(Rome) Fr. Michael Brehl C.Ss.R., Superior General of our Congregation had lunch with San Gioacchino community in Rome and with the students of the Inter-provincial Studentate of the of Redemptorist Conference of Europe (CRE). The meeting took place on Sunday 29, on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel who is the Patron of our Congregation and Fr. General’s patron as well.
Having accepted the occasional greetings from the superior Fr. Pietro Sulkowski, Fr. Joannes Roemelt, coordinator of the CRE, and formators Fr. Jacek Zdrzałek (prefect) and Fr. Peter Anh Kiet (socius), Father General greeted the whole community and invited us to pray to Saint Michael that he defends us from temptations of indifference and selfishness. At the end of the lunch, there was a traditional cake and a toast was raised to honor our guest.
After lunch, Father General visited the sites of the Inter-provincial Studentate and talked to the students. He took this opportunity to briefly illustrate the important and delicate historical moment that the Congregation is experiencing as it goes forward in the process of restructuring, which gives new hope and vision but at the same time it has to face various problems and resistances.
Fr. Brehl encouraged the students to live with courage and enthusiasm an experience of the international formative community which is a source of hope and joy for the General Government and the Conference of Europe as well. He wished to the students that they grow together, all united by the same mission and by the same Redemptorist missionary charism. Finally, Father General gave each of the students a rosary with the Redemptorist cross and an image of the Madonna of Perpetual Help.
Gianluigi Colucci C.Ss.R.
