“Together in Mission” is a project that unites several communities involved in evangelisation together with the Redemptorists of the Warsaw Province. From 23 to 25 June 2023, the Redemptorist religious house in Krakow hosted the third national meeting of lay leaders of communities and Redemptorists involved in this work. There were represented communities and groups from Krakow, Warsaw, Grodno (Belarus), Gliwice, Elbląg, Wrocław, Tuchów, Bardo, and Amsterdam (the Netherlands).
“Missionaries of Hope following the Redeemer” and the message of the XXVI General Chapter of Redemptorists was the central theme of the meeting. Bohus Zivcak, the lay missionary from Slovakia, and Fr Sylwester Pactwa, CSsR, shared their experience with the works of the Chapter. The source of Christian hope is the experience of the Abundant Redemption. From this experience, a mission is born. What inspires lay people to collaborate with Redemptorists is to invite them to the work of evangelisation. The evangelisation of the poor and the abandoned unites the common missionary vocation of Redemptorists and lay people.
The meeting also dealt with themes of community building. Participants reflected on the call to their communities and shared a vision of their apostolic commitment. The vital role of small groups was emphasised, through which people in missionary communities can build family relationships and grow in faith.
On the last day of the meeting, the fourth year of formation developed by the Secretariat for Partnership in Mission was presented. The theme of this formation year is ‘Called to Mission’. It aims to help people discover their gifts and talents and their vocation in life and lead them to decide to engage in the community and in the work of evangelisation.
Each day of the gathering began with a common prayer. The Eucharist was celebrated every day. There was also time for sharing experiences and building relationships together.
Fr Paweł Drobot CSsR, Warsaw
(www.redemptor.pl)
