Dear Alphie,
Can you tell me about current Redemptorist ministry and/or formation opportunities available to young women? Thank-you!
Signed: Marie Cailliau

Dear Marie,

Thank you for your question for Dear Alphie! There are a number of ministries that Redemptorists in the Edmonton-Toronto Province are involved in: Parish Ministry, Preached Missions, Bioethics, Perpetual Help Devotions, Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry, Inner-City Ministry, Lay Collaboration, Music Ministry….. just to name a few. There are also further elements that make up each of the headings listed above. Take a look around the website http://www.redemptorists.ca to see more about these different ministries. If you would like a “global” perspective, go to http://www.cssr.com for our website based out of Rome.

In collaboration with other Redemptorist Provinces across North America (www.redemptorists.com), there are a number of ways that young women may participate in formation opportunities. Different programs range in length, purpose, and ministry opportunity.

Here in the Edmonton-Toronto Province, we have young men and women involved in the leadership of “Liguori Circle”: a monthly gathering of young adults who share faith, fellowship and community. The SERVE Program (Summer Endeavor in a Redemptorist Volunteer Experience) is a short term live-in program for young men and women to become involved in the community through volunteer work, live together with Redemptorists and Lay Associates in a community setting, and share life, faith, and the journey of formation as an active Christian in the world. Currently SERVE is taking place in Sudbury, Ontario for 4 weeks. There are 6 participants in the program in Sudbury. In the Toronto area, we are planning to establish a Retreat Ministry Team for the Fall of 2005. This team would participate in a 4-5 session Formation program in the Fall, and in the Winter, they would be sent out to run a few retreats in local High Schools. This year (2005-2006) is a pilot project which will hopefully be expanded for the Fall of 2006. We also have Formation Programs for men and women of an older vintage (usually > 30). These programs are called Lay Associate Circles. You can read more about that online at this website as well.

In other Redemptorist Provinces in North America, there are programs like: Sarnelli House in Philadelphia (Baltimore Province of Redemptorists)- An innercity mission with young adults living with Redemptorists and working with the neighbourhood poor. This program runs from I believe September to July of each year. In Winnipeg, the Ukrainian Catholic Redemptorists (Yorkton Province of Redemptorists) run a similar program called, “The Welcome Home”. Young adults live there with Redemptorists and they work together in the neighbourhood poor. More information about these programs are accessible through the website http://www.redemptorists.com/ where you can navigate through to get to the correct website.

Hope this helps!

Blessings,

aka Fr. Santo C.Ss.R.

UPDATE!!!! Continue to visit this website and links from www.redemptorists.com to see the most current ways that young women (and men) can be involved in Redemptorist Mission and Life! For over-seas work, visit the Irish Redemptorist SERVE Program: www.serve.ie!