Feast of St. Clement Celebrated in Liguori, Missouri
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March 18, 2022The St. Clement Community in Liguori joyfully welcomed family and friends to celebrate the Feast of St. Clement Maria Hofbauer with an Open House a few days early, on March 12.
Nearly two years in the planning, the celebration originally was intended to coincide with the close of the Redemptorist Jubilee Year celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the death of St. Clement, Redemptorist missionary and ‘second founder’ of the Congregation.
The global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the celebration in Liguori, as well as others around the world meant to mark this significant anniversary.
Although St. Clement’s has been in existence for more than a uarter of a century, this house of primarily retired and infirm confreres was virtually unknown outside of the Redemptorist family. But Br. Gerry Patin’s recent initiative – the St. Clement Connection monthly news bulletin featuring profiles of confreres who now live at St. Clement’s in each issue – has drawn many new supporters.
About 100 guests braved the frigid temperature to participate in the grand celebration. Some drove significant distances, like Fr. John Gouger’s friends who drove 17 hours from Houston to celebrate with him. The St. Clement chapel was filled to capacity, so many guests participated in the liturgy through a livestream broadcast on a large screen television in the common room.
Provincial Superior Stephen Rehrauer, C.Ss.R., presided at the Mass of Thanksgiving. Before the liturgy began, he expressed sincere gratitude to all of the family members and friends who gathered for the celebration. He said that their support is vital to the ministry of sharing the Redemptorist charism of plentiful redemption in active missionary fields, as well as in the ministry of prayer at St. Clement’s, He thanked God for sustaining us through the years of the pandemic and bringing peace to our hearts during these turbulent times.
After Mass, everyone was invited to stay for lunch and visit with confreres. The St. Clement community was happy to reconnect with so many friends, and hopes are that the Open House will become an annual event.
By Kristine Stremel, with contributions from Fr. Vincent Minh, C.Ss.R.. Photos by Fr. Vincent Minh.The St. Clement Community in Liguori joyfully welcomed family and friends to celebrate the Feast of St. Clement Maria Hofbauer with an Open House a few days early, on March 12.Nearly two years in the planning, the celebration originally was intended to coincide with the close of the Redemptorist Jubilee Year celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the death of St. Clement, Redemptorist missionary and ‘second founder’ of the Congregation.The global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the celebration in Liguori, as well as others around the world meant to mark this significant anniversary.Although St. Clement’s has been in existence for more than a uarter of a century, this house of primarily retired and infirm confreres was virtually unknown outside of the Redemptorist family. But Br. Gerry Patin’s recent initiative – the St. Clement Connection monthly news bulletin featuring profiles of confreres who now live at St. Clement’s in each issue – has drawn many new supporters.About 100 guests braved the frigid temperature to participate in the grand celebration. Some drove significant distances, like Fr. John Gouger’s friends who drove 17 hours from Houston to celebrate with him. The St. Clement chapel was filled to capacity, somany guests participated in the liturgy through a livestream broadcast on a large screen television in the common room.Provincial Superior Stephen Rehrauer, C.Ss.R., presided at the Mass of Thanksgiving. Before the liturgy began, he expressed sincere gratitude to all of the family members and friends who gathered for the celebration. He said that their support is vital to the ministry of sharing the Redemptorist charism of plentiful redemption in active missionary fields, as well as in the ministry of prayer at St. Clement’s, He thanked God for sustaining us through the years of the pandemic and bringing peace to our hearts during these turbulent times.After Mass, everyone was invited to stay for lunch and visit with confreres. The St. Clement community was happy to reconnect with so many friends, and hopes are that the Open House will become an annual event.By Kristine Stremel, with contributions from Fr. Vincent Minh, C.Ss.R.. Photos by Fr. Vincent Minh.The St. Clement Community in Liguori joyfully welcomed family and friends to celebrate the Feast of St. Clement Maria Hofbauer with an Open House a few days early, on March 12.
Nearly two years in the planning, the celebration originally was intended to coincide with the close of the Redemptorist Jubilee Year celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the death of St. Clement, Redemptorist missionary and ‘second founder’ of the Congregation.
The global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the celebration in Liguori, as well as others around the world meant to mark this significant anniversary.
Although St. Clement’s has been in existence for more than a uarter of a century, this house of primarily retired and infirm confreres was virtually unknown outside of the Redemptorist family. But Br. Gerry Patin’s recent initiative – the St. Clement Connection monthly news bulletin featuring profiles of confreres who now live at St. Clement’s in each issue – has drawn many new supporters.
About 100 guests braved the frigid temperature to participate in the grand celebration. Some drove significant distances, like Fr. John Gouger’s friends who drove 17 hours from Houston to celebrate with him. The St. Clement chapel was filled to capacity, somany guests participated in the liturgy through a livestream broadcast on a large screen television in the common room.
Provincial Superior Stephen Rehrauer, C.Ss.R., presided at the Mass of Thanksgiving. Before the liturgy began, he expressed sincere gratitude to all of the family members and friends who gathered for the celebration. He said that their support is vital to the ministry of sharing the Redemptorist charism of plentiful redemption in active missionary fields, as well as in the ministry of prayer at St. Clement’s, He thanked God for sustaining us through the years of the pandemic and bringing peace to our hearts during these turbulent times.
After Mass, everyone was invited to stay for lunch and visit with confreres. The St. Clement community was happy to reconnect with so many friends, and hopes are that the Open House will become an annual event.
By Kristine Stremel, with contributions from Fr. Vincent Minh, C.Ss.R.. Photos by Fr. Vincent Minh.
