Richard, Fr Kieran and Fr Dominic, it is a joy and a privilege, albeit tinted with a little sadness, to celebrate the life of Sr Patricia Fallon, and commend her to the Lord’s everlasting mercy. To be with you all, gently handing her over to the Lord whom she loved so much, served so faithfully, and for so long. Sr Patricia, in all the years that we knew her, and throughout her life, had three great loves. Her first was her love of, and service of, the poor. She visited tirelessly, taking Communion to those who wanted it, and sometimes to those who weren’t so keen to have it; sharing the stories of their lives, helping them in practical ways, and telling them they should go to Mass! Her love of the poor, the heart of her calling to serve as a Daughter of Charity. Sometimes in weather like this, when Patricia was getting older and more frail, we tried to get her to take a taxi home, instead of waiting at the bus stop, perhaps for half an hour, for a bus. Her reply was always the same — ‘Give the money to the poor, give the money to the poor, give the money to the poor!’ Serving the poor was not just an idea in her head, it was how she actually lived.

St. Clement Hofbauer CSsR - Patron of Vienna...

The jubilee year 2014 (Clement Maria Hofbauer: 100 years as the patron saint of Vienna) was inaugurated with a solemn Mass in St. Stephen’s Cathedral on 23rd of January.

A number of Redemptorists from several Provinces took part in the celebration. At the end of the Mass the Provincial Fr. Lorenz Voith thanked all for joining in, and for their close contact with the Province and to this great saint.

Among the guests from different Provinces where: The Coordinator of Europe Fr. Jacek Zdrzalek (Rome), Provincial Fr. Hipp (Munich), Provincial Fr. Hypius (Bratislava), Vice-Provincial Fr. Peter (Warsaw), and Vice-Provincial Fr. George (Liguori, India). There were also delegates from Bangalore (India), St. Clement (Germany), Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine etc. There were also many Oblates of the Congregation, as well as Sisters and members of other Congregations who had come for this great celebration in the cathedral church of St. Stephen.

Since 2001, a large statue of the patron of Vienna has been situated in the middle of the cathedral church.

SIgn our Guestbook and tell us what you think...

St Alphonsus was a prolific writer himself - if you don't believe this click here and see a complete list of his books and writings.

It would be good if you would like to sign our guest book, located down the page on the right hand side. Feel free to smile, nod or wink at us!

Or if you feel brave, we would really appreciate some feed back from you! 

                          Click here!