Redemptorists

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Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
)

Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris
TypeClerical religious congregation of pontifical right for men
HeadquartersVia Merulana 31, Rome, Italy
Membership
4,573 members (includes 3,440 priests) as of 02/2024
Superior general
Rogério Gomes
Patroness
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Websitecssr.news

The Redemptorists officially named the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Latin: Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris), abbreviated CSsR,

consecrated religious brothers
.

The Redemptorists are especially dedicated to

Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Rome
. Many Redemptorist churches are dedicated to her under that title.

However, the Patroness of the Congregation is the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title "Immaculate Conception," of which St. Alphonsus was a strong propagator even before Marian Dogma was officially promulgated.

Foundation and development

Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787)

Alphonsus Liguori was deeply moved by the plight of the poor living in Naples and the surrounding area and established his community with the aim of providing spiritual nourishment. Amongst his companions was Gerard Majella. In 1748 Alphonsus petitioned Pope Benedict XIV, to allow him to establish a congregation to minister to the poor in the area around Naples. Benedict agreed and the congregation was formed on November 9, 1732.

Within ten years of its foundation, communities had been established at Nocera, Ciorani, Iliceto, and Caposele. Due to political complications, there was an initial difficulty with the houses in the Papal States being separated from those in the Kingdom of Naples, but this was overcome in 1793 and the congregation soon opened houses in Sicily and other parts of southern Italy.[2]

The congregation was soon to move beyond the borders of present-day Italy. In 1785, two Austrians,

La Valsainte.[2]

19th century

In 1826, at the request of the government of Austria, the Redemptorists established a community in Lisbon, Portugal, with the purpose of ministering to German speaking Catholics.[3] Other houses quickly followed in German-speaking areas: Mautern an der Donau (1827), Innsbruck (1828), Marburg (1833), Eggenburg (1833), and Leoben (1834).

The congregation also rapidly expanded into Belgium with communities at

anti-Catholic, when a house was opened in Wittem in 1836. The revolutions of 1848
which swept over Europe caused much upheaval, and the Redemptorists were expelled from Switzerland and Austria and were at risk elsewhere.

The congregation thrived throughout the remainder of the 19th century; in 1852 there were four provinces, and by 1890 this had increased to twelve with communities having been established in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, England, Scotland, Spain, and Suriname.[2] The 20th century saw the continuation of expansion to where the congregation created new provinces, vice provinces, and missions in every decade, and established a network of lay associates and volunteers who work with the Redemptorists to bring the Gospel to the poor.

Apostolate

Redemptorists are essentially a missionary society although their ministry is not confined to developing nations. According to their rule they are "to strive to imitate the virtues and examples of Jesus Christ, our

Redeemer consecrating themselves especially to the preaching of the word of God to the poor"[This quote needs a citation]. Their labors consist principally in missions, retreats, and similar exercises.[3] In 2019, there were approximately 5,500 Redemptorists in 82 countries throughout the world.[4]

Preaching and parochial missions

Alphonsus Liguori wanted his companions to be itinerant preachers of the Word of God. Traditionally, this has been the mainstay of the Redemptorists as they are well known for conducting parochial missions. The purpose of these parochial missions and the homilies preached by the Redemptorists is to "... invite people to a deeper love for God and a fuller practice of the Christian life."[5] In accordance with the instructions of Liguori, preaching is to be down-to-earth and understandable to all who are listening.

Shrines, sanctuaries and retreat houses

In order to advance their mission and provide places of pilgrimage, the Redemptorists administer several shrines, which draw hundreds of thousands of people, the best-known being in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Philippines, Rome, and Singapore. The congregation operates many retreat houses where people of all walks of life, Catholic or otherwise, can spend some time in reflection, either individually or in a group.[5]

Redemptorists are caretakers of the

Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Rome
, and Redemptorists propagate devotion to Mary under this title.

Other ministry

As with most religious congregations, the Redemptorists are also involved in other forms of ministry such as parishes, education, youth and social communication. In recent years the congregation has increasingly become concerned with matters of

religious province of Cebu in the Philippines have made a specific commitment in this regard: "Moved by the poverty and dehumanised condition of our people, and encouraged by their faith and desire for justice ... We, the Redemptorists of the Province of Cebu, as an apostolic community dedicated through our vows, are called to respond to the urgent needs of our people, especially the most abandoned and the poor ..."[6]

Religious formation

After an initial period of contact and discernment, the person seeking to enter the Redemptorists becomes a "candidate" and goes to live in one of the communities so that both sides might become better acquainted. This lasts about two years during which they learn about Redemptorist prayer, life, and ministry.[4]

Assuming that all goes well, the candidate then begins the novitiate, lasting a year. The novitiate year is crucial, for it is then "... that the novices better understand their divine vocation, and indeed one which is proper to the institute, experience the manner of living of the institute, and form their mind and heart in its spirit, and so that their intention and suitability are tested."[7] Thus, the novices are given the opportunity for longer periods of prayer and spiritual reading as well as silence in order to reflect on the vocation God is offering and nature of their response. The spiritual development of the novice is of particular focus, especially through spiritual direction. During the novitiate the history and constitutions of the congregation are studied in depth.

A simple profession is made at the end of the novitiate, and the person officially becomes a member of the Redemptorists for "By religious profession, members assume the observance of the three evangelical counsels by public vow, are consecrated to God through the ministry of the Church, and are incorporated into the institute with the rights and duties defined by law."[8] At this point it is normal to begin studying philosophy and theology at university level. During this time there is ample opportunity to experience a variety of ministries in which the Redemptorists are engaged, both in the member's home country and internationally. Temporary vows are renewed annually.

At the end of this period of formation, which lasts for a minimum of three years

presbyterate follows for those called to holy orders (i.e. to become a priest).[10]

As the academic programs come to an end, all Redemptorists in temporary vows are required to participate in a pastoral experience for a minimum of six months to a year, outside of a brother's home province.[4]

Religious vows

A window from the office of St. Alphonsus Ligouri "Rock" Catholic Church in St. Louis, Missouri

As members of a religious congregation, Redemptorists embrace the evangelical counsels, taking the three traditional religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.[3] Poverty means that all possessions are held in common and that no member may accumulate wealth. Chastity means more than abstaining from sexual activity and its purpose is to make the religious totally available for service; it is also a sign that only God can completely fill the human heart. For a member of a religious congregation, obedience is not slavishly doing what one is told by the superior but being attentive to God's will by prayerfully listening to the voice of the person in charge. For the Redemptorist, the three vows challenge those values presented as being important by modern-day society. Recognising that the living out of the three traditional vows can be truly challenging, each Redemptorist takes a fourth vow and oath, that of perseverance.

Organization

The Generalate is in Rome. The most fundamental unit of the Redemptorists is the local community in which members live together, combining their prayers, experiences, successes and failures, as well as any possessions for the service of the Gospel. Each community has a local superior who is chosen to exercise the ministry of leadership and the service of authority for the common good. The superior is assisted by a vicar and a group of advisors.

Local communities are organized into larger groups: Missions, regions, vice-provinces, provinces. A province is led by a provincial and his council, composed of elected members. In terms of governance, the members of each province elect representatives who gather in a Provincial Chapter. Vice-provinces usually look to a founding province to provide support in terms of personnel and finances until it is able to become self-sufficient. Otherwise, it enjoys the freedom and authority necessary to adjust matters to the particular needs of its mission.[11] Regions and Missions are normally communities established in new missionary areas and they depend on the founding province or vice-province.

The Superior General convokes the General Chapter every six years. The General Chapter is the primary governing and representative body of the Redemptorists, carefully examining the mission of the congregation in accordance with the spirit of Alphonsus Liguori and its traditions. The day-to-day international affairs of the congregation are handled by the General Council, which is composed of a superior general and six consultors. The General Council is both a directive and executive body.[11]

Regions and provinces

Regional development

Africa

In 1899 the Belgian fathers were requested by their government to take charge of a number of missions in the Congo State,[3] at that time a Belgian colony: Kinkanda, Kionzo, Kimpese, Matadi, Sonagongo and Lake Tumba.

In 1987 the Denver Province established a mission in Nigeria which was so fruitful that it soon became a vice-province. The members of the vice-province have made concerted efforts to involve the laity in their work. The Redemptorists also minister in Angola (1967); Burkina Faso; Ghana; Ivory Coast (1993); Madagascar (1967); Niger; Zimbabwe (established by the British Redemptorists in 1960 and revitalized in 1989)[14]

In 1990 the Indian Redemptorists began a mission in Kenya where there are several professed members.

In

Howick. There is also a convent of Redemptoristines sisters in Merrivale, KwaZulu-Natal. For the Redemptorists of Southern Africa "... Justice and Peace is part and parcel of everything we are and do. In the South African context ... we are called by the poor to a simple life-style and we cannot avoid the struggle of the outcasts and oppressed of the townships and the desperate plight of the poor."[15]

In May 2011 a number of allegations of child sexual abuse by a member of the institute in South Africa were revealed on the

Alan Shatter, the Minister for Justice and Equality, stated:

I have been in touch with the Garda Commissioner about this matter who, of course, shares my concern at the revelations in the programme. The Superintendent in charge of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit is being appointed to examine the programme. In particular, he will examine whether any criminal behaviour was disclosed which can be pursued in this jurisdiction.[17]

Australia and New Zealand

The first house established was in

Victoria and South Australia. A new house in Ballarat
followed in 1888 and work began on a new monastery in the suburb of Wendouree. It was officially opened in September 1893.

With the south now being cared for by the Ballarat community, those in Waratah looked north to Queensland and the first missions were preached there in 1889. Missions began in Brisbane and its surrounds, with their success convincing the Archbishop to extend the programme to the far flung country parishes.

The first structure that was purpose-built for the Redemptorists in New Zealand was St Gerard's Church in Wellington in 1908.[18]

In 1927, the province of Australasia, which included Australia and New Zealand, was created. New Zealand became an independent province in 1970 and from New Zealand, the Redemptorists went to Samoa in 1972.[19]

The years after

Yarraville. In Melbourne
, the order also conducted a psychotherapy clinic and Training Institute, Hofbauer Centre, from 1977 until 1998.

Missionary activity continues to flourish across Australia. Through parochial missions, preaching, retreats, adult education, teaching in universities, social justice work, counselling, accompaniment of indigenous communities, chaplaincies, devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, working with people on the margins of society and promoting the family through the Majellan magazine, Redemptorists have sought to highlight that people matter greatly to God.[19] For the Australian Redemptorists, the issue of social justice "... matters to the Redemptorists for it is at the core of our mission in the world."[20]

India

Three Irish Redemptorists Mathew Hickey, Gerard McDonell and Leo O'Halloran from the province of Dublin with great zeal and missionary dynamism set on a task to proclaim the Good News and arrived in the Island country of Sri Lanka in the year 1938. The long cherished dream of the Redemptorists to establish a foundation in India was actualized in the year 1940 when the first community was established in Bangalore in 1940.

It was Hugo Kerr, the Provincial Superior of the province of Dublin who obtained permission from Maurice Bernard Departures, the Bishop of Mysore, to establish a foundation in Bangalore. In the Lent of 1941 St. Gerard's House at John Armstrong Road became the First Permanent residence of the Redemptorists. On 1 October 1945 the Indian Redemptorist mission became a Vice-Province and Mathew Hickey was the first Vice-Provincial. And the next ten years (from 1945 to 1955) saw great structural developments with Mt. St. Alphonsus (MSA) being built which would be the permanent house of the Studentate (7 June 1951) and the much awaited Holy Ghost Parish[21] was opened for public worship on 24 May 1953. It was during this time St. Alphonsus School with the help of Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes, began in the Students’ wing of MSA. The school was later moved to Davis Road which stands till today catering to the education of the poor children who come from the vicinity of the area. In July 1964 Sadupadesa College on Hennur Road was built to house students who would study philosophy. It is now turned into a Juvenate which is the first stage of formation (as of 2015). In July, 2010 Holy Redeemer Parish was erected in Sadupadesa.

The Vice-Province of Bangalore grew steadily facing all odds and overcoming all obstacles to become the province of Bangalore on 15 August 1972 and also took a momentous initiative in the year 1990 by establishing a Redemptorist community in Kenya, Africa. Now the mission has 7 indigenous priests along with the members of the province serving in the mission. The Province of Bangalore has also given birth to two other units, the Liguori Province of Kerala and the Vice-province of Majella along the western coast of India.[22]

As of 2011 there were some 260 Redemptorists in India, belonging to two Provinces, one Vice-Province, one Region and one Mission. The Region of

Alwaye was established in 1992 and became a Province (Province of Liguori) in 2008. The Region of Mumbai
was established in 1999 and was raised to the status of a Vice-Province in 2011. The Mission of Kenya began in 1990 and there are several perpetually professed Kenyan members.

The Philippines

The first Redemptorists, belonging to the Irish province, arrived in Opon, Cebu, on 30 June 1906, setting up missions in Compostela, San Francisco and on the Camotes Islands.[23][24] From 1914 to 1928 further communities were established, the most prominent being: Luzon (where the Redemptorists preached the first mission completely in Tagalog), Lipa, Iloilo, Tacloban and Cagayan de Oro on Mindanao.

In 1928, the Philippines was divided into two vice provinces, each under a different province—the Cebu vice-province responsible for the

Baclaran
.

The

Christ, the source of liberation."[25]

In 1996, the Cebu vice-province became an independent province, known as the Cebu Province.[23]

Vietnam

Redemptorists arrived to Vietnam in 1925, with 66 missionary members from the Canadian Redemptorist Missionaries of the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine.[26] The Province of Vietnam was officially established in 1964, with apostles in major cities such as Ha Noi, Sai Gon, Da Nang, Da Lat, and more. Their activities briefly stopped by 1975, likely due to the fact that this was the same year as when the Vietnam war had ended.

Redemptorist missionaries are still active in Vietnam to this day, and have sent members to other countries such as Australia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Angola, France, the US and Canada.[26]

United Kingdom and Irish provinces

Vladimir Pecherin (1807–1885), one of the first Redemptorists to work in Ireland

Redemptorists arrived from

St Benet's Church, Monkwearmouth, Bishop's Stortford, Kingswood, Edmonton and a total membership of one hundred and twenty-three.[3]

Today the Redemptorists of Britain are engaged in a variety of ministries: the mission amongst the poor of Zimbabwe, a renewal centre in Kinnoull, Perth where people can spend time in prayer and reflection as well as parishes in Birmingham, Bishop Eton in Liverpool and London. Their goal is "to defend our joy in Jesus Christ and to bring to others Plentiful Redemption"[27]

In 1898 the houses in

Limerick pogrom" by giving two antisemitic sermons that invoked the blood libel, blamed Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and called for a de facto boycott; under Creagh's watch, a number of Jews were violently beaten, and the majority of the Jewish population was driven out of Limerick after two years of near-total economic boycott.[28][29] Today, the provincial house is located in Dublin with other communities being found in Belfast (Clonard Monastery and the parish of Saint Gerard), Cork, Dundalk, Athenry in Galway, Limerick and four houses are established. The Irish Redemporists are involved in parish ministry, youth work, Redemptorist publications and retreats. They also help staff the missions in Cebu in the Philippines[30] Alec Reid, of Clonard Monastery, were instrumental in cross community initiatives, and helped facilitate the Irish Peace Process.[31]
Reid also helped promote talks for peace in the Basque country.

North American Province

United States

John Neumann (1811–1860), the first US bishop to be canonized

In 1828 Frederick Rese, Vicar-General of Cincinnati, visited Europe in search of priests. While at Vienna he secured three priests and three lay brothers; they arrived in New York on 20 June 1832 and began working amongst the people of northern Michigan. In 1839 they were called to Pittsburgh to assume charge of the German congregation and from this time the care of German congregations became a prominent element of the Redemptorists in North America.[3]

The US province was erected in 1850 and one of the first tasks was the establishment of a seminary and the selection of a suitable place for a novitiate. Cumberland in Maryland, was chosen for the seminary and Baltimore for the novitiate. In 1868 the students were transferred to the new house of studies at Ilchester, Maryland and in 1907 the faculty and the students moved to Esopus, New York, on the Hudson River where a more spacious building had been erected.[3]

In 1882, the congregation sent priests to the

Archdiocese of St. Louis a house was opened at St. Louis. In 1871 an important mission house was opened at Roxbury, Boston and was dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. When, in 1883, a new parish was formed, the fathers of the mission church took charge.[3] (In 2009, its later basilica, of the same name, hosted the nationally televised funeral of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, attended by President Barack Obama
, three former US presidents and first ladies, among other dignitaries.)

From 1883 onward, the Redemptorists spread throughout most of North America and are present in a variety of states such as

Washington, DC, and Baltimore in the northeast and Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas
in the south.

North American Redemptorists are involved in giving parochial missions, social justice, retreats, youth ministry, ministry to adults with special needs, bioethics, publication of religious materials and chaplaincy work[32] as well as outreach to the Hispanic community, ministry amongst the poor, and helping to staff missions in the Caribbean[33] The Denver Province owns Liguori Publications, which publishes books and Liguorian magazine.

Canada and Caribbean

In 1874 the Redemptorists were called to

St. Anne's, Montreal, a large parish in a very poor district of the city.[3] Two other foundations were quickly established in Canada: Saint Patrick's, Toronto and Saint Peter's, New Brunswick
in 1881 and 1884 respectively.

Canada was made a vice-province in 1894, where four more houses were opened. This province was initially dependent on the Belgian province. The

Mayagüez in Puerto Rico. Spanish Redemptorists settled at San Juan. A parish with a population of 30,000 is confided to their care. On 26 July 1911, the Belgian houses of Canada were erected into a new province.[3]

On 12 August 2014 a court in Quebec approved a settlement by which the Redemptorists will pay $20 million in compensation to people who had been sexually assaulted by members of the order while school students in their care.[34]

The Yorkton Province is an Eastern church branch of the worldwide Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, serving the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in North America and is based in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada.

Famous Redemptorists

Educational institutions (partial list)

Schools
Tertiary and other

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Annuario Pontificio per l'anno 2010. Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 2010. p. 1441.
  2. ^ a b c "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Redemptorists". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Redemptorists". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  4. ^ a b c The Redemptorists, Baltimore Province
  5. ^ a b c cssr.com/english/works/whatwedo.shtml "Redemptorist". cssr.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. ^ "Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer - Province of Cebu". redemptorists-cebu.com. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Code of Canon Law - IntraText". vatican.va. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  8. ^ Code of Canon Law 654
  9. ^ va/archive/ENG1104/__P26.HTM "Code of Canon Law - Canon 655". vatican.va. Retrieved 23 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  10. ^ redemptorists.co.uk/join-us/life-as-a-redemptorist/30-formation.html "Formation". redemptorists.co.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  11. ^ a b c "Redemptorist". cssr.com. Archived from com/english/whoarewe/ourstructures-EN.shtml the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  12. ^ "North American Redemptorist website:Vocations". Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. ^ Conference of Redemptorists for Africa and Madagascar
  14. ^ "Ronald McAinsh, C.Ss.R., Ronald. Scala, Redemptorist Newsletter, May 16, 2010". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  15. ^ South African Redemptorists : Reds in SA Archived November 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "RTÉ News". Archived from the original on 2011-08-11.
  17. ^ "Statement by Minister Shatter on Prime Time Investigates programme on clerical sex abuse in Africa". Merrion Sreet. 24 May 2011.
  18. ^ "St Gerard's Church". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Australia and New Zealand". www.cssr.org.au. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  20. ^ "Justice Matters". www.cssr.org.au. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Holy Ghost Parish – Richard's Town". catholic churches.in. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  22. ^ "Redemptorist Province of Bangalore, India".
  23. ^ a b "The Origin and Growth of the Redemptorists in the Southern Philippines". redemptorists in southern philippines. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  24. ^ "Presence in the Philippines". Redemptorist Cebu Province. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  25. ^ "Redemptorists Cebu Province: Presence". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  26. ^ a b "Vietnam – The Redemptorists – Asia & Oceania". www.cssrao.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  27. ^ "British Redemptorists: Ministry". Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  28. ^ Keogh, Dermot (1998). Jews in Twentieth-Century Ireland. Cork: Cork University Press.
  29. ^ Crain, T.J. (1998). The triumph of intolerance: Fr. John Creagh and the Limerick pogrom of 1904. Diss. Arizona State University.
  30. ^ "The Redemptorists - The Redemptorists". www.redemptorists.ie. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  31. ^ "Fr. Alec Reid and the Irish peace process". politicalreform.ie/2013/11/26/fr-alex-reid-and-the-irish-peace-process. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  32. ^ "Redemptorists.ca :: Redemptorists.ca". www.redemptorists.ca. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  33. ^ "Baltimore Redemptorists: What we do". Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  34. ^ Peritz, Ingrid (12 August 2014). "Religious order to pay record sexual abuse settlement". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 22 September 2014.

External links