(Virginia, US) The annual retreat of the Vice Province of Richmond, Virginia was held in New Smyrna Beach beginning at the end of May 2017.
Twenty-five confreres from all over the Vice Province attended, many travelling long distances. The retreat is traditionally held in the Villa community in order to facilitate the elderly and sick so that they might actively participate in the exercises.
The retreat was led by Fr. Ronnie McAinsh, Provincial of the London Province, and was based on Constitution 74 – “The following of Jesus as proposed in the gospels”.
The conferences and liturgies provoked a lively response and a renewed sense of mission. There was a heightened interest in how this can be lived in our post-Chapter time, and also a deepened understanding that our Redemptorist vocation, that is our following of Jesus, can be realised at any age.
The final Mass of the retreat was a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Jubilees of three confreres:
Fr. Carlyle Blake – 60 years of Religious Profession (Baltimore Province)
Fr. Vang Cong Tran – 40 years of Religious Profession (Richmond Vice Province)
Fr. Jacinto Vera – 25 years of Religious Profession (Province of Quito).
After the final Mass, the Vice Provincial Superior, Fr. Glenn Parker invited everyone to a special celebratory meal at which fulsome tribute was paid to the three Jubilarians.
