The Assembly served as an opportunity for the members of the Province of Canada, both professed Redemptorists and our Lay Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer to consider insights and directions inspired by Communicanda 1 and 2 from the General Government as we continue to grow in unity of mind and heart for our mission in the Congregation. The theme for the week, as inspired by Communicanda 2 was “Let us cross over to the other side”.

Our week began with a spiritual reflection given by Archbishop Emeritus Gerard Pettipas C.Ss.R. on his sense of call as a Redemptorist, the call towards service of the Church as a bishop, and now a renewed called to serve in his retirement in the midst of living in an active Redemptorist community again.  His testimony served to model for those assembled as a way of sharing our passion for mission and initial call in both small groups and in plenary.  Mr. John McTighe (psychotherapist and social worker) facilitated our process throughout the week, leading the assembly through a process of sharing our call with one another, drawing forth in us how we were called into mission with the Redemptorists, and how that call continues to inspire us today for our future as a Province.

Communicanda 1 and 2 offers a way forward to renew ourselves for mission as we consider the task of restructuring in the midst of our reconfiguration as a new Province.  While, we were not making decisions at this gathering, we took the time to listen to one another, to be present and to continue to get to know one another, thus strengthening our unity as one Province that is very diverse through our languages and rites.

It is through this experience, where the Spirit draws forth in us new possibilities, and helps us to find the courage and openness to strengthen our current work.  By taking the steps to know one another more fully, we are encouraged to make decisions in favour of the mission as we look to the future with hope being missionaries of hope following in the footsteps of the Redeemer.

In the end, it was an experience of unity in the Spirit, reminding us that we are no longer separate units, but one, and that this unity is for mission, and that we all have something to contribute towards the future mission of the Province of Canada.