The Redemptorist missionaries of the Bolivia-Peru Province held their 2026 spiritual exercises on two separate dates. These retreats were a true kairos, a time of profound spiritual renewal and fellowship among confreres. The time was not just a pause in missionary activity, but a return to the sources of our spirituality, lived fully. In Huacho, Peru, the retreat was held from January 26 to 30, while in Cochabamba, Bolivia, from February 3 to 6.
The main resource person of the retreat was Dr. William Castilho, a lay psychologist, who offered a renewed and necessary perspective. Castilho approached the three religious vows—poverty, chastity, and obedience—not as abstract concepts, but from the perspective of the priest’s very humanity. Participants discovered how emotional health, self-awareness, and acceptance of one’s own fragility are the foundations for building a faithful and healthy commitment to the Kingdom of God.
Father Ulysses da Silva CSsR also guided us to by his speech on the roots of our charism. His reflections focused on Redemptorist spirituality, reminding us that following Christ the Redeemer requires a dynamic response to the challenges of the contemporary world, always with our hearts turned towards the most abandoned. He also encouraged us to experience the restructuring process with hope and joy.
A special moment in Cochabamba was the renewal of religious vows by professed brothers Cristian and Diego. In an atmosphere of reflection and joy, the brothers reaffirmed their commitment to consecrated life, strengthened by shared reflection and mutual support.
“The retreat reminded us that, before being pastors, we are human beings called to fullness, and that our mission is nourished by a spirituality that embraces our personal history.”
Fr. Luis Alvarez, C.Ss.R.
