A Reflection on Denver's Superiors’ Meeting
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October 30, 2023Amid the Autumn season, with the spectacular beauty of the colorful leaves, the tranquil lake and the surprising visits of deer, the exceptional environment of the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc was a great place for our first Superiors’ Meeting last week.
It was a perfect opportunity for the leadership of all communities in the Denver Province to gather, learn and share experiences after more than a month of serving as local superiors.
A prayer service united us on the first day of our meeting. It was focused on highlighting the role of a superior as a person who commits himself to serve God and others with a generous heart, who recognizes his different gifts, and is a caring person. A special moment of the prayer service was when each superior prayed for his community members by saying the names of each community member and putting the member’s picture card on the prayer table. The leadership team remembered the entire Denver Province in their prayers and committed themselves to serving them.
Various topics were presented by the OPC/EPC members and guests. Fathers Tuan Pham and James White generously shared their reflections about the meeting:
"I was very glad that we had a gathering of local superiors post-pandemic, especially because so many confreres transitioned to new assignments. It was very hard for many of us to maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoom meetings helped and supported us and our communities, yet when we actually came together, the feeling that we could begin anew was nice.
For the days we gathered, we can now help and support and animate our confreres in our respective communities to meet the challenges ahead. The General Government hosted a supportive and helpful meeting to animate all local superiors around the world. We also had the support of the OPC and EPC, which organized guest speakers who shared resources to best support, guide, and animate us in our respective areas. It was time well spent together. We can now strive to be “missionaries of hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer” – first to one another, and then to the people we are called to serve." --Fr. Tuan Pham C.Ss.R
"I enjoyed the Superiors’ Meeting. The reflections, breaking up into small groups, and the conferences were well planned. The Morning Prayer and Scriptural Reflection on the role of leadership was an inspirational introduction to opening the first day. Likewise, the reflection on St. Luke on the second day reminded us that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed us to proclaim the Good News to the poor and those who do not recognize the Gospel as Good News.
We were invited to renew our commitment to our Redemptorist charism of following in the footsteps of Jesus according to St. Alphonsus and in the spirit of St. Gerard. We also focused on mentoring leadership and accepting the Holy Spirit as our primary mentor. As mentors, we need an ongoing conversion of heart. Fr. Rosario called us as individual Redemptorists and bonded together as an Apostolic Community to have a 'deep adherence to Christ.'
Our community and personal prayer, along with the celebration of the liturgy, are to enrich our growth in this deep adherence to Him. We are called to introduce other important topics within the community through the Plan of Community Life that will be developed in each community. As a local superior, I experience being challenged, affirmed, and supported by the OPC/EPC and the other local superiors." --Fr. Jim White, C.Ss.R.
During this last week of the Month of the Rosary, may Our Mother Perpetual Help continue to intercede for all of our communities with God’s blessings and love.