Letter from the Coordinator, No 15 (06.04.2014)
I invite you to consider some common formation projects in our Conference which will be held during summer time. In this Year for the Promotion of the Redemptorist Missionary Vocation these proposals can give all the participants a greater possibility of knowing, living and sharing our Redemptorist missionary vocation.
The month of preparation for confreres who are in Transition to Ministry (14.07 – 05.08 2014)
For some years, the month of preparation for Perpetual Vows has taken place in Tuchów, Poland. A special feature of this preparation has been the participation of confreres from the some Units who are ten years professed or ordained.
This year we offer and recommend this opportunity to any confrere from the various Units who is in Transition to Ministry, or is in ministry for less than ten years. This will afford a special experience of the internationality of the Congregation.
The Formation Secretariate of the CRE has been involved with this course in recent years and has noted its expansion to include confreres from other Units who have found it a positive experience. The Secretariate is also impressed by the holistic approach in terms of the topics covered: our history, Constitutions, spirituality, moral theology, areas of psychology and human development, cooperation with the laity, youth ministry and other related areas. The participants will have also the opportunity to take part (for one day) in the REDEMPTORIST CAMP OF EVANGELIZATION organized by the Commission for the New Missionary Initiatives of the CRE. Visits to places of interest connected with our Redemptorist life and with culture (e.g. UNESCO sites) are also part of the experience.
This will take place in Tuchów (Poland) under the direction of Fr. Witold Hetnar, Prefect of Students, and Fr. Sylwester Cabala, President of the Formation Secretariate of the Warsaw Province from 14th July (evening) until 5th August 2014. The course will be conducted in English, Italian and Polish with translation being available into these languages.
The costs are modest – last year an average of 380 Euros for the whole period of the course. For this year, we do not anticipate a great change. We shall inform you of the cost when we have a final number of participants. It seems that this year it will be also inter-Conference experience. We have just received four applications from Zimbabwe in Africa as there is no such possibility in the Conference of Africa this year.
If you wish to benefit from this ongoing formation exercise, please contact Fr. Witold Hetnar (witold@tiscali.it) by 1st May, 2014, who will send you all the additional information.
The Alphonsian Pilgrimage for those in initial formation (17.08 – 22.08.2014)
There are about 100 postulants, novices, students in Redemptorist initial formation in the CRE. During the meeting of Formators from the CRE in Krakow last year, the idea emerged of a common pilgrimage for those in initial Formation to the Alphonsian places. The Provinces of Naples and of Rome offered us all the help we require.
We hope to visit the birth place of St. Alphonsus and then move to Scala for a visit to the Grotto and the place where the Congregation was founded, with a visit to the Redemptoristine monastery. In the course of these days we shall also visit Pagani, Ciorani, Materdomini, Frosinone and Scifelli, ending up at the shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Rome.
It is proposed that all who wish to attend, gather in our community of San Giacchino in Rome by the evening of 17th August. (We suggest beginning in Rome since many low cost airlines fly there). The pilgrimage will finish on the evening of 22nd August also in Rome. The confreres may book their return journeys for 23rd August. If anyone wishes to remain in Rome, they should make their own arrangements for accommodation.
At present it is difficult to give exact costs. However, with accommodation, the cost of transport within Italy, and other expenses, an approximate figure would be 230 Euros per person.
For more information, and for applications – please contact Fr. Maurizio Iannuario (cssr.colle@tin.it) or Fr. Antonio Donato (donatoa@redentoristi.it) by 1st May. When we have the exact number of participants, we shall be able to book the coach and send you a full timetable and further information.
We are hopeful that this moment of spiritual and human contact among those in formation will be a blessing for them and for the Conference of Europe.
May the risen Christ fill your heart with joy, bring you new hope, and bless you with peace. Happy Easter!
Fr. Jacek Zdrzalek C.Ss.R.
