Redemptorists from Brazil create a new community in Portugal

A new community composed of five Redemptorists from Brazil started its activity in Lisbon on 17 July 2016. This is – in some way – the first inter-conference community in the Conference of Redemptorists of Europe.

Every member of this new community belongs to different Redemptorist Units. The project was signed between the Lisbon Province and the URB (União dos Redentoristas do Brasil).

The community takes care of three Redemptorists parishes close to Lisbon: in Buraca, in Damaia and in Venda Nova.

The Superior General, the Coordinator of the CRE, Provincials from São Paulo and Goias, the Provincial Council of Lisbon Province, the Lay Redemptorists from Lisbon Province and many parishioners from our parishes took part in the ceremony of inauguration which took place in all three parishes on 16 and 17 July 2016.

The superior of the community Fr. Gerardo De Paula Souza (from the Province of São Paulo) became the parish priest in the parish of the Most Holy Redeemer in Damaia. His Vicar is Fr. Krzysztof Dworak from Bahia Viceprovince. Fr. Carlos José de Oliveira (Province of Goiàs) is in charge of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Venda Nova. Fr. Christopher James Hogg (from Viceprovince of Fortaleza) become the parish priest in the parish of Our Lady in Buraca. Br. Leandro Romaine Simão (a seminarian from the Viceprovince of Manaus) will join the community in a few days.

The project was born after the General Visit of the Lisbon Province 4 years ago. The preparations were done by the help of the Coordinator of Latin America and Fr. Rogério Gomez the president of the URB.

All the Redemptorist Major Superiors in Brazil decided to help the Lisbon Province after their visit to Portugal in May and June 2015. The Provincial of Lisbon Fr. António Marinho and his Vicar Fr. Rui Santiago then visited the Brasilian Units in 2015 to conclude all preparations.

Fr. Jacek Zdrzałek