Fr. Rogerio Gomes, C.Ss.R. Superior General and Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R. Consultor General visited Wisma Sang Penebus (Holy Redeemer House) in Nandan Yogyakarta in Indonesia on the 12th and 13th July 2024. At the moment this is one of the largest Redemptorist Formation Centres in the Congregation with nearly 80 Redemptorist professed students studying Philosophy and Theology. The Seminarians go to the Jesuit-run Institute for Philosophy and Theology, St. Paul’s Pontifical Institute in Yogyakarta.
Fr Enos, the Rector extended a warm welcome to Fr Rogerio and Fr Ivel while the students performed a traditional welcome dance (Sumbanese) to welcome guests who came along with Fr Jack the Provincial of Indonesia. The guests were welcomed with the traditional shawls.
After a grand dinner and night prayer together, there was a joyful recreation as the students showed their talents in singing and dancing. Fr Rogerio addressed the students inviting them to remember that this time formation is a crucial time for building and cementing the foundations of Redemptorist missionary life rooted in the Love of the Redeemer, prayer, study, pastoral work, human relationships, and Redemptorist Spirituality. Fr Ivel spoke of how happy he was to be present among so many young confreres, the present and the future of the Congregation not only in the Conference of Asia Oceania but in the entire world.
The 13th of July began with a solemn Eucharist presided by Fr Rogerio who spoke about the call to be faithful disciples in his homily. After breakfast, Fr Rogerio and Fr Ivel addressed the Students and Formation team. Fr Rogerio spoke about the Redemptorist being a Missionary of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer. He spoke of the four types of Hope that Redemptorists are called to point to constantly: Theological Hope, Anthropological Hope, Hope in the World and Hope in the Congregation. He urged the students to use this special time fruitfully and to move ahead with courage in the spirit of St Alphonsus living the charism of the Congregation in these challenging but interesting times. Fr Ivel spoke about the inspiration he draws from the Province of Indonesia in the areas of Simplicity of life, Missionary availability, and Community life and urged the students to keep alive these rich traditions of their province so that they will be Joyful Missionaries of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer. There was an hour of interaction with many students and members of the formation team asking a wide range of questions on Consecrated life, Mission, Restructuring in the Congregation etc. The session ended with Fr Rogerio calling on all to pray daily for the grace of perseverance and together all sang the Salve Regina while Fr Rogerio imparted his special blessing to the Formation Community. Fr Jack thanked Fr Rogerio and Fr Ivel for their visit and gave a summary of the talks in Bahasa Indonesian, and Fr Enos expressed his gratitude for the visit and one of the students gave the vote of thanks.
Fr Rogerio and Fr. Ivel then visited St. Paul’s Pontifical Institute where our students study Philosophy and Theology. Fr Rogerio left after lunch while Fr Ivel stayed on. In the Eucharist on the 14th of July presided by Fr Ivel, he spoke about the call to Mission which is intrinsic to the life and spirituality of a Redemptorist highlighting the words of St. Alphonsus, “Holy and Learned for the Mission,” calling on the students to use this time of formation to grow deeper into the mission of the Congregation and into the missionary availability that marks our charism constantly.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
