The General Government conducted the Fraternal Visitation of the Region of Colombo culminating with the Assembly of the Region from the 1st to the 13th of September 2024 in Sri Lanka. The General Consultors Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R. and Fr. Paul Vinh, C.Ss.R. conducted the Fraternal Visitation. The General Government now uses the term Fraternal Visitation rather than Canonical Visitation to underline the importance of Fraternal Life in the Congregation. Father Rogerio Gomes, C.Ss.R., Superior General, affirms that the Fraternal Visit of the General Government to a Unit, is a Kairos moment to pray, reflect and discern together about our Redemptorist religious vocation, about the sense of belonging to the Congregation, to the (Vice) Province or Region and to our respective local communities
Community at St Theresa’s Colombo 
Community at St Theresa’s Colombo 
Residence at Hewadivela
The two General Consultors began the Fraternal Visitation with a meeting with the Regional Council at Sancta Maria in Kandy, the first house of the Region founded in 1946. This Fraternal Visitation also was a moment to evaluate the Formation of Students in the Region. They then met with the Formation Secretariat for a detailed evaluation.
The two Consultors then began the Visitation of the Community at Sancta Maria in Kandy itself which is a mission community as well as having the pastoral care of the shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. This was the first-ever shrine to Our Mother of Perpetual Help begun by the Redemptorists in Sri Lanka.
The Formation Community with the 4 students at Frangipani in Kandy 
The Formation Secretariat 
The Community at Sancta Maria in Kandy
The Visitation of the Formation in Community at Frangipani in Kandy was next where the Consultors met with the members of the Community and also the 4 students who are studying Philosophy as well as are in postulancy.
The Visitors next visited the Residence at Hewadivela where the Redemptorists have been at the service of the Pastoral Care of the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary for the last 5 years.
The Final Visit was in Colombo for the Redemptorist Community at St. Theresa’s Thimbrigasaya. The Redemptorists serve the Parish of St. Theresa’s.
The Visitors also visited the Juvenate which houses the young candidates who enter formation. There are 8 young students in this house.
The Fraternal Visitation of the Region of Colombo culminated in the Assembly of the Region. The Assembly was presided over by Fr Superior General, Fr Rogerio Gomes. The two General Consultors along with Fr Yoakim Ndelo, C.Ss.R., Conference Coordinator of the Conference of Asia Oceania were also present for the Assembly. The Assembly for 2 days was held at a Retreat Centre in Colombo. The Assembly was very significant as the confreres after a long process of discernment voted to choose between Fusion or Union with another unit in the process of Reconfiguration in the Congregation.
General Visitation concluded with a meeting with Fr General, the two General Consultors and the Regional Council as Fr General urged the confreres to move ahead with courage in living the mission of the Congregation in Sri Lanka embracing the Reconfiguration Process with hope at the service of the mission of the Congregation.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
