Twelve months ago I was asked if I would take on the role of director of vocations for the Redemptorists in Ireland. After considering it for some time, I agreed to accept. What was I thinking? Was I off my trolly? At a time when there has been a major decline in the practice of the faith in Ireland and when so many people see the church as irrelevant and outdated,
(not to mention the fallout from all the scandals), it would seem as if I have taken on an onerous task. So, why did I accept?

First, I know that I would not be a Redemptorist today had it not been for the fact that I was invited by a Redemptorist missioner to consider this way of life. At a parish mission in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan in 1980, I was asked by one of the Redemptorists conducting it if I would like to be a missioner. I suppose I was chuffed by the idea that
I could aspire to be like these great men. The stories they told of working in faraway places and caring for the poorest of the poor caught my imagination. They also seemed like pretty ‘normal’ people who enjoyed their work and got on well together. There was a slight problem. I was only 15 years old and still had another year to complete in school!

Looking back, I can see that this initial contact was what inspired me to become a Redemptorist. If I hadn’t been invited to consider this way of life, if the possibility of being a missioner had not been placed before me, my life could well have taken a very different course.

Second, since I joined the Redemptorists I have been introduced to a religious family that I have grown to love and cherish. I have found myself part of a group of men and women (the Redemptoristine Sisters) who try to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in community, working in the service of God’s people. I have had so many challenges and opportunities,
so many blessings and joys, along with my fair share of struggles and difficult moments since joining this congregation, but I can honestly say I would not change it for the world.

REMARKABLE FAMILY
We are a remarkable family in so many ways. Men - brothers and priests of all ages - from so many different backgrounds living in groups of varying sizes and trying to share a vision of a world which is faithful to Jesus Christ and to God’s plan for all people. The Redemptoristine Sisters live the contemplative life in a spirit of generosity and selflessness. We are very much connected to each other as a family and rely on each other for support and inspiration. I know for a fact that the prayers of the sisters support each Redemptorist in his mission efforts around the country.

The family doesn’t end there. We also have gathered around us in our work and ministry a veritable army of generous and talented coworkers and supporters. These are the real heroes of the Redemptorist family because without them we would be nothing at all.
We can depend on them for literally everything. When we accept and understand the love, support and gratitude that we Redemptorists receive from so many people, only then do we begin to realize how important it is that our work and way of life continue; it is then that we truly see the need for us to always encourage vocations.

REDEMPTORISTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Third, and perhaps most importantly, Redemptorists make a difference. I have found that the work we carry out is of enormous benefit to the church and to society today. Perhaps more than ever before, there is a need for people who can proclaim courageously
the Good News of hope, love and reconciliation in a world where there is so much greed, violence, hopelessness and selfishness. The Redemptorists make a very significant contribution in this area, and I could fill a book describing the good fruits that have
resulted from the work we engage in.

Our mission, novena, and retreat teams bring so much hope to so many. Our parish teams show great welcome and openness. Our foreign mission outreaches have stood firmly on the side of the oppressed and downtrodden in so many places around the world. Our work for peace and justice is a matter of record. Our contribution to the print media is making a difference in the lives of many people who long for a challenging message. My experience of life as a Redemptorist has shown me that the Spirit of God is powerfully present in the work we do. This is why I believe I was right to accept the challenge of vocation ministry.
I
would ask you to pray for this work and to do all you can to foster vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Don’t be afraid to encourage vocations.