We are redeemers in a time of crisis

Today, second day of our meeting, we started praying together Holy Mass presided by Father Damaso Masabo, General Counselor. He has emphasized on the theme that Our God is the God who accompanies us throughout ourn history.

At 9:30, Fr. Emilio inaugurates the first Session with the prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Rev. Father Damaso Masabo, in preparation of the 8th Centenary of our Order, as challenge the religious preparing for Solemn Profession to recognize their Rol in the modern World as Mercedarians. Here are some the highligthed points.

Why are we called as redeedemers? Because we have been called by God, One and Triune.

We must learn to see and read the situations that captivate People in our times in order to give them Hope.

World in twenty first century is in Crisis. Many factors are changing, and Religious Life must change to offer Gospell to people in opression. Based on the Message of General Chapter 2010 and reflections of Pope Benedict XVI, Father Damaso throws ligth on many aspects of the world crisis, namely religious intolerance, relativity moralisim, terrorism, slavery, ideological utilitarianism, economical problems, etc. He makes an exhaustive analysis of two spheres of opression: situation of christians living in Muslim Countries who are severely persecuted for expressing their faith, and Cultural Changes coming with Globalization.

Our mercedarian charism is relevant even today. We must actually carry out our charism in these situations, contrary to human dignity. To accomplish that, we shoud see situations with compassion, feel with the people suffering, developing an spirituality of brotherhood following in the footsteps of saint Peter Nolascus to proclaim Jesus Christ.

Father Damaso has inspired deeply the religious with his personal experience of coming back to life in the Congo War of 1996, where he miraculisly saved by the selfgiving up of Christophe Munzihirwa, Archbishop of Bukavu. Fr. Damaso has encoraged the religious to be well prepared and brave mercedarians to accomplish ht charism of Redemption if necessary by shedding their blood for Jesus sake to uplift Humandkind

Day is concluded with evening prayers and recreation followed by supper.

Fr. Yarampalli Augustine, O. de M.