By Fr. David Purcell, C.Ss.R.
I am deeply grateful for all the activities that have already taken place and those that are coming in the months to follow. Below are some more stories about events that have already taken place.
Invitations to Young People
On the Labour Day weekend almost 200 Catholic young adults from Ontario and Québec met at a camp north of Toronto.
Fr. Peter Chin attended the retreat with his youth group from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (pictured above).
The organizers of the retreat extended a gracious invitation, “We would be happy to offer you presentation time in front of the whole camp and even happier if you use this opportunity to draw out any vocations to the Redemptorists.”
Fr. Peter introduced me to three young men who he thought would be good candidates for our discernment program. One of these men was able to meet with me for supper in Toronto after the retreat. Others of you across the country are introducing me to men who are good candidates. We have three men who are now actively involved with a local Redemptorist community as part of their discernment process.
Thank-you for noticing those around you in your ministry, and then asking, “Who would I want to invite, to become the next generation of Redemptorists?”
Parish Events or Celebrations
The Vancouver community is planning a celebration…..the 90th anniversary of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. They are dedicating a whole week for the Promotion of the Redemptorist Missionary Vocation in the month of May. This will include presentations in their school, a vocation fair in their parish hall to promote the Redemptorists and other religious orders, and a men’s vocation supper in the rectory.
Whew! They decided to get fit for all this promotion ahead of them. Fr. Bill was not in these pictures as he was getting his exercise over at the lawn bowling club.
In a similar manner, the Saskatoon community (pictured at right) is planning a youth mission the last week of March. Redemptorists and youth from Welcome Home in Winnipeg will lead the mission. This will highlight a Redemptorist Missionary Charism of working with the abandoned, and how people can work for social justice in Winnipeg and elsewhere. The Saskatoon community will also use this event to advertise the Redemptorist name and ministries as well as hold a men’s vocation supper that week.
Thank-you for using special events in our ministry as occasions for inviting people, to become the next generation of Redemptorists.
Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League
Thanks to many confreres over many years who have provided chaplaincy and support to the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League. Did I mention that during this Year for the Promotion of the Redemptorist Missionary Vocation, you can find some promotional video material at RedemptoristTV on Youtube ?!
Here, in Grande Prairie, Grand Knight Joel Losinski and Catholic Women’s League President Lauraine Grzanich stand with Fr. Ed Eherer in front of the title page for one of the videos. Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s Leagues in Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, and St. John’s, all made financial contributions to this video project.
We also have people in Grande Prairie and St. John’s to form vocation committees which will promote vocation activities beyond this year as well.
Thanks to all laity working with us in our ministry, Associates, and Lay Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer, who are supporting us as we invite the next generation of Redemptorists to join us.
