As part of the annual program of activities for students pursuing licentiates and doctorates, the Collegio Maggiore in Rome hosted a new monthly training meeting on February 17th, dedicated to the current state of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. The meeting was led by Father Rogério Gomes, Superior General, who offered an in-depth overview of the five Conferences that comprise the Congregation, illustrating their dynamics, challenges, and future prospects.
The five Conferences at the centre of the reflection
During the meeting, Father Rogério illustrated the Congregation’s current vision, based on the Mid-Sexennium meetings in the five Conferences that represent different contexts of the Redemptorist mission:
• The European Conference, which includes the oldest units of the Congregation, focuses on the process of revitalizing the mission in the European context;
• The Latin American and Caribbean Conference: which includes the Redemptorist units from Mexico to the Southern Cone;
• The North American Conference: which includes the four Redemptorist units (Baltimore, Canada, Denver, Extra-patriam, and Mexico);
• The Conference on Africa and Madagascar (COREAM), which experiences growth and addresses the challenges of the mission on the African continent;
• The Asia-Oceania Conference, which carries out pastoral work in various Asian countries and in Australia.
Challenges and opportunities for the future
Father Rogério emphasized that current statistics indicate a decline in the Congregation’s presence in the Church in the not-too-distant future. Despite this, the Redemptorists’ pastoral work is primarily concentrated in parishes and shrines. Significant evangelization efforts include popular missions, spiritual retreats, and the media.
One of the main challenges that emerged during the meeting was the lack of integration and participation among the Conferences, as well as a certain lack of knowledge within the Congregation regarding the work being done in different parts of the world. To address these challenges, Father Rogério emphasized the importance of restructuring, to be completed by 2028, with absolute priority given to formation and a change in mentality, both structural and economic.
A challenging but necessary path
The session concluded with a time for questions and reflection, during which Father Rogério reiterated that the Congregation is now faced with the challenge of responding to today’s challenges. Despite the difficulties, the journey is challenging but not impossible, and it brings with it hope.
Fr. Wilson Duarte, CSsR.
Student of Missiology at Pontifical Urbanian University
