From Monday 13th to Friday 17th July 2026, Redemptorist confreres under the age of 50 gathered at St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland, for several days of prayer, discussion, fraternity and recreation as we continue our Federation and journey towards becoming a larger Province in the years ahead.
A highlight of the gathering was the presence of Fr Santo Arrigo C.Ss.R., Provincial Superior of the Province of Canada, who shared the Canadian Redemptorist experience of uniting three distinct Provinces into one: the French-speaking Province of St Anne de Beaupré, the Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic Province of Canada, and the English-speaking Edmonton–Toronto Province. Bringing together different languages, cultures and ecclesial traditions was no small undertaking, yet Fr Santo reflected on the fruits of that journey:
“In the end, it was an experience of unity in the Spirit, reminding us that we are no longer separate units, but one, and that this unity is for mission, and that we all have something to contribute towards the future mission of the Province of Canada.”
His reflections offered encouragement and hope as we ourselves prepare for the future, reminding us that unity is not simply an organisational goal but a missionary calling.
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The gathering also provided a valuable opportunity for the younger confreres to listen to one another, share openly about the joys and challenges of religious life and ministry, and reflect on what it means to be Redemptorists in an ever-changing world. These honest conversations strengthened our fraternal bonds and deepened our commitment to supporting one another in our vocation.
Our time together was not confined to the meeting room. We had the opportunity to explore the historic city of Perth and visit the famous Stone of Destiny, a powerful reminder of Scotland’s rich heritage. During one of our afternoons, some of the confreres enjoyed a tour of a traditional whisky distillery, while others after taking a rather memorable wrong turn found themselves travelling in completely the opposite direction! Thankfully, we all eventually regrouped in the beautiful town of Dunkeld, where we enjoyed coffee together while taking in the stunning views of Dunkeld Cathedral and the River Tay. It was one of those unexpected moments that often become the best memories.
The evenings also brought plenty of laughter and friendly rivalry as we found ourselves immersed in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup. Living rooms were transformed into mini stadiums, with confreres becoming passionate sofa coaches, players and referees all at once. These simple moments of recreation and shared enjoyment helped strengthen the bonds of fraternity that are so essential to our Redemptorist life.
Beyond the discussions, the time spent together in prayer, meals, recreation and informal conversation was a powerful reminder that fraternity is at the heart of our vocation. It is through these shared moments that we continue to build relationships which sustain us in our mission of preaching the Gospel to the most abandoned.
This annual gathering is a real blessing. It reminds us that although we minister in different communities, languages and countries, we remain united as brothers with a common mission. I left Perth encouraged, inspired and grateful for the opportunity to share this time with fellow confreres. I am already looking forward to our next gathering, which will be hosted in Ireland, where we will once again come together to pray, reflect, support one another and continue building the future of our Federation of London, Dublin, St Clements and Vienna-Munich.
Fr. Ryan Holovlasky C.Ss.R.
Dublin Province
