By Fr. David Purcell, C.Ss.R.
It is hard to believe that a new liturgical year is upon us…and harder to believe that we are now five months into a Year for the Promotion of the Redemptorist Missionary Charism. In order to help with this promotion, there are seven videos for your use that are posted on RedemptoristTV on Youtube.
Fr. Michael Brehl, wrote to us,
Year for the Promotion of the Redemptorist Missionary Vocation
The General Government encourages each Province, to begin celebrations of this Year on August 1, or as soon afterwards as you can. During the year, we urge you to plan events, celebrations, prayers, catechesis, community retreat days, and other creative ways of promoting this Year.
I am deeply grateful for all the activities that have already taken place and those that are coming in the months to follow. THANK-YOU for your generosity and initiative! I am publishing these pictures and stories as a thank-you, celebration, and inspiration!
Inviting the Next Generation
Thanks to all the young people who are taking time to ask, “To what vocation is God calling me?” Here is a discernment retreat group that gathered in Saskatoon in October. The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Redemptorists are all working together for the next retreat to take place the weekend of January 10th to 12th, 2014.
I have found that Redemptorists and associates across the country know people who are good candidates. Sometimes we are shy to ask a person directly to consider religious life or priesthood. It might be easier then, to ask a person you know to attend a discernment retreat.
Please consider asking someone you know to attend a discernment weekend in Toronto in December or in Saskatoon in January.
More information is available through Fr. David Purcell at vocations@redemptorists.ca or 416-770-3217.
Or some have decided to have a small local event to which they want to invite men.
For example, the St. John’s community are joining with the Knights of Columbus to host a men’s vocation B.B.Q. next spring. They are going to advertise throughout their deanery, an evening where men can come and speak about vocations to priesthood and religious life. They have the offer of Archbishop Currie to attend the evening.
There are some times when it is possible to directly ask a person to get to know us. For example, the novitiate community has asked two people to join them on an occasional basis for supper followed by social time, or for supper followed by devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. The Grande Prairie community has asked a young man from time to time, to join them for evening prayer followed by supper.
Brother Louis Mousseau is a Capuchin friar who just retired from vocation ministry. He writes a farewell to others in vocation ministry: “You may have heard that I have been given permission to semi-retire in our fraternity in Blenheim, Ontario…You were all good at what you do. I believe that the secret to vocation work is building up a list of potential names and keep inviting them to whatever is happening. After six years with three in simple vows, I am happy to hear that there could be six applying with us this January. The Lord is rewarding us for continuing to fish in the great sea of Canada for vocations. So keep up the good work…”
Amen!
As you see, there are young people ready to discern a call to religious life.
Watch for next month’s edition of Community Connections for more stories but it is not an exhaustive list of all that is happening in our Province. Thanks to all for getting to know the names of potential candidates. Again, keep on noticing those names and inviting them to whatever is happening and keep up the good work!
