As Novena Church marks its 75th anniversary, the Theological and Missiological Symposium was held on 4th and 5th of September, became a space for reflection, dialogue, and renewal. It brought together 160 foreign delegates and local participants from different walks of life to explore how faith remains alive and relevant in today’s world.
The conversations began by looking at the treasures of popular piety, expressed through devotions, pilgrimages, and prayers that have carried faith across generations. They are not simply traditions of the past, but living encounters with God’s plentiful redemption. From this foundation, the symposium turned toward the present mission of the Church, asking how shrines, parishes, and communities can become sacred spaces where people experience welcome, healing, and transformation.
Participants were also invited to reimagine formation, not as abstract lessons but as an incarnational way of life learned through relationships, witness, and service; just as Christ the Redeemer presents Himself in a tangible and incarnated way. This naturally led to reflections on walking with young people, whose questions, energy, and struggles remind the Church to remain creative and hopeful in ministry.
The call to mission was echoed strongly in conversations about caring for the poor, working alongside lay partners, and responding to the urgent cry of creation. Each of these moments pointed to the heart of Redemptorist spirituality – to bring the Good News to those most in need, with simplicity, courage, and compassion.
As the symposium drew to a close, a reflection was offered by, Superior General; He reminded participants that Redemptorist shrines are not just buildings but living testimonies of hope. They are places where devotion and mission embrace, and where God’s overflowing love becomes tangible in the lives of the people.
The two-day gathering was not merely an academic exercise but a spiritual journey. It called Redemptorists, lay partners, and friends alike to live out gratitude for the past and to carry hope into the future. In doing so, the mission of Novena Church continues: To become a Shrine and a Home where all are welcome to find prayer and peace, healing and hope, life and love.
Church of St. Alphonsus (Novena Church)
Explore other anniversary events:
• Novena Youth Rally – The Chapter Forward
