Report on the First Provincial Meeting of Continuing Formation, Province of Europe South
A Meeting of Sharing and Renewal
On November 24, approximately eighty confreres gathered on Zoom for the first Provincial Ongoing Formation meeting, marking a moment of profound communion and reflection. In a time marked by challenges and uncertainties, the fraternity remained vibrant even remotely, demonstrating the desire to walk together on the path of mission. The meeting was led by Father Cristian Bueno, who successfully combined theological depth and pastoral concreteness, introducing the participants to the theme of “The Redemptorist Mission Today.”
Redemptorist Mission: Proclaiming the Gospel to the Poorest
Father Cristian invited those present to allow themselves to be challenged by the General Chapter’s guidelines and to rediscover mission as a reality embodied in daily life. Proclaiming the Gospel to the poorest, he emphasized, cannot be confined to past patterns but requires constant openness to the Spirit and a heart attentive to new forms of poverty. Mission, therefore, must be reimagined as a living experience, capable of speaking to the wounds and hopes of humanity today.
Crisis and liminality: Opportunities for Rebirth
One of the most poignant passages of the presentation concerned the interpretation of the crisis as an opportunity, echoing the words of Pope Francis. “Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope,” Father Cristian recalled, emphasizing the liminality (a situation of uncertainty, transformation, and possibility) that the Church and the Congregation are experiencing. In this difficult but fruitful transition, Redemptorists are called to be “missionaries of Hope,” men capable of inhabiting thresholds, of listening and accompanying, even when everything seems uncertain. It is precisely in the darkness that the light of an authentic and active faith can shine.
A New Paradigm for Mission
In an increasingly multicultural and multireligious world, mission requires a paradigm shift. It’s not about denying the past, but about moving in continuity, while also being open to new forms of witness and service. Father Cristian emphasized that the Gospel never loses its transformative power but needs to be embodied in concrete actions and words that can generate life. Mission is born from a testimony of life capable of generating further life, like a seed that bears fruit wherever it is welcomed with a generous heart.
The Testimony of Father Pauly Winfried: An Incarnate Pastoral
The second part of the meeting featured the valuable testimony of Father Pauly Winfried, who shared his experience of embodied social ministry. Through a modest lifestyle and attentiveness to the peripheries, Father Pauly made God’s mercy visible in the most difficult situations, inviting everyone to live by the slogan: “Live in such a way that you are asked why you live this way.” A call to be inquisitive signs, to raise questions rather than offer prepackaged answers, to embody the Gospel in the simplicity of everyday gestures. His experience touched the hearts of the participants, inspiring a renewed passion for proclamation and service.
Space for Discussion and Next Steps
The meeting concluded with a fraternal discussion, during which questions, reflections, and concrete resolutions for the future emerged. The open dialogue allowed us to share our struggles and hopes, strengthening our sense of belonging and the knowledge that, together, we can face any challenge. The next meeting is already scheduled for December 1st: a new time of grace and growth, to continue to be, now more than ever, missionaries of Hope in a world thirsting for the Gospel.
Thanks
Heartfelt thanks go to Father Cristian for his invaluable assistance, as well as to the Secretariats of Formation and Spirituality and Evangelization, who offered us a space for listening and discussion.
Sincere thanks also go to the translators, whose availability and professionalism enabled effective and inclusive communication throughout the meeting.
Fr. Gennaro Sorrentino, CSsR.
Provincial Superior of Europe South
