The Redemptorist Circle of Associates in Tucson kicked off the Jubilee Year in honor of St. Clement Hofbauer with a “Plentiful Redemption” weekend at Our Lady of the Desert Conventual Church on March 14-15. Fr. Ed Vella, the rector of the church community, presided and preached at the weekend Masses. Redemptorist Associates joined the entrance procession with a likeness of St. Clement, which was enshrined before the ambo. Our Associates were acknowledged at the Masses and were approached by the local church community afterward to discuss the Circle of Associates. Confreres and Redemptorist Associates invited people to consider participating in the virtual online formation in Redemptorist Spirituality scheduled on May 2-3 and possibly enter a process of discernment about becoming Redemptorist Associates. A number of persons have already registered. Due to the Coronavirus directives from the CDC and the Diocese of Tucson, our upcoming weekend at Santa Catalina Parish has been postponed. Due to the same directives, we have changed strategy and registered persons will participate in the online workshop individually since we cannot hold “clusters” in groups at this time.
We have scheduled a formative Redemptorist Spirituality retreat for local Associates and those interested in becoming Associates at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in November, with Anne Walsh as the facilitator. Anne is the Director of Partnership in Mission for the Conference of North America, and the Chair of the General Commission for Partnership in Mission. Fr. Ed Vella and Jenny Martin are the co-directors of the Tucson Circle of Redemptorist Associates. Jenny assumed her responsibilities earlier this month, replacing Lee Morrison, who was co-director and founded the Tucson Circle with Fr. Paul Coury in January of 2018. The Tucson Circle meets twice per month for a variety of spiritual activities, which also will continue to engage the local Redemptorists. We share personal faith stories, pray and reflect and discuss together, immerse ourselves in Redemptorist and liturgical themes, and end the evening with dinner. Our meetings are suspended for the time being, but we hope to resume again after the CDC gives clearance. We are praying that everyone remains patient and hopeful, and offers up any inconveniences or suffering for the direct victims of the coronavirus epidemic. When St. Alphonsus Liguori chose the penitential Psalm 130 from which he emphasized the motto for the Redemptorists, he professed a faith in a loving God who is closer than we could ever imagine: “Out of the depths I cry to you Oh Lord…..but with Him is mercy and plentiful redemption!…”
by Ed Vella, C.Ss.R.