Provincial’s letter, October 2015

By Father Paul Borowski, C.Ss.R. |

October 1, 2015 |

Dear Brothers:

“I ask you, please, to pray for me.”

If you listened to any of the addresses or homilies given by Pope Francis during his apostolic visit to Cuba and the United States, you had to hear him say this phrase.

The visit of Pope Francis to Cuba and the United States showed that our Catholic faith is alive and well. He attracted thousands to his events and parades through Washington, D.C.; New York; and Philadelphia. His words (and I encourage all to find the texts of his addresses and homilies and spend time in prayerful reflection) were an inspiration to those who heard them.

As he spoke about caring for those on the edge of society, as he talked about taking the joy of the Gospel to all people, not just those we think deserve it, one would have thought he was speaking directly to us as Redemptorists.

But no, his words were spoken to all those who call themselves disciples of the Risen Lord. If that is the case, how much more should we take his words to heart since we have professed vows in a Congregation that is called to proclaim the Good News to the poor and most abandoned.

At the Mass in Washington, D.C., he said: “Go out to the highways and byways, go out to tell the Good News fearlessly, without prejudice, without superiority, without condescension, to all those who have lost the joy of living.”

This is what our founder Alphonsus encouraged us to do in imitation of the Redeemer. What impresses me most about these words of Pope Francis is not just that he preached them—but in his actions he lived them.

We saw him in the magnificent chambers of the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. We listened to him from the beautiful Churches of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul.

However, he seemed more at home as he went out to the Little Sisters of the Poor, Catholic Charities, Our Lady of Angels in Harlem, and the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.

His words of welcoming the immigrant and showing compassion to those in need were only reinforced as he often stopped his motorcade to bless children and those with disabilities.

Speaking personally, I have been challenged to be a better Catholic, a better Redemptorist, by his words and actions while in the United States.

Many of us saw him in person. I was privileged to be in the midst of the bishops at the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra in Washington, D.C. I know others were there or at other papal events in Havana, New York, and Philadelphia.

I felt as though I was in the presence of the divine. The faith of the thousands was equally moving, as I saw the joy of the Gospel reflected in the faces of the faithful, even as they waited for hours.

I would encourage other confreres who had the great privilege of being at a papal event to share their experiences with others and perhaps write about them to share with the Province in future issues of The Chronicle.

In a way, the papal visit to Cuba and the United States was a time of retreat for many of us and for millions of the faithful. You know as well as I do that the true hallmark of a retreat is what occurs after it ends.

The true hallmark of Pope Francis’ visit will not be the number of people who attended Mass or one of the other events: it will be how we as followers of Jesus Christ live our lives NOW.

In his final remarks before departing from the Philadelphia airport, Pope Francis said: “May our days together bear fruit that will last, generosity and care for others that will endure! Just as we have received so much from God–gifts freely given us, and not of our own making–so let us freely give to others in return.”

May each of us continue to share the joy of the Gospel with all those we minister with. May the joy of the Gospel that Pope Francis shared with us during his visit be a gift we now share with all God’s people.

As always we remember in prayer our recently deceased confreres and all our infirm confreres at Stella Maris, the Villa in New Smyrna, Boston, Brooklyn, and Ephrata.

In the Spirit of the Redeemer,

Paul Borowski, C.Ss.R.

. . . [E]very member should eagerly try to give new life to his ministry. He should endeavor to make it more fruitful by constant study of the sacred and human science, and by fraternal sharing with his confreres.

(Constitution 90)