mangalore today

Redemptorist congregation ordinations on May 8 2017 at Ferar Mangalore


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 6, 2017: The Redemptorist house at Nithyadar Nivas, Alangar, informs that the community is all set for the ordination of 3 new priests, all hail from Mangalore area.  They are Dn. Ritesh Rosario CSsR, s/o Baptist and Sophia of St Francis Xavier Church, Ferar; Dn.  Rohan Dias CSsR,  s/o Domnic and late Nathalia Dias of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Nakre; and Dn Ravi Richard Fernandes CSsR,  s/o Raphael and Jascinta Fernandes of Infant Jesus Church,Vamadapadav.

 

Redemptorist ordination

 

These Redemptorists belong to the vice-province of Majella, Mumbai.They will be ordained on 8th May, Monday at 9.30 a.m at St Francis Xavier Church, Ferar by Rt Rev Dr Aloysius Paul DSouza, Bishop of Mangalore.

The Redemptorists in this area have a minor seminary in Alangar Moodbidri and a parish at Palke,  Saverapura, near Belvai. Thier main work is to preach the gospel through missions and retreats to all people. 

Brief on Redemptorist Congregation : On November 9, 1732, St. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer,  popularly known as the Redemptorists, in order to follow the example of Jesus Christ announcing the Good News to the poor and the most abandoned. From that time on, he gave himself entirely to this new mission.  Today more than 5000 Redemptorist priests are carrying out the mission of Jesus in more than 75  countries. Inspired by their founder St. Alphonsus, they preach the good news to the poor and the  most abandoned. Rev. Fr. Michael Brehl CSsR, is the present Superior General. In India, the  Redemptorists have 2 provinces (Bangalore and Kerala) and a vice-province.


The vice-province of Majella, covers the coastal areas of Mumbai, Goa, Gujarat and Mangalore. At Alangar, Moodbidri they have their community called ‘Nithyadar Nivas.’ This community  has 4 priests and Fr. Eugene D’Silva CSsR is the Superior of this community.

The Miraculous Icon :  On the occasion of the 150 years of the handing over of the Miraculous Icon of Mother of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists by Pope Pius IX in 1866 with the charge to “Make her known to the entire world”,  the Redemptorist religious presented a few copies of  the Miraculous Icon to Pope Francis for blessing. One of these copies  blessed by Pope Francis on this special occasion of the 150 year Jubilee has now come to Mangalore and is in the custody of the Redemptorist Vice Province of Majella and in the Redemptorists institution at Nityadhar Niwas in Alangar. This copy of  the Icon will be on display at the ordinations to the priesthood of three young Redemptorists  on the 8 th of May at Moodferar church and then in different parishes in the Diocese of  Mangalore until the May 21, 2017.  This is an occasion to renew one’s knowledge of the history and story of the Icon of  Mother of Perpetual Help, the theological and spiritual meaning of the Icon and to visit the  Icon and pray before it and seek the intercession of Mother of Perpetual Help for one’s  personal and family life.

On April 26th, 1866, the re-discovered and restored Icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help (‘Mater de Perpetuo Succursu’) was hung over the high altar at San Alfonso Redemptorist Church on Via Merulana, in Rome. This year, the Jubilee continues.  Pope Pius IX, when giving the picture into the care of the Redemptorists, said to them ‘Make her known to the World’ and Redemptorists all over the world have been doing this ever since.    Since 1866, the Redemptorists have spread devotion to Mary the Mother of Christ under the icon and title of ’Mother of Perpetual Help’. According to tradition, the ancient Byzantine icon of Mother of Perpetual Help was stolen from a church in Crete where many miracles had occurred. The image remained in the private possession of a Roman merchant and his family until 1499 when it was publicly displayed in the Church of St. Matthew in Rome.