Fr. Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R. (Superior General) and the entire General Government met with the Provincials of the newly reconfigured provinces at San Gioachino in Rome from the 30th of September to the 4th of October 2024. The Provincials were from Latin America (Boris Calzadilla from the Province of Bolivia – Peru, Javier Machado from the Province of Pedro Donders, Mauricio Monroy from the Province of Andino Caribeña, Raphael Thierry from the Province of Perpetuo Socorro, Marlos Aurélio from the Province of Aparecida, João Paulo Santos from the Province of Brasilia, Edilei Rosa from the Province of Curitiba) and from the Province of Europe South (Fr. Gennaro Sorrentino).
The Meeting was held at the Redemptorist Community of San Gioachino in Rome due to the ongoing renovation at Casa San Alfonso on the Via Merulana. Fr Gennaro Sorrentino the Provincial of Europe South welcomed all the participants to San Gioachino which is the Provincial House of the Province of Europe South. At the Inaugural Mass on the 30th of September, Fr General spoke of the necessity of being open to the working of the Spirit in the context of Synodality in the processes that the Congregation is going through. He also emphasised the need for patience and courage as we move forward with Hope in the process of Reconfiguration.
There were two important presentations with time for sharing given by Fr Amedeo Cencini (Canossian Priest and author) on the Service of Animation and Authority today and by Fr Sabatino Majorano, C.Ss.R. (Professor Emeritus of the Alphonsian Academy) on The Service of Animation and Authority from a Redemptorist Perspective.
Some of the topics taken up for presentation, discussion and deliberation were the following: The Modernization of the Office of the General Secretary in the Curia in Rome along with the service rendered by the Office of the General Secretary, Traditionalism and the New Generation of Redemptorists in the Context of Formation today (Secretariat for Formation), Reimagining Redemptorist Mission today and tomorrow (Secretariat for Evangelisation), Orientations and Perspectives for Reconfiguration in the newly founded Units of the Congregation, General Directives to help the Process of Reconfiguration in the Context of Finance along with the long term Sustainability (Economo General), Representation in the Context of Reconfiguration at the XXVII General Chapter, the Formation of Brothers today, and Canonical Visitations and their Importance in the context of the Congregation today.
There was ample time given for sharing for the Provincials of their experiences and challenges, lights, and shadows in the context of their newly reconfigured Units. While it was an intense week of listening, sharing, discussions, this was also a time to live Synodality in the background of the opening of the Second Session of the Synod in Rome and a time to joyfully pray together and share fraternal life as Redemptorist Missionaries of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer. A special word of thanks to the Redemptorist Community of San Gioachino for their warmth and hospitality and for all the arrangements made to hold this important meeting in Rome.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
