Redemptorists in SA
 |
|
 |
| Mission in Pretoria |
|
Fr Sean Wales |
St Alphonsus LiguoriIn South Africa Redemptorists see
themselves as 'helpers, companions and ministers of
Jesus Christ in the great work of Redemption to preach
the Word of salvation to the poor'. As St Alphonsus
repeated to us in his writings about the Congregation,
we are called to follow the example of Jesus Christ
the Redeemer, by preaching the Word to the poor, as
He declared of Himself: "He sent me to preach
the Good News to the poor". Email: redchief@mweb.co.za
Here in South Africa we are involved in the explicit
proclamation of the Good News in a variety of ways:
MISSIONS
A mission is an experience of renewal in the life
of the people of God. Sometimes a mission is for the
whole parish or deanery, sometimes just for the youth.
But always it is a moment of conversion, and a time
for building up the Body of Christ. Missions in this
country must face the testing questions of the future
of Christian communities in a new discrimination-free
South Africa. The challenge to live the Gospel for others
is especially urgent in a society where many with the
name Christian espouse attitudes and practices contrary
to basic human rights and duties. We are now in a position
to conduct our missions not only in English and Afrikaans
but also Zulu, Sotho, Tswana and Xhosa.
RETREATS
From the example of St Alphonsus onwards there has
always been room in our ministry for the delicate work
of spiritual direction, discernment and guidance which
is associated with our ministry of retreats for laity,
religious and clergy.
LOCAL CHURCH
In 1950 we were entrusted with the Rustenburg region
- a vast area of over 32,000 sq. kms in the North West
Province. Here we are among some of the poorest victims
of the apartheid system. Today the diocese of Rustenburg
provides us with a form of ministry completely in line
with St Alphonsus' love for the rural poor.
PARISH MINISTRY
Poverty does not seem to mind where it lives. We find
grinding poverty in the cities as well as in the rural
areas. In our parishes of Retreat and Heathfield Cape
Town) and Howick (Natal), we find ourselves close to
those with whom we are called to live and work.
COMMUNICATIONS
The reign of God is spread in word, image, song, art,
music, etc St Alphonsus' own gifts included not only
writing over 100 books, but music, art and poetry, all
of which he put at the service of the Gospel. Today's
Redemptorists continue this service through the use
of communications media. In South Africa, Redemptorist
Pastoral Publications publish a weekly parish bulletin,
the Catholic Link, and a number of booklets designed
to help ordinary Catholics in their life of faith.
MORAL THEOLOGY
Alphonsus was declared a Doctor of the Church for
his contribution to Moral Theology. The study of Moral
Theology remains a mainline concern of Redemptorists
and the Congregation runs a Faculty
of Moral Theology in Rome for this purpose.
JUSTICE AND PEACE
"Action on behalf of justice and the participation
in the transformation of the world .... is a constitutive
dimension of preaching the Gospel" (Synod
of Bishops, 1971). So for Redemptorists work for Justice
and Peace is part and parcel of everything we are and
do. In the South African context the practical example
of our integrated community life is a witness to our
hopes for the new South Africa; we are called by the
poor to a simple life-style and we cannot avoid the
struggle of the outcasts and oppressed of the townships
and the desperate plight of the poor.
|
