On Friday the 10th of October 2025 Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R., General Consultor paid a visit to St. John Neumann House of Formation for Postulants in the Vice Province of Extra Patriam in Dallas, Texas in the USA.
Fr. Ivel interacted with the 12 Postulants and 5 professed students, three of whom are studying in the Common Theology House of North America in San Antonio Texas.
Fr. Ivel spoke about the challenge to live our calling and vocation to be Redemptorists today in the midst of a changing world trusting in the grace of the call God has given us to follow the example of the Redeemer in proclaiming the Good News of Redemption in a world needing hope today.
Meeting with Redemptorist Benefactors celebrating the Association of St Gerard in Dallas in Texas 
Meeting with Redemptorist postulants and processed students of the Vice Province of Extra Patriam in Dallas Texas
Fr. Ivel gave a broad picture of the state of the Congregation at the moment covering the 5 Conferences and the areas of growth of vocation and the areas where vocations are on the decline. He shared his own personal vocation story and emphasised the power of grace in the vocation story of all whom God chose in the Scriptures for a mission as well as in our Redemptorist Saints, Blessed, and Martyrs.
Fr. Ivel also touched on the year of Mission in the Congregation and on Communicanda 2. There was time for questions and sharing as well despite the late evening.
On Saturday morning Fr. Ivel participated in the Conference of the St. Gerard Benefactors Association of the Vice Province of Extra Patriam and addressed the 200 Benefactors present from the city of Dallas. He thanked them for their support in prayer and in good works especially in fund raising for the Vice Province of Extra Patriam and urged them to continue their good work as they are part of the wider Redemptorist Family of the Congregation. The Conference ended with a concelebrated high mass followed by the veneration of the relic of St. Gerard and lunch for all the benefactors.
Fr. Paul Vu Nguyen, C.Ss.R.
Rector, St. John Neumann House of Postulants
Dallas, TX, USA
