A PublicAtion of the RedemPtoRist office foR

mission AdvAncement

volume 5, numbeR 1, sPRing 2013

REDEMPTION

The Word on the street

Immaculate Conception Parish in the Bronxis building a faith family in a diverse neighborhood.Read morebeginning on page 6.

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PROVINCIAL’S PREFACE

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Plentiful Redemption © 2013

Plentiful Redemption is distributed quarterly to friends and collaborators of the Redemptorists. We aim to tell the story of god’s bountiful love and inspire our readers to partner with us to continue spreading the good news to all people, especially the poor and most spiritually abandoned.

Redemptorist Office forMission Advancement107 duke of gloucester st.Annapolis, md 21401-2526

toll free: 877-876-7662redemptorists.net

editor:stephanie K. tracyeditor@redemptorists.net

director of development:elizabeth góral-makowskiegmakowski@redemptorists.net

Dear Friends,Cardinal Timothy Dolan once was

asked  a  question about  vocations: “How can we have more vocations to the priest-hood?” Cardinal Dolan did not hesitate for one moment  in his answer. “Joyful priests,” he said. I agree 100 percent. There will be nothing that will draw young men more to the priesthood and religious

life than seeing priests joyful  in their vocations and in their lives. We know that fact as Redemptorist priests and brothers serving the people of God.

There is nothing more pleasant in the priesthood and in religious life than see-ing and living with joyful priests, brothers and sisters. I believe that the same is true of married couples. Joyful husbands and wives bless each other and bless their children.  They bless other couples and families who see them happy in their marriages, families and in their vocations.

Our joy and happiness flows over  into our ministries, into how we serve each other and the people of God to whom we are sent. I believe that joyfulness in life is connected to thankfulness, generosity, service, care, compassion, and love for God’s people. Show me a joyful priest or religious and you will see a generous, car-

ing and loving priest, brother or sister.Mary, the Mother of God, expresses

joy so wonderfully in her life: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk 1:46). The infant in the womb of Elizabeth “leaped for joy” at the visit of Mary to her home (Lk 1:44). Joy produces joy.

Let us all ask the Lord and Mary to help us be joyful persons, joyful priests and religious, joyful married couples and families, joyful neighbors, joyful nations and a joyful world. Then we will truly be blessed and will produce good fruit.

Sincerely in Christ and Mary,

Very Rev. Kevin Moley C.Ss.R.Provincial Superior

Two Redemptorists to be ordained in JunePlease keep in your prayers Redemp-

torists Alistair Elias and Elton Letang who will be ordained to the priesthood in June in the Caribbean. Deacon Alistair Elias, who completed his studies at Boston Col-

lege in 2012 and is serving as a deacon in St. Lucia in the West Indies, will be ordained June 3 in his home country of Grenada. Deacon Elton Letang, who fin-ished his studies in 2011 and is serving his diaconate assignment in Trinidad, will be ordained June 6 in his home country of Dominica.

Thank you for your prayers for these men, and for the 31 others in formation for the Redemptorists in the United States and the English-speaking Caribbean.

deaconAlistair elias, c.ss.R.

deaconelton letang, c.ss.R.

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ADVANCING THE MISSION

P.S. Fr. Daniel Francis, C.Ss.R. is currently on

a six-month sabbatical. A sabbatical is a time for deep prayer and study. Please know all our readers and benefactors are remembered in his prayers.

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Soon after you receive this edition, the Church celebrates her greatest feast, Easter. Easter embodies the promise God made to us: our hope for eternal life is fulfilled in the Resurrection of Jesus. Good Friday leads to Easter joy.

The Mission Advancement Office promotes our Redemptorists and their many ministries. We do this in part by highlighting them in places like this newsletter, our website, on Facebook, and through mailings.

We are also a partner in prayer with the Redemptorists and with literally hundreds of people who call, mail, or email us requesting prayers each day. ROMA is a place of hope in the promise and the reality of God’s great love for us.

As I visit places where our Redemptorist priests and brothers minister, I am privileged to see, firsthand, how they are faithful messengers of hope. The generous outpouring of their love for the people of God and for their vocations is met with the genuine love and respect of the people and communities they serve. They empower people to find a way out from the Good Fridays of addiction, prostitution, abuse, and poverty, and into the light and reality of Easter life.

But our brothers and priests cannot do this alone. The support of your prayers and your gifts is vital. Take a moment and offer a prayer for our Redemptorists and for the people they so selflessly serve. If you would like to send a gift, please use the enclosed envelope or you can donate safely and securely online at redemp-torists.net/donate.

Thank you for all you do to bring Easter hope and promise to the world.In the promise of Our Risen Redeemer,

Elizabeth Góral-MakowskiDirector of Development

fr. daniel francis, c.ss.R. & elizabeth góral-makowski, director of development

Making Seasons BrightThank you…thanks to the generosity of our friends and benefactors, more than 800 christmas greetings brightened the season for our 25 Redemptorist priests and brothers in skilled-nursing or assisted-living residences throughout the baltimore Province. thank you for remembering these dedicated missionaries in your thoughts and prayers, and please know that you are remembered as well in theirs!

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The way we were and the way we are becoming

Editor’s Note: During this Year of Faith, we present a series of reflections from Redemptorists who began their religious and/or priestly lives in the years during or immediately after the Second Vatican Council.

By Rev. John McGowan, C.Ss.R.I was ordained three months before the opening session of the

Second Vatican Council. Ordination as a Redemptorist priest remains the greatest blessing of my life. The second blessing is Vatican II. Everything was black-and-white in the years before the Council. Order and obedience topped the list of our faith response. We now refer to those times as “the old Church.”

Pope John XXIII opened windows and allowed the fresh air of the Holy Spirit to sweep through the rooms, the halls and the corridors of our lives. Prior to that, Latin was the Church’s language. We didn’t mind that too much because popular piety, with devotions to Mary and the saints, flourished. We loved our novenas, benedictions and rosaries, and we watched passively from our pews as the priest, with his back to us, silently prayed “his Mass.” In those days, the pope, bishops, priests and nuns were the Church; the laity’s job was “to pray, pay and obey.”

We fasted from food and drink from midnight until Com-munion time the next morning. We went to confession weekly or monthly where every confessional had lines of penitents. We enjoyed Low Masses, High Masses and even Solemn High Masses with three priests serving as celebrant, deacon and sub-deacon. Black was the color of the vestments at funerals. Priests were the

only ones who gave us Communion, and that was from a marble rail that kept us in our place and away from the sanctuary floor. Our Sunday Masses were standing-room only, and often Communion was distributed from the Offertory to the “Agnus Dei.” We had to be at Mass before

the Gospel in order for it “to count.” Our Sunday sermons usually treated of Catholic doctrine, morality, virtue or sin. Only priests and religious had “vocations.” We truly believed that we belonged to the one, true Church that was forever changeless.

Then the windows flew open and the fresh air of the Holy Spirit arrived.

For me, personally, the greatest gift of the Council was the universal call to holiness. All of us are called to be holy, and we all make up “the Body of Christ.” This came across especially when the Council called us to full, active participation in the cel-ebration of the Eucharist. Sacred Scripture was given a promi-nent role at each Mass as we listened to “homilies” reflecting the readings. Priests now faced the people and celebrated Mass in our language. Concelebrated Mass took precedence over sev-eral Masses going on at the same time on different side altars.

So many good things came from the Council: the revision of the sacraments, the Lectionary, the Sacramentary and the litur-gical calendar; the introduction of lay ecclesial ministries; the emphasis that we are the Church, the People of God, the Body of Christ and so many more involvements to which we are now accustomed. Most important of all was the Council’s stress on the centrality of the Eucharist as “the source and summit of our Christian life.”

I lived my pre-ordination time in Council of Trent years and my ordained days in the Vatican II years. I was happy during both periods, but I thank God each day for the countless bless-ings that the Holy Spirit brought and continues to bring to each of us and the Church because of the work and the documents of the Second Vatican Council.

Fr. McGowan professed vows as a Redemptorist in 1957 and was ordained in 1962. He is currently stationed at San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch, NJ.

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NEWS & NOTES

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Shrines named Year of Faith sites

In celebration of the Year of Faith, which began in October 2012 and continues through November, visitors to two Redemp-torist shrines in the United States may receive a plenary indulgence upon their visit.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput designated the Shrine of St. John Neumann as a Year of Faith pilgrimage site, and New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond has extended the same honor to the National Shrine of Blessed Francis X. Seelos.

To obtain a plenary indulgence for a visit to one of these shrines, the faithful are asked to pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed for the intentions of the

pope, and to receive Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance within a week before or after their visit.

Indulgences, which are granted through the mercy of God and the action of the Church, remove part (partial indulgence) or all (plenary indulgence) of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven.

The Shrine of St. John Neumann is located at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 1019 N. Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA. The National Shrine of Blessed Francis X. Seelos is located at St. Mary’s Assumption Church, 919 Josephine St., New Orleans, LA.

On the webShrine of St. John Neumannstjohnneumann.orgNational Shrine of Blessed Francis X. Seelosseelos.org

Two new Redemptorist booksLooking for a way to pre-

pare for Sunday Mass? Need some help applying the Word of God to your daily life? Liv-ing the Word (Year C, 2012-13) is now available through World Library Publications. Co-written by Father James A.  Wallace and Sr. Dianne Bergant, Living the Word offers reflections and com-mentaries on the readings for Sundays and Holy Days for Year C of the liturgical read-ing cycle. To order, call World

Library Publications toll-free at 1-800-566-6150 or visit wlpmusic.com.

In his new book, Tending the Mustard Seed: Living the Faith in Today’s World,

Father Dennis Billy explores several questions related to living our faith in the world and in our daily lives.

What does it mean to be intimately and personally called by God to faith? Where does faith come from? How do you respond to cynicism? What does faith mean when

you are speechless in the face of suffering? Available from New City Press and most major booksellers.

As part of a restructuring plan, the Archdiocese of New York has reor-ganized its schools into three school regions, each with its own patron. The Northwest/South Bronx Region, which includes the Redemptorist-sponsored Immaculate Conception School, has been named the St. John Neumann Catholic School Region.

Neumann named patron in the Bronx

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immaculate concep-tion school (far left) enrolls 500 students in grades K through 8.

students play in brightly painted courtyards during recess (center top). due to the tight spaces between the buildings, girls and boys are separated.

the parish offers a daily bilingual mass (center bottom), and draws an average of 900 people every weekend among the four sunday liturgies, two offered in span-ish and two in english.

A woman (at left) makes notes in preparation for her citizenship exam.

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Immaculate Conception in the Bronx offers the poor and marginalized a warm welcome and a place to call homeBy Stephanie K. Tracy

On a warm, cloudy day, the streets of the Melrose neighborhood in the South Bronx bustled with peo-ple, cars, buses, trucks, bicycles. One block north of the busiest shopping area in town, the rust red door of Immaculate Conception Church stood wide open in welcome … just like the parish family that brings the 125-plus year old community to life.

“This is home to me,” said Nilta, who came from Puerto Rico when she was three. “When I don’t come I feel empty. People here are nice. This is church. Someone will always be here to listen.”

Immaculate Conception is one of four churches in the Bronx that’s been around since before 1900. The Redemptorists arrived in the neighborhood in 1886. The words “Redemptorist Missionaries” greet every-one who walks in the front door. Like many other faith communities, Immaculate Conception stayed during the dark years of the 1970s and 1980s when the neigh-borhood burned around them.

“So many people left during those years,” said Marty

Rogers, a member of the parish council and a commu-nity organizer. His mother graduated from the parish school in 1930. He was born here, also graduated from the school, and is a familiar face around the property. “The churches didn’t leave. They were getting broken into and robbed. They looked like hell, but they hung in there. Our mutual need keeps us together. This has always been the first or second stop off the boat, where people are hustling in the best sense of that word. For some reason, word on the street is that this is a neigh-borhood you can make it in.”

The pastor, Father Frank Skelly, himself a son of the parish and graduate of the school, is awed by the power of that “word on the street” that’s beginning to attract a healthy population of young adults. The par-ish includes 650 registered families, and draws 850 to 900 people every week for Mass. Though the area has improved, Immaculate Conception still sits within the poorest congressional district in the country.

“We have about 30 people in our RCIA program this year,” he said. “I don’t know where they’re coming

from, but they somehow found the 12:30 p.m. Sunday Mass. Most of them are completely unchurched, but they’ve heard on the street that this is where they can come.”

One recent week night, the parish hall held more than 200 people for a citizenship class. Many in the crowd were studying for their citizenship test, one of the final hurdles in the process. These classes are offered regularly and for free.

The parish has long advocated for immigrants, and offers several resources and classes to help with everything from documentation to rent, from learn-ing English to finding a job. Parish leaders also lobby local politicians, like mayoral candidates, to encourage them to support laws and policies that protect the rights of immigrants and the poor. True to Redemp-torist tradition, everyone is welcome, especially those on the margins and in the shadows.

Jorge, who’s lived in the Bronx for more than 50 years, was a longtime taxi driver. For many years he didn’t go to church, but he found time to help run a prayer group that visits people in their homes to talk about Jesus.

“This is the best where you can go. Here you’ll learn a lot and be close to Jesus,” he said. “With the prayer

group, we go pray in the house with people. We teach them sometimes they have to leave superstition, they have to give stuff up for Jesus.”

There are families at Immaculate (as the lifelong members refer to it) who’ve been coming to this beautiful Gothic-style, German-built church for more than 60 years. What began as a German and then Irish community is now made up of Puerto Ricans, Domin-icans, Mexicans, Ecuadorans, African-Americans and Nigerians. This is home, and a place where they know they can both be cared for and take care of others.

The parish school, staffed by the Sisters of Chris-tian Charity, is the oldest Catholic elementary in the Bronx. With an enrollment of 500 students, 99 percent of whom receive free or reduced-price lunches, it’s a vibrant part of the community.

Gladys has been a parishioner for 63 years.“Mom and Dad moved here when I was four. When

I retired, my granddaughter was in school here and she started telling the principal about her grandma. I came to volunteer at the reception desk and the lunch room. Immaculate is it. This is it,” Gladys said.

Maxine is another parishioner, school volunteer, and proud graduate, whose children are now in school here. The 30-minute trip from home to church

and school isn’t an inconvenience or a burden.“We all work together as a family for the children.

It’s the same familiar faces every Saturday and Sun-day,” she said. “Everyone’s helpful and going out of their way to look out for each other. Our children is our main concern.”

For more than 30 years now, Immaculate has spon-sored a Thanksgiving Day dinner. School students serve more than 200 guests in the parish hall, and a small army of families and young adults deliver com-plete meals to the elderly and homebound.

And somehow there’s always enough for everyone.“One year there were parents who brought their

kids on Thanksgiving Day to help serve and at the end they said we’re just gonna come home,” Marty said. “I knew they didn’t have anything at home. So I said, we got a turkey left over here. They didn’t want to take it, but I told them it’d go to waste otherwise. They left with a whole Thanksgiving dinner plus the cab fare. The problem was just solved. That’s the hand of God. There’s always more for someone.”

Stephanie K. Tracy is the communications manager for the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province.

The Word on the streetStephanie K. Tracy/ROMA

More informationsee the brochure included in this edition for more information, or visit redemptorists.net/support.cfm.

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Become a Friend in MissionThe Friends in Mission program is a

simple and effective way to help support the Redemptorists on a monthly or quar-terly basis. Automatic donations are an easy way for you to continually support the Redemptorists and help us budget more effectively, reducing administrative, paper, and postage costs. It allows more of your donation to help the Redemptorists share the Gospel with the economically poor and spiritually abandoned.

“I decided to be a Friend in Mission because I believe in the work and the mis-sion of the Redemptorists and I wanted to support ROMA on a regular basis. Before signing up to be a monthly donor, I some-times found that I would forget to make a donation during any given month. Now that I have a monthly donation debited to my credit card, the donation has become a part of my budget and I know that even if I were to forget, the donation is automatical-ly sent. A monthly donation is an efficient and painless way to support a very worthy cause.

When I visited a Redemptorist parish

in the inner-city of Philadelphia and saw firsthand the life-changing mission work being done there, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that my monthly donations were part of the total Redemp-torist focus to bring Our Redeemer to all parts of the world both in this country and abroad.” (Paul from East Amherst, NY)

“Monthly donations are easy, always

happen. But there is a better motive for monthly giving. After many years I was for-tunate to become reconnected with the Re-demptorists and the blessing they are to all they encounter. I wanted my donations to them to be a priority and something the Re-demptorists could depend on. The online monthly giving ensures that these dona-tions happen. It is a win-win situation and I benefit greatly.” (Terry from Maryland)

To join these and a growing list of friends who have become Friends in Mission through their monthly donations, sign up online at redemptorists.net/donate or call toll-free 1-877-876-7662 for additional information.

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San Alfonso Retreat Housesanalfonsoretreats.org | 732-222-2731

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With Him is Plentiful Redemption!

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Stay connected!redemptorists.net

facebook.com/RedemptoristsBaltimore

twitter.com/redemptorists

youtube.com/BaltRedemptorists

VOCATION VOICE

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Please keep in your prayers five men who joined our forma-tion community in the Bronx in January. Hailing from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington, they join 26 other men from across the United States and the English-speaking

Caribbean who are in the initial stages of formation as Redemp-torists. Thank you for your prayers, and please pray that more young men will follow in their footsteps.

Five men begin studies in the Bronx

By Rev. Richard Bennett, C.Ss.R.I like watching those classic mystery

shows — Sherlock Holmes, Murder She Wrote, and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. The type of programs where the old, sly sleuth solves the crime by draw-ing upon vast experience and an old bag of tricks!

I marvel how the investigator can casually stroll into the bedroom and go immediately to the nightstand. There are a phone and notepad. A hidden clue would be unveiled by lightly tracing a pencil on the notepad to discover the last thoughts or contact of the missing person. The person had unknow-ingly made a lasting impression.

We, too, leave lasting impressions all the time, and most often, we also are un-aware of the mark we have left on the lives of others.

Recently, the mother of a high school student told me a beautiful story. One of my Redemptorist brothers, Father Bill Gaffney, was preaching a mission in her parish a few years ago. At the end of the service one evening, he invited the people to bring to church the next night a picture or two of those for whom they would like to pray.

A devout young boy heard the invita-tion, and the following day he collected all the pictures of friends and family he could get his hands on. His house was wiped out! He proceeded to bring a satchel of picture frames up to the altar for prayers that night.

The priest was so moved by the gesture that he used the story of this boy’s faith as an example in a talk he gave months later at another mission in a different state. Would you believe it that the boy’s aunt was in the congregation that night and heard the story? Once home, she called the boy’s mother and asked the

name of the priest who preached a mis-sion there months before. Sure enough, it was Father Gaffney and the young boy was, in fact, her nephew. As the boy grew up, he was educated in places where the Redemptorists lived and ministered.

I happened to visit this young man’s high school years later. I asked the youth minister if she knew of anyone who might be interested in a weekend vocational discernment retreat. She immediately reached out to one young man who said he would welcome the opportunity. When I met with him and his mother, his mom told me this story.

Since then I have brought it to my prayer on more than one occasion. It made me think about the importance of family, and the formative, shared experi-ences of faith we have with them — words of faith spoken in times of trial or suffer-ing; words of encouragement; words of acknowledgement of a blessing that was undoubtedly heaven-sent.

Going to church together as a family,

attending a prayer group or retreat, join-ing a youth group, or participating in a parish mission all create the possibility for someone to leave an impression on us. Some impressions may be short-lived. Others may lead a young man to explore the possibility of a vocation to the priest-hood, brotherhood and the religious life.

Much like that notepad next to the bedroom phone, we almost always leave an impression on the lives of others, even though we are unaware of it. That young man’s family has this touching story as part of their connection to God, their faith, the Church, and most especially to the Redemptorists.

Never be afraid to support and encour-age another in their pursuit of exploring a possible vocation in the life of the Church. The time you invest and the words you speak make an impression!

Fr. Bennett is vocations director for the Baltimore Province.

Invisible, but lasting impressions

Have you considered a vocation?

“Let us not lose the beautiful

crown which I see prepared for

everyone who lives in observance

and dies in the Congregation.”

(St. Alphonsus Liguori)

THE BEAUTIFUL CROWN

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For complete obituaries, please visit redemptorists.net/departed.cfm.

Rev. Joseph Gorney, C.Ss.R.Born: February 14, 1925Professed: August 2, 1946Ordained: June 17, 1951Died: December 3, 2012

Father Joseph Gorney died December 3, 2012 at the St. Alphonsus Villa in New Smyrna Beach, FL. He was 87.

Born in Baltimore, MD, he attended St. Mary’s in North East, PA, and completed his theological studies at Mount St. Alphonsus in Esopus, NY.

From 1953-61, Father Gorney served in the then-Vice-Province of San Juan, which included Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. His assignments took him to Caguas, Aguadilla, St. Thomas, Frederiksted, and Mayaguez. Next he served in the Baltimore Province from 1966-70 in New York City, Saratoga Springs, NY, and Annapolis, MD.

From 1970 he served the majority of his priesthood in the Vice-Province of Richmond. His assignments in-cluded the cities of Tampa, Opa-Locka, and Wauchula in Florida; Fort Oglethorpe and McDonough in Georgia; and Orangeburg, SC. In 2002 he began a semi-retirement ministry in New Smyrna Beach but continued assisting regularly in Astor, FL well into his 80s.

Rev. John Salamon, C.Ss.R.Born: July 8, 1919Professed: August 2, 1940Ordained: June 17, 1945Died: January 22, 2013

Rev. James Small, C.Ss.R.Born: June 8, 1927Professed: August 2, 1949Ordained: June 20, 1954Died: January 28, 2013

Father John Joseph Salamon died January 22 at the St. John Neumann Residence at Stella Maris in Timonium, MD. He was 93.

Father Salamon was born in Manhattan, NY. He attended St. Mary’s College High School in North East, PA, and completed his theological studies at Mount St. Alphonsus.

From 1946-50 he served in St. Wenc-eslaus Parish, Baltimore. Then he returned to St. Mary’s College where he taught math courses until 1957. Next he returned to par-ish work at St. James in Baltimore until 1961.

He served briefly at Holy Cross Parish in Christiansted, St. Croix in the Virgin Islands,

and in 1966 was transferred to the Vice Prov-ince of Richmond where he served for more than 30 years. His assignments included Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Tampa, FL from 1966-69; Orangeburg, SC from 1969-1976; and a second mission to Tampa from 1976-80.

In 1980 Father Salamon was stationed at St. Alphonsus Villa in New Smyrna Beach, FL until 1999 when he was transferred to the St. John Neumann Residence in Saratoga Springs, NY. He relocated to the new St. John Neumann Residence at Stella Maris in Timo-nium, MD in 2009.

Father James Thomas Small died January 28 at the St. John Neumann Residence at Stella Maris in Timonium, MD. He was 85.

Father Small was born in Boston, attended St. Mary’s College High School in North East, PA, and completed his theological studies at Mount St. Alphonsus.

For nearly all of the first 30 years of his priesthood — 1956 to 1985 — he served on the foreign missions in Brazil in Aquidauana, Ponta Pora, Campo Grande, Paranagua, Cu-ritiba, Santo Antonio, and Telemaco Borba.

In addition, he served several administra-tive positions. Father Small was vicar to the

first-ever elected Vice Provincial. He assisted in forging the Constitutions and Statutes for the then-Vice Province of Campo Grande. Then he served as the superior of the Re-demptorist seminary in Ponte Grossa.

In 1985, Father Small returned to the United States and was assigned to Redemp-torist parishes in Boston, Brooklyn, and for 14 years in Bethpage, NY. Then, with the ex-ception of one year for preaching retreats in Esopus, he was transferred to Pennsylvania where he served in Lancaster and Ephrata for 12 years until failing health brought him to the St. John Neumann Residence.

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“IN THE FOOTSTEPS” OF ALPHONSUS

Brenda: “Listening to the Redemptorists speak about St. Alphonsus over the years really led us to looking into more of his writings. As musicians we were also interested in the beautiful hymns he wrote. We always sing ‘Tu Scendi dalle Stelle ’ at Christmas time, and ‘O God of Loveliness.’ So those pieces have made a big difference; I think you can really appreciate from his writing his real connection between faith and how the arts can support the spiritual growth of the people.”

Jeff: “His resolve was also impressive. Even though he lost many of his first confreres, he held to his beliefs. He was very, very determined to continue his work, and was really a true model for many of the Catholics of his time. We’ve learned to look to St. Alphonsus and ask for some assistance when it’s needed.”

Partner Profile:Friends in life, mission

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Last fall, the Redemptorists honored Jeff and Brenda Vredenburg with the title of Redemptorist Oblate. The honor is the highest bestowed by the worldwide Congregation on a layperson, and is given in recognition of a person’s commitment to the Redemptorist mission to preach the Good News to the poor and most abandoned.

The Vredenburgs are college sweethearts who readily admit to having found a best friend in each other. The two musicians (she’s an organist, he sings) have spent most of the last 40 years serving as music ministers at the Redemptorists’ St. Clement’s Parish in Saratoga Springs, NY. Over the years, they grew to know and love the Redemptorists, especially through their volunteer work at the St. John Neumann Residence, the home for confreres needing skilled-nursing care, which was located across the street from St. Clement’s until 2009.

This pair of friends say they’ve found their own best friends in the Redemptorists.

What role have the Redemptorists played in your own spiritual journey?

Q:Q:A:A:

Brenda: “Their ministry, their great attention to the poor, the emphasis on the fact that everyone counts, all of this is what really touched us. Both of us being teachers, that just goes along with so much of what we do in our classrooms. It’s not just the most gifted and talented people, it’s everyone working together. Their community life is also so very, very special. When you’re with them you can really see how they rely on each other to bring out the best in every situation. That’s a wonderful example for the laity — that we can follow their energy and zeal and real dedication to bringing people much closer to Jesus, to helping their faith deepen both in good times and in sad times.”

How did you discover the writings and spirituality of St. Alphonsus Liguori?

have you volunteered with, worked in ministry, or otherwise helped theRedemptorists carry on their mission? We'd like to hear your story!

You can share it by emailing editor@redemptorists.net or write toPlentiful Redemption, 107 duke of gloucester st., Annapolis, md 21401or call toll-free 1-877-876-7662.

We may consider your story for publication. Thank you for being a partner in mission!

Share your story

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MINI MEDITATION

Redemptorist Office for Mission Advancement107 Duke of Gloucester St.Annapolis, MD 21401-2526redemptorists.net

By Rev. Andrew Costello, C.Ss.R.Mom and Dad had died years ago. They had 2 sons, Jack and

Jim, born 5 years apart.Jack, the younger brother, started to have questions about his

parents after he hit 55 years of age. Don’t we all? One question that itched him was: “Did Dad really want to do

the job he did all his life?” Jack wondered about that. He remembered the Saturday (he

was about 11 at the time) when his dad told him he wanted to quit his job and go into business for himself. He said he had this neat idea.

At that, Mom, who was in the kitchen listening, came out into the living room and said, “No way!”

Jack remembered her wiping her hands in her apron while saying this and then pointing her index finger right at him.

And when she said, “No way!” he’d say, “Okay!” He always did. He was that way with Mom. And “No way” rhymes with “Okay,” but not always inwardly.

So Jack’s questions were, “Did he resent that? Did he ever feel happy about what he did with his life, besides having two sons and the same wife all his life?”

At work, at lunch, with buddies, Jack began asking different guys about their parents. He wondered, “Does everyone after 55 have questions they would like to ask their mom and dad? Sometimes it’s too late. Bummer!”

Some friends said, “Never thought about that!” Some friends said to Jack, “Thanks for asking that. My mom and dad are still living, so I’d love to have a good conversation with them about some stuff.”

One guy asked, “Do you have any brothers and sisters? Why don’t you talk to them?”

That hit Jack. He hadn’t really talked to or visited his brother Jim in 12 years. He called up Jim. He lived on the other side of the country. They had a great conversation. They found out that they both had questions, especially about their parents. Both said, “We should do this more often.” They did. Jack also asked, “How about I visit you this summer?” Jim said, “Great!”

And they did. And each had some answers to each other’s questions; and some answers had gone with their parents to the grave. Life. Bummer!

To read more of Fr. Andy’s work and some homilies, visit his blog at http://reflectbay.blogspot.com.

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