Vocations-news

Vocation News

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

Please pray for Redemptorist Vocations.

OSsR Monastic Experience...

Every considered this way of life? Join our Nuns in Dublin...

ossr monastic vocations weekend 2023

2023 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS...

pope francis and fr provincial cssr

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR THE 2023 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Vocation: Grace and Mission

Dear brothers and sisters, dear young people!

This is now the sixtieth time that we are celebrating the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, established by Saint Paul VI in 1964, during the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. This providential initiative seeks to assist the members of the People of God, as individuals and as communities, to respond to the call and mission that the Lord entrusts to each of us in today’s world, amid its afflictions and its hopes, its challenges and its achievements.

This year I would ask you, in your reflection and prayer, to take as your guide the theme “Vocation: Grace and Mission”. This Day is a precious opportunity for recalling with wonder that the Lord’s call is grace, complete gift, and at the same time a commitment to bring the Gospel to others. We are called to a faith that bears witness, one that closely connects the life of grace, as experienced in the sacraments and ecclesial communion, to our apostolate in the world. Led by the Spirit, Christians are challenged to respond to existential peripheries and human dramas, ever conscious that the mission is God’s work; it is not carried out by us alone, but always in ecclesial communion, together with our brothers and sisters, and under the guidance of the Church’s pastors. For this has always been God’s dream: that we should live with him in a communion of love.

“Chosen before the creation of the world”

The apostle Paul opens before us a remarkable horizon: in Christ, God the Father “chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Eph 1:4-5). These words allow us to glimpse life at its fullest: God has “conceived” us in his image and likeness and desires us to be his sons and daughters. We were created by love, for love and with love, and we are made for love.

In the course of our lives, this call, which is part of the fibre of our being and the secret of our happiness, comes to us by the work of the Holy Spirit in ever new ways. It enlightens our minds, strengthens our wills, fills us with amazement and sets our hearts afire. At times, the Spirit comes to us in completely unexpected ways. So it was for me when, on 21 September 1953, as I was on my way to an annual school celebration, I was led to stop by a church and go to confession. That day changed my life and left a mark that has endured to the present day. God’s call to the gift of self tends to make itself known gradually: in our encounter with situations of poverty, in moments of prayer, when we see a clear witness to the Gospel, or read something that opens our minds. When we hear God’s word and sense that it is spoken directly to us, in the advice given by a fellow brother or sister, in moments of sickness or sorrow… In all the ways he calls us, God shows infinite creativity.

The Lord’s initiative and his gracious gift call for a response on our part. Vocation is “the interplay between divine choice and human freedom”, [1] a dynamic and exciting relationship between God and the human heart. The gift of vocation is like a divine seed that springs up in the soil of our existence, opens our hearts to God and to others, so that we can share with them the treasure we ourselves have found. This is the fundamental structure of what we mean by vocation: God calls us in love and we, in gratitude, respond to him in love. We realize that we are beloved sons and daughters of the one Father, and we come to see ourselves as brothers and sisters of one another. Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, when at last she “saw” this clearly, exclaimed, “At last I have found my calling: my call is love. Indeed, I have found my proper place in the Church… In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be love”. [2]

Sr. Angela OSsR shares something of her Vocation Story...

6e42f8 7179a2941dae4882bfd1bd6454b5eeefmv2.jpg

Coming in through the doors of the enclosure for the first time, I wanted to be open.

But at the same time not really open…

I was still trying to convince myself that I’d come for this time of trial and experience to put this ‘niggling’ to bed. I’d find that it wasn’t for me and get back to my life as an apostolic Religious Sister in peace.

But it was God who had the last laugh…!

Some Pictures from Fr Kuda's Priestly Ordination...

Photos from the Priestly Ordination of the

Rev'd Fr Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR,

on the 4th February 2023

in St Augustine's, Redemptorist Parish, Hatcliffe, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Ordaining Prelate was

His Excellency Archbishop Paolo Rudelli,

Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe.

ordination zimbabwe cssr

ordination zimbabwe cssri

ordination zimbabwe cssrii

ordination zimbabwe cssriii

ordination zimbabwe cssriv

Our New Zimbabwe Priest CSsR 2023...

On Saturday, 5 February 2023, the Redemptorist Region of Zimbabwe in Africa celebrated the ordination to the priesthood of Rev Deacon Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR. Many people from all walks of life graced the occasion. The Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, conferred the sacrament of Holy Orders to Fr. Kudakwashe Kariviro at Saint Augustine’s Parish Hatclife.

In his homily, the Archbishop encouraged the newly ordained priest to follow closely in the footsteps of the Redeemer, who came to serve and not be served. The Nuncio spoke briefly on the need of priests to work with the laity in a synodal manner according to the pastoral needs of each Christian community.

230207 zimbabwe1

The Provincial of London and Region of Zimbabwe, Fr Richard Reid CSsR, also graced the occasion and shared words of fraternal support to the newly ordained. He reminded Fr. Kudakwashe that he should remain humble and keep smiling as a Redemptorist, and he congratulated the untiring work of formation being done in Zimbabwe and Africa at large.

The occasion was also graced by the presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, himself a Catholic and Redemptorist parishioner. He thanked the Redemptorists family for bringing a unique charism of Preaching into the local Church.

230207 zimbabwe2

Fr. Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR

Fr. Kudakwashe was overjoyed and had as his ordination motto profound words from Saint Clement Maria Hofbauer: “What l am doing was the greatest ambition of my heart: in my childhood l had been drawn to it, in my youth l had yearned for it and l had spent the early years of manhood to attain it.”

Vivat in Aeternum to the brother we love!

Fr. Gideon Sidinga CSsR

Scala News

Vocations Weekend in CSsR Clapham Dec 2022...

vocations weekend xii2022

Here we are

five Redemptorists and five men

who are exploring the whole question of a religious vocation.

Bless these men for their bravery and their fatih.

Please pray for Vocations to the Redemptorists -

as either a Priest, a Brother, a Sister or a Lay Associate.

OSsR & CSsR

Our new Deacon, Rev'd Br Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR...

rev br kuda cssr

Congratulations to

Rev'd Deacon Brother Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR

who was ordained a deacon today (30th July 2022) by the

Archbishop of Harare, His Grace Robert Christopher Ndlovu.

He was ordained together with three Jesuits who became priests today

Frs Emanuel Banda SJ, Tanaka Cyril Mashiche SJ and Ashton Mugozhi SJ.

Congratulations Makorokoto Amphlope!

Pray for them all.

Perpetual CSsR Profession in Mabvuku, Zimbabwe...

br kudakwashe cssr

There was great rejoicing in our community in Harare as they gathered with

Br Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR

as he made his Perpetual (Final) Profession of Religious Vows as a Redemptorist; the Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. He also made for the first time his Vow and Oath of Perseverence.

The celebration took place in our Parish Church in Mabvuku, Harare.

Br Benjamin Posvo CSsR, the Regional Superior received Br Kuda's vows, while the main Celebrant was Fr Gift Mubayiwa CSSR, the Vicar Regional Superior, and he was joined by the third member of the Ordinary Regional Council, Fr Kenneth Macharaga CSsR. The preacher for the ceremony was Fr Mark Chandavengerwa CSsR, the Dean of Holy Trinity, our Theological institute.

final profession cssrvii

final profession cssrix

final profession cssrviii

final profession cssrx

Redemptorists CSsR Final Vows and Diaconate...

In Zimbabwe one of our Brothers will make his final vows, his Perpetusl Profession later this month - please pray for him as he made this important step.

1b6c732b 0bd9 4b3d b813 e50e2d953cbb

God bless Br Kudakwashe Kairivro CSsR

Then in Slovakia this invute arrived the other day, it was from Br Stanislav Marcin CSsR, who was with us in the Clapham Community for nearly a year just as the COVID Pandemic started. You will see that it says...

stan cssr

I am happy to announce that I will receive from the hands of the Bishop,

Mons Jan Kubos

in the monastery church of St. Stanislaus in Podolinec

The Sacred Order of the Diaconate.

We ask God's blessing on Br Stanislav CSsR

Vocations Sunday May 2022...

cssr vocations may 2022

Called to Build the Human Family

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At the time when the cold winds of war and oppression are blowing and when we frequently encounter signs of polarization, we as a Church have undertaken a synodal process: we sense the urgent need to journey together, cultivating the spirit of listening, participation and sharing. Together with all men and women of good will, we want to help build the human family, heal its wounds and guide it to a better future. On this 59^th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, I would like to reflect with you on the broader meaning of “vocation” within the context of a synodal Church, a Church that listens to God and to the world.

Called to be protagonists together of the Church’s mission

Synodality, journeying together, is a vocation fundamental to the Church. Only against this horizon is it possible to discern and esteem the various vocations, charisms and ministries. We know that the Church exists to evangelize, to go forth and to sow the seed of the Gospel in history. This mission can only be carried out if all areas of pastoral activity work together and, even more importantly, involve all the Lord’s disciples. For “in virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization” (Evangelii Gaudium, 120). We must beware of the mentality that would separate priests and laity, considering the former as protagonists and the latter as executors, and together carry forward the Christian mission as the one People of God, laity and pastors. The Church as a whole is an evangelizing community.

Rev'd Fr Adam Mukabva CSsR, newly ordained...

The Church and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer rejoice in their new priest, the Reverend Fr Adam Mukabva CSsR.

Many congratulations to Fr Adam Mukabva CSsR.

The Archbishop of Harare, the Most Reverend Robert C Ndlovu ordained our brother during a beautiful ceremony on Saturday 12th February 2022 in St Clement's Church, East View, Harare.

There are many pictures to enjoy from the day and there is even one of his elder brother, Fr Casper Mukabva CSsR, laying on his hands during the ordination ceremony.

Fr Adam Mukabva CSsR - Mokorokoto - Vivat - Congratulations!

fr adam14

Please continue to pray for our newest priest and all our Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers.

A new Deacon for the Church...

Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa CSsR ordained

Rev'd Brother Adam Mukabva CSsR

as a Deacon on Sunday,

the Solemnity of

Our Most Holy Redeemer.

We thank God for this ministry

and for our Brother who nows shares in it!

br adam cssri

The Ordination Ceremony took place in our Community Chapel - Tafara, Harare

br adam cssrii

L to R: Fr Victor Bushu CSsR, Bp Raymond Mupandasekwa CSsR and Br Adam Mukabva CSsR

Fr Royston Price CSsR - A word for the Sixth Sunday of Easter...

The Archdiocese of Birmingham Vocations Team are doing great work...

check out their site...

Watch and see Fr Royston's message for the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

Let us all pray for Vocations!

Vocations Sunday 2021...

"God looks on the heart (cf. 1 Sam 16:7), and in Saint Joseph he recognized the heart of a father, able to give and generate life in the midst of daily routines. Vocations have this same goal: to beget and renew lives every day. The Lord desires to shape the hearts of fathers and mothers: hearts that are open, capable of great initiatives, generous in self-giving, compassionate in comforting anxieties and steadfast in strengthening hopes. The priesthood and the consecrated life greatly need these qualities nowadays, in times marked by fragility but also by the sufferings due to the pandemic, which has spawned uncertainties and fears about the future and the very meaning of life. Saint Joseph comes to meet us in his gentle way, as one of “the saints next door”. At the same time, his strong witness can guide us on the journey."

Read Pope Francis' Letter about your vocation and St Joseph.