(Rome) The Redemptorist Spirituality Course for the English speaking confreres started in Rome on 10th of June 2019 as confreres and lay associates from eleven units gathered at the Alphonsian Academy in Via Merulana, Rome. The Course ends on the 29th of June according to the scheduled program.
First of all, The Director of the Spirituality Course Fr. Piotr Chyla introduced us about the schedule of the whole program of the Course which lasts for about three weeks. He began the session with the general introduction to the course on Redemptorist Spirituality. Fr. Piotr highlighted on the aims and method of the course.
Fr. Michael Brehl, the Superior General met the participants for a general sharing and interactions with the group. He briefly responded to the questions raised with regard to the relevance of the missionary activities in the congregation, and moreover the importance of restructuring and its developments. After a short break, we gathered at the Church of St. Alphonsus for the Holy Eucharist. Fr. Michael presided over the Holy Mass. He reflected on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Church. At the end of the Mass Fr. Michael shared about the origin of the House at Via Merulana 31 and establishment of the Shrine of the Mother of Perpetual Help. For us Redemptorists, it is a time to relive our Redemptorist Spirituality, a time of continual conversion to the commitment in Jesus.
In the evening Fr. Piotr continued the session on the path of the Primitive rules (1732-1749) whereas Fr. Alfonso Amarante, the President of the Alphonsian Academy, presented the group on the Alphonsian idea of the Mission. Soon after the supper, the participants were welcomed by the Rector of the house Fr. Luis Alberto Roballo, followed by Gaudeamus. Fr. George Puthenpura, one of the main resource persons, will be dealing with the topics like the life of Saints and blessed and Alphonsian Spirituality and meditation.
During the course, the confreres and associates will spend the first four days in Rome reflecting on the history and mission of the Congregation, based on Constitution and Alphonsian Missionary Theology. They leave for Scifelli on the 6th day morning and visit Tivoli and Quintilliolo. On the 7th day Fr. Piotr will give a session on the Spirituality and Spiritual Life. The participants will then depart for St. Agatha of Goti and visit the Redemptoristine Sisters and Materdomini in the noon. After two days of sessions on the Bible and Alphonsian Spirituality by Fr. George the confreres will visit Naples where they will be instructed about the history of the place in the life and mission of the Congregation. Then they will travel to Muro Lucano and Deliceto, near Materdomini.
On the 15th day, the group will leave for Ciorani via Scala. The following day Br. Jeffrey Role will be taking a lesson on Lay Collaborators and Brothers whereas Fr. George will speak on St. John Neumann. The next day Fr. Vimal Tirimanna will instruct us on the Alphonsian Moral Theology followed by group discussions and sharing on the challenges today and then there will be a short session on Blessed Sarnelli by Fr. George. Later the group will go to Marianella and Naples and then visit Pagani on 29th June. The group will visit Pompei in the afternoon and return back to Rome in the evening.
The following members participate for the Spirituality Course 2019 in Rome. They are Fr. Ariel Lubi, Fr. Rufino Jr. Mea Macasaet, Fr. Raymond Racelis Urriza (Manila) and Fr. Giovani Don Bosco Wora (Japan/Indonesia), Frs. Sanjay Kujur, Periyanayagam Devados, George Prakash Minj, Prakash Kumar Lakra, and Sagaya A. Xavier Irudayaraj (Bangalore), Fr. Sanjay Tirkey (Bangalore/Rome), Frs. Sandwidi Paul, Lawson Chroko Anani, and Sani Samaila (Burkina Faso), Frs. Marcin Gacek and Lukasz Drozak (Warsaw), Fr. Anthony Tran, Ms. Niamh O’Neill, and Mr. Tony Brviano (Asia-Oceania), Fr. Kevin MacDonald (Baltimore), Frs. Konradus Doni Kelen and Domisianus Erbing Wahyu (Indonesia).
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