The Contemplative Redemptoristines (OSsR) in the CRE

A meeting for young Redemptoristines on the spirituality of their Foundress, Maria Celeste Crostarosa will take place at Scala, in July 27 – August 04. 2015. Sisters from various continents will have the possibility of visiting the places of their origins.

There are 195 Redemptoristines in the CRE (and 411 in the world). There are 17 monasteries in Europe (alphabetical order): Astorga (Spain); Bielsko-Biała (Poland); Dublin (Ireland); Foggia (Italy); Kežmarok (Slovakia); Lauterach (Austria); Loubeyrat/Riom (France); Madrid (Spain); Magliano Sabina (Italy); Oberbronn/Landser (France); Pietropawlowsk (Kazakhstan); Ried (Austria); Saint-Restitut (France); Sant’Agata dei Goti (Italy); Scala (Italy); Vranov Nad Topl’ou (Slovakia); Wittem (Netherlands).

At present some European communities experience a decrease of vocations, although there are also communities (Scala/Italy, Dublin /Ireland/, Keżmarok /Slovakia/, Bielsko-Biała /Poland/), where new members enter and where hope seems still bright.

The delegates of the whole Order meet every seven years for an International Meeting, where Constitutions may be revised and some new initiatives presented for the whole Order. There is a theological magazine published and sent out in six languages to the monasteries by electronic mail under the title “Viva Memoria”, in which the charism is presented and reflected. The O.Ss.R. Service Board members also send a newsletter “The Crostarosan” to promote more unity among the autonomous monasteries of the Order and manage a web page www.ossr.eu .

The Order of the Most Holy Redeemer was founded on May 13th,1731 at Scala, in Italy. The Foundress, Maria Celeste Crostarosa was a Religious in a monastery at Scala and a mystic. The beatification process of the foundress is going ahead. Her heroic virtues were confirmed by the Holy See. Redemptoristines are called to be a Living Memoria of the Redeemer in the Church and in the world of today.

The C.Ss.R. Secretariate for the Redemptoristines, consisting of eight Redemptorists, is chaired by Father General. It helps to convoke and organize International Assemblies and to develop the spirituality and theology of the Order in dialogue with the Sisters.

Fr. Jacek Zdrzalek CSsR