The Redemptorists of the Pedro Donders Province are beginning to live the first Provincial Assemblies. Given the great geographical extension of our Province, the Assembly is planned to be replicated in the five pastoral regions.
The first Assembly was held at the San Clemente Hofbauer Retreat House from 13 to 15 of August in the city of Resistencia, Chaco Province, Argentina. Thirty-four participants came from different neighbouring regions, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile. They shared moments of fraternity, prayer, reflection, workshops, group work and presentations of the different areas of apostolate.
It began with a presentation on “Hope,” following the motto of the six-year period proposed by the General Government. Father César Torres Pantoja CSsR, coordinator of the Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean, was in charge of this reflection.
Then the various projects that each of them had developed and presented to the provincial government were shared, reviewed and returned to the commissions. Each presentation was given by a leader, both in person and virtually. The brothers expressed their opinions and contributed new ideas, enriching the work and dynamism of the province.
On Wednesday, the day was dedicated to Perpetual Help, the Holy Mass and the recitation of the novena were celebrated together with the host community, the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.
The assembly concluded with the Eucharist, presided over by Father Javier Machado CSsR, Provincial Superior, who thanked the participants and especially the former provincials of the former units, who were part of this process of reunification, to become what we are today, the Province of Pedro Donders.
We thank God for these days of meeting and ask him to continue to accompany the journey of our new Redemptorist unity.
Furthermore, from 20 to 22 August, the Assembly was held in Paraguay, in the retreat house of Atyrá, where the same theme was discussed and where 33 confreres participated, mostly from this country.
Father Jorge Cardozo, CSsR.
Coordinator for vocational ministry.
