Fr General Rogério Gomes, who is taking part in the 3rd Phase of the 26th General Chapter in the Redemptorist Conference of Africa and Madagascar, presided over the Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Redeemer, celebrated at the Karen community in Nairobi, Kenya, last Sunday. During the celebration, three young Redemptorists renewed their temporary religious vows.
Fr. Rogério, in his homily, pointed out the message of the celebration for all the members of the Redemptorist family. He said:
“For us Redemptorists, the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer is a grateful memory of plentiful redemption; God emptied himself, became one of us and gave us a clear project for our life and mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Lk 4:18-19).”
Fr General went on to emphasise that in Jesus Christ, every Redemptorist renews his identity and from Him draws the strength to live his missionary vocation.:
“With the Redeemer, we learn to speak explicitly of the Kingdom of God and mercy and to follow him with our weaknesses because he is good and compassionate. It is from the Redeemer that the Redemptorist identity flows, enshrined in Constitution 20: “Strong in faith, rejoicing in hope, burning with charity, on fire with zeal, in humility of heart and persevering in prayer, Redemptorists as apostolic men and genuine disciples of Saint Alphonsus follow Christ the Redeemer with hearts full of joy; denying themselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding, they share in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it in Gospel simplicity of life and language, that they may bring people plentiful redemption”. Without the strength that comes from him, we cannot proclaim the Gospel explicitly, we proclaim ourselves, and this does not resonate in the hearts of the People of God!”
