From 1st to 15th May 2025, Br. Larry LUJAN, General Consultor and Fr. Noël SOTTIMA, COREAM Coordinator, had a fraternal visit to the Province of South Africa. The Superior General, Fr. Rogerio, also participated in the final meetings of the visit.
The fraternal visit started in Cape Town where the Communities of Bergvliet and Retreat were visited. After Cape Town, the visitors went to Rustenburg Community. The fraternal visit continued with the visit to the Residences of Uitemhage, Knysna and Mossel Bay. During the visit, the visitors paid also a visit to the emeritus Bishop Kevin Dowling who is a Redemptorist and also to the oldest Redemptorist of South Africa Province, Fr. Pathe Anthony, who is currently 101 years old and is living in an old age home.
It is important to note that in South Africa, our confreres are ministering in a context where Catholics are a minority of only 7% against 61% of Protestants, 2% of Muslims, 1.5% of Hindus, and 28.5% of followers of indigenous beliefs. Four Pillars guide their Redemptorist Life and Apostolate. These are : Parish Missions, Redemptorist Parishes, Redemptorist Publications and Redemptorist Theology in the Alphonsian Tradition.
The fraternal visit ended with 2 days meetings of Fr. General, Rogerio GOMES and the 2 visitors with the Chapter of the Province. During these days, we talked about the Restructuring Process and the finances of the Province. The visitors then gave their observations and recommendations to the Chapter. The Chapter was concluded with a message of hope addressed by Fr. General to all the Confreres and Lay Partners of South Africa Province. We ended the visit with a concluding Mass, presided by Fr. General who encouraged the confreres of South Africa Province never to lose hope.
The fraternal visit has been an important moment in the life of the Province of South Africa and we hope that it will help the renewal of the Province of South Africa, which has seen its numbers decline in recent years.
Fr. Noël Koutré SOTTIMA,
COREAM Coordinator
