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April 21, 2023Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In the twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John, “Peace be with you,” were the first words that Jesus spoke to his disciples on the evening of that first Easter day. As we continue to celebrate our faith during this Easter season, I pray that you are experiencing the blessings of deep peace and immense joy in the love of God that has triumphed over death in the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. Just as the season of spring sings a song of new life with buds blooming and birds singing in more light of day, may the Spirit of the Risen Christ continue to rise up within all of us that we may be ‘missionaries of hope’ to one another and to all our sisters and brothers throughout the world.
The call to be ‘missionaries of hope’ is at the heart of Easter and our invitation to be an Easter people. After beginning with “peace be with you” on that first Easter night and after saying those very same words a second time, the Risen Christ then says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21) Each and every one of us is called and sent into the world to witness to the love and mercy of God. We embrace this Easter summons not alone but together as confreres and partners in mission in solidarity with our worldwide Redemptorist community and as members of the People of God.
As I write to you at this Eastertide, I would like to draw your attention to two particular processes related to our community life and our ministries as Redemptorists and to especially ask for your prayers that the Holy Spirit lead and guide us as they happen:
1. With our recent Provincial Chapter now completed, we are now in the midst of visitations by members of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Provincial Councils to all confreres and ministries throughout the province in anticipation of changes in both community and apostolic assignments for this new term. The visitations will continue through the end of May and come to completion with new appointments and assignments being made on or about June 15, 2023.
2. The second important event in our life at this time is the gathering of our confreres from the North American Conference of the Congregation for Phase III of our 26th General Chapter and for the North American Conference Assembly. The Phase III meeting will focus our attention on the decisions and directives from the second phase of the General Chapter which took place in Rome in the fall of 2022 and the plan of our General Council for the worldwide Congregation over the next six years. The Conference Assembly will follow the Phase III meeting and involve our consideration and deliberation of how best to implement the plans and decisions and integrate them into both the community and apostolic life of our North American Conference.
Both of these current events are significant and important experiences of discernment for our Congregation on both the worldwide and local levels as we look forward to our future in faith and with hope. The gift of your presence, care, and prayer for us as these processes continue to unfold is an Easter blessing for our mission, our community, and our ministry to God’s people.
Easter is not just about what happened to Jesus on the day He rose from the dead. It is also about us. It is about what happens within and among us in the now of our lives in the light of Christ. May the Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed on his disciples on that first Easter morn be new life and renewed energy in our response to God’s invitation to be ‘missionaries of hope’ in our world today.
Thank you for all the ways you bless us as Redemptorists by sharing in our life and ministry. We are more than grateful to God for your encouragement, support, and witness.
Blessings of peace, hope, and joy at Easter and always!
John Collins, C.Ss.R.
Provincial Superior of the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province
