This year, the event took place in Calgary from December 29, 2024 to January 1, 2025. Our ensemble included Br’s Noel, Princepius, and Ben, alongside Fr’s Jean Carlo, Ivan, and Alfredo. Our primary mission was to connect with these young individuals and share our vocation, with the hope of finding those who might resonate with the call to join the Redemptorists. For several years, the Redemptorists have been active participants and sponsors of this conference, and one of our current students is a testament to its impact.

We set up a booth filled with resources— texts and pamphlets that outline the lives and spirituality of the Redemptorists—to facilitate our mission. Over the three days of the conference, our booth attracted significant attention, largely due to the curiosity about our order. Many attendees were unfamiliar with the Redemptorists, which led to enriching conversations centered around our unique charism of serving the poor and most abandoned. It was especially gratifying to see their astonishment as they discovered St. Alphonsus’s existing influence on their own prayer lives, such as ‘the way of the cross,’ while also learning that he was the founder of the Redemptorists. Additionally, numerous young men approached us, expressing interest in exploring or committing to a religious vocation. One student even shared that he had confidently informed the Jesuits of his intent to join the Redemptorists when the Jesuits asked about his vocation.

The experience over those few days was remarkable, enabling us not only to share our vocation but also to gain insights into their journeys with Christ and to discover where they feel led by God. As brothers working in unity, this event provided a unique opportunity for collaborative ministry; some of us had not seen one another in ages, while for others, it was the first encounter. This camaraderie amplified the brotherly spirit radiating from our booth, particularly since we had the largest contingent of religious men at the conference, from the same order. Even in moments of downtime, our interactions with one another served as a testament to the joy and fulfillment we find in serving Christ together. Having attended two ‘Rise Up’ conferences, I’ve seen how our booth becomes friends with the neighbouring booth—at times even endorsing each other’s messages!

I ask for your prayers for an outpouring of vocations to the Redemptorists, especially for the young people who participated in this conference, that they may continue to discern the paths God is calling them to follow.