Fr. Ryan Holovlasky, C.Ss.R., a confrere from the Dublin province, stationed at St. Joseph’s Church Dundalk shares his amazing experiences of his stay with other North-West European confreres in Gars, Germany, where the remains of the Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger are kept.
On the 26th of September, we celebrate the Memorial of Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger. Born in 1871 in Southern Germany, Berchtesgaden, Kaspar was the second of 16 children. From a very young age, Kaspar deeply desired to become a priest. He entered the diocesan seminary of Munich and Freising in 1980. Kaspar began his Theology studies, but it became clear that he wanted to be a religious and a missionary. After meeting the Redemptorists, he entered the Novitiate in Gars in 1892 and was later ordained in Regensburg in 1895. Even though Kaspar deeply desired to go on the missions, his superiors had other plans and appointed him as vice-rector of the minor seminary in Durrnberg.
In 1899, the Redemptorists opened a new seminary in Gars. Fr Stanggassinger was transferred there as director. He was 28 years old. He only had time to preach one retreat to the students and participate in the school year’s opening before he fell ill with a fatal case of peritonitis and later died on the 26th of September 1899, 125 years ago today. Celebrations will take place today in Gars, which started last week with the transfer of Blessed Kasper’s remains to the community chapel, where a special mass was held with relatives of Blessed Stanggassinger.
Blessed Kaspar was dedicated to his responsibilities as a formator. Even with such a busy work schedule, he was always patient and understanding with the needs of others, particularly the students. While visiting Gars recently, I was struck by the size of the Monastery, which is in the middle of nowhere next to the River Inn. As I walked through the long corridors, I noticed that Kaspar’s various paintings all show him as a kind and compassionate person.
During the Eucharist, we celebrated at his Shrine. Fr Richard Reid C.Ss.R., Provincial Superior of the London Province, invited us to reflect on our formation journey. Who were the people involved in forming us as Redemptorist Missionaries? Our formators (positive and negative experiences), our families, the faithful in our communities and beyond.
At times, we must remember to acknowledge our Formation Directors and their roles in forming us as Redemptorists, those who walked and journeyed with us in the ups and downs of formation.
Although the rules of formation at that time were stringent, Blessed Kaspar never acted harshly, and anytime he thought that he had wronged or hurt someone, he immediately apologized humbly, a reminder once again of our humanity and humility.
Blessed Kaspar is an inspiration and a reminder to us of the ministry of Formator, and today, as we celebrate our Blessed Kaspar, we pray for our formators, vocation directors and promoters as we give thanks to God for their “yes” to serve the congregation with open hearts and like Blessed Kaspar to form Redemptorist Missionaries.
Fr. Ryan Holovlasky, C.Ss.R.
(for Scala News)
