The Central Preparatory Commission for the XXVII General Chapter met online for the first time on May 11th to begin its work. The meeting provided an opportunity to introduce its members, plan upcoming activities, and share expectations for the Chapter, which will be held close to the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Redemptorist Congregation in 2032.
The commission, appointed by the Superior General, Fr. Rogério Gomes, on March 31, 2026, is composed of 8 members from different provinces and areas of the Congregation:
- Fr. Edward Julián Chacón Díaz, C.Ss.R. – President (General Secretary)
- Fr. Zdzisław Franciszek Stanula, C.Ss.R. – Vicar General
- Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R. – General Consultor
- Fr. Stephen Thomas Rehrauer, C.Ss.R. – Moderator (Denver Province)
- Fr. Lorenzo Antonio Gasparro, C.Ss.R. – Moderator (Southern Europe Province)
- Fr. Anísio Tavares, C.Ss.R. – Moderator (Collegio Maggiore and Province of Our Lady of Aparecida)
- P. Richard Lewis Welch, C.Ss.R. – Canonical Advisor (Baltimore Province)
- Fr. Grzegorz Ruszaj, C.Ss.R. – Office of Communications (Warsaw Province)
The commission’s primary objective is to guide the preparation of the XXVII General Chapter, ensuring that the process is participatory, synodal, and oriented toward the Redemptorist mission.
Fr. Rogério Gomes sent a greeting to the commission, expressing his expectations for the Chapter: “My expectation is that the Chapter will be objective, a time of discernment, capable of making actionable decisions and offering guidance to the General Government on how to implement them. May it be a Chapter capable of continuing the processes already underway and, above all, of offering spiritual elements and inspiration for apostolic life, to assist in the process of consolidating the restructuring.”
The commission’s first formal meeting is scheduled for June 10-13, 2026, again online, with the participation of Father General, his Council, and the Conference Coordinators.
GR / Scala News
