Formation for mission is a task for every Redemptorist, as the Constitutions of the Congregation repeatedly recalls. It also includes historical awareness and care for the memory of the past, which are the foundation of what we experience today and what will be born tomorrow.
For this reason, the Redemptorist students, members of the Collegio Maggiore, participated in the monthly formation meeting dedicated to the institutions of the Congregation. These are responsible for preserving and transmitting the history of the Redemptorists, communicating it creatively to new generations, and preserving the legacy of the Founder, the saints, and the blessed. The topic was introduced by Father José Inácio de Medeiros, CSsR, and Father Wagner Gonçalves de Souza Lima, CSsR, who presented the activities of the Historical Institute, the General Archives, and the Historical Library of the Congregation.
The first part of the meeting, dedicated to the origins and history of these institutions, was led by Father Inácio. He remembered the confreres who, with great dedication, have contributed to preserving the Redemptorist heritage, both within the global context of the Congregation and within the local context of individual units and communities. At the end, he encouraged the students to care for the archives and documents in their units, through which the memory of the Congregation can be passed down through time.
The second part, a practical one led by Father Wagner, took place at the Historical Institute, the General Archives, and the Historical Library of the Congregation. For many participants, it was their first visit to this place steeped in history, which testifies to the depth and continuity of the Redemptorist mission. Father Wagner emphasized the need for an appropriate technical approach to working with historically valuable documents, as well as a proper cataloging and description system, so that they can be truly useful for research and study.
The meeting, very fruitful and significant for our shared memory as Redemptorists, concluded with the opportunity to admire authentic collections that belonged to Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori, Founder of the Congregation.
Fr. Piotr Mazur, CSsR.
