The Pilgrimage of Collegio Maggiore began from 1st of July which concludes on 11th of July 2025. Altogether 12 students from Collegio Maggiore and 3 members from General Curia, with Fr. Martin McKeever CSsR, director of the College, and Fr. Sylwester accompany them during the pilgrimage, travelled through three countries visiting cities connected with the Saint’s life and apostolate.
The participants for Collegio Maggiore are Wilson Efren Duarte Granados, Paulo Roberto De Morais Junior, Ramon Cabrera Mejia, Antonio Derreck Da Cruz, Joseph Musendami, Sabinus Obinna Onuegbu, Freddy Lazcano Perez, Andre Ricardo De Melo, Homero Lenin Segura Fernandez, Prince Augustin, Poulose Thettayil Mathai, Juan Carlos Urzagaste Urzagaste, and from General Curia Vicente Soria Fleitas, Kingsley Ifeanyi Anoghala, Edward Julian Chacon Diaz participated.
The pilgrimage is a journey to visit places considered spiritually, culturally, politically and historically significant. Indeed, St Clement, called by some the second founder of the Congregation, is the protagonist of the Redemptorist presence beyond Italy.
1st of July marked a deeply moving chapter in our pilgrimage, as we, young Redemptorist confreres from Collegio Maggiore, had the privilege of visiting the religious community in Wola, Warsaw. As young Redemptorists we had long known of Wola’s tragic past, yet nothing could have prepared me for the powerful experience of standing on the very ground where thirty of our confreres were martyred on the 6th of August, 1944.
The memory of that massacre during the Warsaw Uprising lives on, not merely as a chapter in our national history, but as a living testament to the heroic courage of our Redemptorist brothers who refused to abandon their people in the hour of darkness. As we stood together in solemn prayer, I felt the weight of their sacrifice press upon my heart. Their fidelity, even unto death, speaks louder than any words — it is a call to each of us to live our vocation with renewed zeal and devotion.
The Wola community welcomed us with immense warmth and spiritual depth. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to our hosts for opening their hearts and home to us. They shared not only the historical accounts of the martyrdom but also something far greater: the living spirit of perseverance and hope that continues to radiate from this holy place.
We were equally astonished and uplifted by the beauty of the church dedicated to Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer. It stands as a beacon of faith and resilience, a tribute to the enduring devotion that has been kept alive through generations. In the quiet of its sanctuary, I could feel the strength of prayer that has filled those walls for decades. The example of Saint Clement — tireless, faithful, and close to the poor — felt incredibly near to us there.
Our pilgrimage continues for another week, but I know already that Wola will remain one of the most treasured moments of our journey. It was more than a visit — it was an encounter with holiness, suffering, and the triumphant spirit of Christ alive in His servants.
To the Wola community: thank you. You have not only preserved the memory of the past — you have passed on a living flame. May God bless you abundantly for your witness.
Walking in the Footsteps of the Redeemer.
Fr. Prince Augustin, CSsR.
