First Redemptorists Associates Retreat
The Working Group for Partners in Mission (PIM) of the Denver Province is sponsoring the very first retreat for Redemptorist Associates next month. Participants from ministry sites throughout the Denver Province and Canada will gather in person for the first time at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson on May 26–31. “Our Redemptorist Associates have been meeting online for years, so they wanted an opportunity to actually gather in person and experience some of the work that others are doing,” explained Fr. Greg May, PIM Coordinator for the Denver Province who also currently serves as Co-Director of Pre-Novitiate formation in the Bronx. Fr. Greg is committed to building a strong network of Redemptorist Associates and looks forward to experiencing the synergy of the group. As a fifth generation descendant of original sodbusters who settled in rural Kansas in 1878, he knows how much the faithful can accomplish when united in purpose. Faith was such an integral part of life on the plains that within two years his forefathers and other early pioneers founded St. Joseph, Ost Catholic Church as a focal point of the community. Located about 30 miles northwest of Wichita in Reno County, the country church remains a center of community life – a total of 157 students in Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade are currently enrolled at St. Joseph School. Like many others, Fr. Greg returns to his home parish for special occasions. He celebrated his 40th jubilee of profession last year with members of his family and the cherished memories of those who are resting at peace in the nearby church cemetery.
Fr. Greg will lead a five-day retreat focused on various aspects of what it means to follow Jesus the Redeemer, from sharing our cultures of faith and imitating Jesus the Redeemer to discussing social justice and the wisdom of Jesus to live the Divine Commandment. Each Redemptorist Associate has made a commitment to living the Redemptorist mission in their own way,” Fr. Greg explained. “We will have an opportunity to reflect and pray about these themes, and participants will be able to experience some of the work that Redemptorist Associates are doing in the Tucson area, including a visit to Casa Maria Soup Kitchen,” he said.
Retreatants also are invited to join men interested in the Redemptorist way of life at Come & Pray events scheduled the weekend before and the weekend after the retreat – May 25-26 and June 1-2. Although these events are designed for men ages 18-40 discerning a Redemptorist vocation, Redemptorist Associates may participate because they have embraced the same missionary call through their baptism. Participants will learn more about the Redemptorist history, charism and spirituality during a weekend devoted to prayer and activities. Please share this opportunity with men you may know who are discerning a call to religious life, or ask them to contact our vocation director, Fr. Chuong Cao, at 228.233.6413.
Space at the retreat is limited. Costs for room and board for five days is $650.