With the desire to strengthen our Redemptorist spirituality and live an authentic spirit of communion, we celebrated with great joy on October 25 and 26, 2025, the Second Meeting of the Groups of the Redemptorist Vocational Network in the city of Manizales.
The Redemptorist Vocational Network was born over ten years ago, when the Provincial Government appointed a brother as vocations coordinator. Since then, in each of our parishes and communities in Colombia, with the invaluable collaboration of committed lay people, vocations ministry has been promoted through constant prayer for vocations and the search for new strategies to accompany young people who feel the call and wish to follow Christ the Redeemer as Redemptorist priests or brothers.
Thanks to the commitment of many lay people who have joined this work overtime, the Vocational Network has consolidated itself as a fundamental pillar of vocational ministry in Colombia. Today, it also represents a true support for vocation promoters in their mission of accompaniment and discernment.
This second meeting took place under the motto: “The family in prayer promotes vocation.” The reflections were inspired by the figure and testimony of Saint Gerard Majella, whom we remember with particular affection on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth.
Aware that we are all called to be promoters of new vocations, we concluded our meeting by sharing our experiences and renewing our commitment to continue the journey, together with the laity, guided by the Lord’s invitation:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Mt 9:37–38)
May our founder, Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, and Saint Gerard Majella intercede with the Most Holy Redeemer and obtain for us new and abundant vocations for our Congregation.
Fr. Óscar Gerardo Gómez Vargas, CSsR.
