The first meeting of students and formators of the Province of Our Lady of Aparecida took place in the Saint Alphonsus Seminary in Aparecida (SP) on October 4 and 5. The theme of the meeting was “Called to embrace the future with hope, expanding the vocational area,” in harmony with the Jubilee Year of 2025 and the motto of the six-year term of the General Government of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer: Missionaries of Hope.
It was a moment of sharing between the formative stages: Minor Seminary, Orientation year, Postulancy, Juniorate and Adult Vocations, but also a moment to delve into the question of “embracing a future with hope.” It was also a moment to cultivate and put into practice the Marian devotion so dear to the Virgin Mary for the Redemptorists. On Friday, October 4, the students, together with the formators, participated in the second day of the Novena in preparation for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Aparecida. We cannot be missionaries of hope, eager to embrace the future and expand the vocational area, without the maternal intercession of Mary.
To quote Father Rodrigo Arnoso, CSSR, who gave a beautiful explanation on the theme of the meeting, we must always seek the sources of our spirituality as support to move forward towards a future of hope. It is necessary, always, to embrace the missionary ardour that Saint Clement Maria Hofbauer had in bringing the Congregation beyond the Alps, but also the ability and courage of the founder, Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, to embrace the mission entrusted by the Redeemer, to continue to be a sign of the plentiful Redemption in the world.
On Saturday, October 5, after the speech and group moment of Father Rodrigo Arnoso, the students gathered again in the auditorium to share a moment with Father Marlos Aurélio, Provincial Superior, who encouraged the students to persevere in their vocation and in communion with the Church and its Magisterium, as well as warning against the danger of neo-conservatism and neo-traditionalism that has arisen in society. Sports occupied the afternoon of the students and the educators, who challenged each other in soccer and volleyball.
At the end of Saturday, the great thanksgiving, the Eucharist, was celebrated by Fr. Anísio Tavares CSsR, who focused on two phrases fixed on the main altar of the Santo Afonso Seminary: “Copiosa Apud Eum Redemptio” and “Dies impendere pro redemptis,” the announcement of the plentiful Redemption must be made every day; the Redemptorist must spend his days in favour of the Redemption; for the good of the redeemed. After the Eucharist, the seminarians of the preparatory school of Aparecida performed a theatrical representation that tells the story of St. Francis of Assisi. The moment of celebration included a musical performance by the students, who put their gifts and talents at the disposal of the community, completing the moment of celebration, in which some confreres of the communities of Aparecida also participated.
Finally, we prayed to the Most Holy Redeemer and the Heavenly Father to send His Spirit to ignite the hearts of the young people and enable them to undertake the mission of announcing the abundant Redemption.
Rafael Peres, CSsR. (a12.com)
