On July 2, 2026, the Collegio Maggiore and the Sant’Alfonso Community felicitated eight confreres from various Provinces and Vice-Provinces of the Redemptorist Congregation worldwide who completed their Licentiate studies during the 2025–2026 academic year. The celebration was held at St. Alphonsus Community in Rome and was attended by members of the General Government, along with other confreres from the community.
In their respective theses, the eight Redemptorists explored topics ranging from the psychology of consecrated life to missiology, from moral and dogmatic theology to the formation and protection of minors—a broad range of research that reflects the variety of pastoral and cultural challenges faced by the Congregation on different continents.
During the meeting, each of the brothers briefly presented their fields of study, the results of their research, and their personal experiences of studying in Rome—a moment that allowed the entire community to gain a deeper understanding of each one’s academic and personal journey.
The Licenses Obtained
- Fr. Dmytro Kit, C.Ss.R. (Lviv Province) — Licentiate in Psychology, Pontifical Gregorian University, with the research Identity in Consecrated Life: Between Crisis and Hope.
- Fr. Edvin Rodolfo García Quiñónez, C.Ss.R. (Province of Mother of Perpetual Help) — Licentiate in Missiology, Pontifical Urbaniana University, with the thesis Paradigma de la identidad misionera y fidelidad al charisma redentorista.
- Fr. Freddy Lazcano Pérez, C.Ss.R. (Province of Bolivia-Perú) — Licentiate in Moral Theology, Alphonsian Academy, with the research La plena realización de la pareja conyugal. A moral reflection in the perspective of the liturgical formula of marital consent.
- Fr. Homero Lenin Segura Fernández, C.Ss.R. (Province of Quito) — Licentiate in Moral Theology, Alphonsian Academy, with the thesis Del paradigma de la lucha de clases en el Comunismo al paradigma de la fraternidad en el Papa Francisco. A social change necessary for these times.
- Fr. Juan Carlos Urzagaste Urzagaste, C.Ss.R. (Province of Bolivia-Perú) — Licentiate in Formation, Pontifical Gregorian University, with the research Acompañamiento y discernimiento vocacional en el Postulantado Redemptorista.
- Fr. Paulo Roberto de Morais Júnior, C.Ss.R. (Provincia Nossa Senhora Aparecida) — Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, with the thesis A Igreja, «assembleia visível e Comunidade espiritual» (LG 8). A mystérico-sacramental ecclesiologia na Lumen gentium and its reception no later than the Council.
- Fr. Sabinus Obina Onuegbu, C.Ss.R. (Vice province of Nigeria) — Licentiate in Safeguarding, Pontifical Gregorian University, with the research Effective Human Formation as a Safeguarding Strategy: Towards Cultivating Safeguarding Culture and Preventing Abuses in the Catholic Major Seminaries in Nigeria.
- Fr. Wilson Efrén Duarte Granados, C.Ss.R. (Andean-Caribeña Province) — Licentiate in Missiology, Pontifical Urban University, with the thesis Importancia de la Palabra en los procesos de evangelización. The language of the Kamsá in Putumayo-Colombia.
A thank you and a wish
During the celebration, sincere gratitude was expressed to the brothers for their commitment, dedication, and passion in exploring topics of profound relevance to the mission of the Church and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. As Fr. Anísio Tavares, C.Ss.R., Director of the Collegio Maggiore Sant’Alfonso, emphasized, the hope is that the academic journey undertaken within the College will continue to bear abundant fruit in the ministry and mission entrusted to each of them.
Eucharist and fellowship
The celebration continued the following day, July 3, when the entire Collegio Maggiore community gathered for Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. Nicolas Ayouba, C.Ss.R., General Consultor. The festivities concluded with a dinner in the community garden, a moment of simple fellowship filled with conversation, time spent together, and songs from the different cultures represented within the College.
The Collegio Maggiore Sant’Alfonso is part of the international community of Sant’Alfonso at the Generalate of the Redemptorists in Rome and welcomes confreres from various Provinces around the world engaged in specialized studies at Roman universities, with a view to obtaining a Licentiate or Doctorate.
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