After celebrating Holy Week in the various communities, and as has been the custom in previous years, the meeting of the transition to ministry was held during Easter Week, a formative event for Redemptorists ordained in the last five years. The meeting took place at Villa Marianella in Chinauta (Fusagasugá, Colombia) from Tuesday, April 7th to Friday, April 10th.
The participants were Fathers Cristian Aza and Óscar Tarazona (fifth year), Carlos López (fourth year), Juan Sebastián Criollo, Johvanny Cuéllar, and Sergio Guerrero (third year), Ely Saúl Millán and Johnny Vargas (second year), the perpetually professed Carlos Daniel Franco, Reilander Aldana, Alexander Hernández, and Brother Jorge Campo Flor. The meeting was presided by Father Samuel Torres and was attended by the Provincial Superior, Mauricio Monroy.
The program included training sessions on specific topics, times of prayer, rest, fraternal dialogue, and recreation through sports and the Gaudeamus. After arriving and settling in on Tuesday afternoon, a first training session was held on Wednesday, led by Sisters Kalina Becerra and Seila González of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity. Under the motto “You will love with all your heart,” participants were encouraged to embrace the awareness that their vocation requires totality, fullness of consecration, and personal integration around Jesus and the mission.
On Thursday, the Provincial Superior, Father Mauricio Monroy, led a reflection on the theme of leadership in the Congregation. Considering that the General Government has identified this topic as a priority for the current year, and the real and heartfelt need to revitalize leadership in our unit, a prayerful and dialogued reading of the second Communicanda of the former Superior General, Michael Brehl, from 2019, was held.
Finally, on Friday, Father Samuel Torres led a discussion on the assimilation of the Paschal Mystery just celebrated during Holy Week and on some elements of the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, applying them to our vocational reality. It was a moment in which the various aspects of Easter provided space for the participants to share their concerns, reflections, testimonies, and exhortations related to their current stage of formation.
This experience was both rewarding and constructive. It was particularly valuable to be able to share time, experiences, meals, sports, prayer, and formation with brothers with whom, during initial formation, we developed a deep familiarity. It is an incentive to persevere with joy and fidelity. Sincere thanks to all who made this experience possible.
Fr. Carlos Eduardo López Hernández, C.Ss.R.
