I am often asked by people: What do Redemptorists do?
We serve in the new evangelization of the Church. Like St. Alphonsus we use all kinds of talents including story-telling, music and drama. https://www.cssr.news/redemptorists-2/alphonsus-liguori-our-founder/
In Canada during Lent, we proclaimed the Gospel through what we now call “parish missions.”
Bishop Jon Hansen, C.Ss.R. preached a mission about Faith, Hope and Love during the 100th anniversary year of St. Mary Parish in Saskatoon. Present also were Redemptorists, Frs. Ciro Perez and Steve Morrisey and Graham Hill (not present in the picture).
Like St. Alphonsus, who dedicated himself completely to the service of the poor and most abandoned; we too reached out to especially rural communities who often have less financial and other resources available to nourish their faith life. Redemptorist Frs. Jean Claude Nadeau, Jacques Fortin, and Joseph Manh, invited a guest preacher (second from left) to preach in a parish of six churches we serve along a rural stretch called the Côte-de-Beaupré, in Québec.
Fr. Doris Laplante C.Ss.R. led a mission in the parish of Mary, Star of the Sea. This parish is comprised of four churches in different small communities in eastern-central New Brunswick.
Lay Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer, Deacon Bob Williston and Joan Williston, along with Fr. David Purcell C.Ss.R., journeyed to a small town in the mountains of British Columbia, to preach at Sacred Heart Parish in Kimberley, British Columbia. Over four evenings we focussed on Being Receptive to, Giving Thanks For, Celebrating the Sacrament of, and Sharing God’s Mercy. The same themes were also preached at Holy Spirit parish in Saskatoon. Then, Deacon Bob and Joan (seen in this picture on the far left) also teamed up with Fr. Babu Matthew C.Ss.R. at a small town of Carstairs, Alberta where they led a mission in St. Agnes Parish.
St. Alphonsus., a gifted musician and composer, wrote many popular hymns and taught them to the people in parish missions. Across Canada and into the United States, Deacon Bob Williston, and Fr. Eugene O’Reilly are well known for evangelizing people through their music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbbnehQduMk and http://redemptorists.ca/redemptorist-music/
Here you see some people who attended a mission at St. Paul’s Basilica in Toronto. Included in the picture you might recognize two of our students, from the Toronto house of studies, and a man inquiring into the Redemptorists. We heard through Fr. Eugene’s stories, humour, and songs, how God created us and looks upon us as “very good.” God always welcomes us with open arms, and helps us to live the Beatitudes in our ordinary everyday life so that we can be truly “Happy”. Fr. Eugene is truly dedicated to this ministry as he led missions for nine weeks during Lent, in Alberta, in Ontario, and in Florida. https://redemptorists.ca/missions/
Although, recently ordained as a bishop (22 February), Bishop Guy Desrochers C.Ss.R., continued with his schedule of 5 Lenten missions. He preached missions in New York state, Ontario, Québec, and in Alberta.
These pictures witness to the importance of team work, music, drama as we preach the Word in our ministry of evangelization. Our evangelization spans different languages and cultures in Canada. Fr. Larry Kondra C.Ss.R. (last picture, on the right) led a mission at Blessed Virgin Mary church, for a Ukrainian Catholic parish in Winnipeg Manitoba.
Khrystos Voskres! I pray that your Easter celebrations bring many blessing into your life. Voistyno Voskres!