By Fr. David Purcell, C.Ss.R.
Welcome to the inauguration of the Congrégation du Très Saint Rédempteur Province du Canada – Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer Province of Canada! On the 1st of August, in the community chapel at the Redemptorist monastery at Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, Fr. Charles Duval greeted us as the new Provincial Superior. He reminded us that with change, come the challenges and our ever present call to take up the cross with Jesus. And at the same time, he asked us to expect that we will passover into the gifts of the resurrection with Jesus. He called us to rejoice and expect new life!
He and Fr. Régis Pellerin, the new regional superior for Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, stood before us. We heard them profess the Nicene Creed. Then they both renewed their oath of fidelity with words such as: With firm faith I believe everything contained in God’s Word. … I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings of the Roman Pontiff and the college of bishops.
Our celebration of Mass and these professions were followed by a festive meal in the refectory. You can see here that Fr. Bruno Mercier (second from the right at the lunch table) was present. He lives in Beaupré and takes the Handi-Bus a few times a week every week, during the time of pilgrimages, to bless people at the «kiosque des bénédictions» for two hours at a time at the Basilica of Ste-Anne. It was a blessing to have him at our celebration; and he is a blessing to all the pilgrims who pass this way. He is our oldest confrere in Canada at 97 years old.
