Redemptorist News

Recently, Pope Paul VI was declared ‘Blessed’, or beatified. It was he who was the ‘helmsman of the Second Vatican Council’, guiding it to its completion in 1965. Years later, in 1973, he met with a group of Redemptorists who were gathered in Rome for the General Chapter of the Redemptorists. After reading his prepared text, he laid it aside and spoke ‘from the heart’ to those present. Fortunately, one person was able to record his words, which have been a great encouragement to Redemptorists in all the parts of the world where we work. The text of his words has been made available to us again, after his being declared a Blessed of the Church by Pope Francis. First an extract from it, and then, below, the full text of what he said.

And here is another thing we cannot pass over: it is the expression of our gratitude for the work you are doing in the Church, above all, for your care of souls, which ever since the time of St. Alphonsus, is your primary vocation.

This nearness to the people… try hard to strengthen it.  If we want to save the world we have to instruct, we have to give good example, we have to pray; but we also have to unite ourselves to the people by being in the midst of them.

We have to come as close as possible, even personally, to the classes which today are, as it were, the most “distrustful” of religion.  They are the most numerous, and they are the most powerful, because by reason of modern democracy, they have in their hands the governing of the lives of the peoples.  Be among the people, get as close to the people as you can.

Full text below:

SPONTANEOUS ADDRESS OF POPE PAUL VI TO CAPITULARS, 1973. (spoken in Italian)

Won’t that be enough in Latin?

When one’s heart is so moved, as ours is at this moment, at the presence of these dearest sons and friends and brothers now visiting us, and when one’s mind is conscious of the function and vocation you have in the Church and in the world, we cannot keep back what we feel on such an occasion as this.

I don’t know if you will all understand Italian … but that doesn’t matter.  You will at least understand…that’s right, isn’t it?…our fatherly gesture, which wants to say this:

First of all, know that we have a great affection for your religious family, a great regard for it…  We place great confidence in you.  Be assured that you are loved by the Church, and especially by this Apostolic See, which, though we don’t merit it, at this moment we have the great honour actually to represent.

 Know well, too, that you are genuinely united to us.  It has been very well said in your name: “Faithful to our tradition, we must feel that we are solidly united with the Church of Rome, with the Chair of St. Peter.”  Very well, feel assured that this is reciprocal …the Chair of Peter, the Church of Rome is united with you; it wishes you well; it esteems you; it is grateful to you.

And here is another thing we cannot pass over: it is the expression of our gratitude for the work you are doing in the Church, above all, for your care of souls, which ever since the time of St. Alphonsus, is your primary vocation.

This nearness to the people… try hard to strengthen it.  If we want to save the world we have to instruct, we have to give good example, we have to pray; but we also have to unite ourselves to the people by being in the midst of them.

We have to come as close as possible, even personally, to the classes which today are, as it were, the most “distrustful” of religion.  They are the most numerous, and they are the most powerful, because by reason of modern democracy, they have in their hands the governing of the lives of the peoples.  Be among the people, get as close to the people as you can.

Then we are grateful to you also, because you exercise one of the great, if not one of the greatest, means at the disposition of the Church’s ministry, and one we want to recommend to you very much – spiritual direction.  Like St. Alphonsus, be really good confessors.  We need them so much.

Just yesterday, during a conversation with another ecclesiastic, we were talking about the way things were going in the Church, and the well-known scarcity of religious vocations, and we were looking for the reason.

Well, the cause is this: guidance is no longer given in the confessional, there is no longer any spiritual direction.  A candle, we said, does not light itself.  One candle that is lit must pass on its light to the one next to it.  The priest must communicate his own vocation, his own enthusiasm at being called to serve the Lord, to another youthful life still lacking experience of it, but capable of recognizing and accepting the call.  You can certainly multiply the forces of the Church and console her in one of her gravest necessities, by sitting patiently and using your wisdom and knowledge – as is characteristic of the Redemptorist Fathers – in the confessional, celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and giving spiritual direction.

And there is another thing we want to say to you – a big “Thank You” – as big as the world itself, that is, extending as far as the distant regions your missions reach.  How often we see: here, there is a Redemptorist Bishop; here, a Prefect Apostolic; here, a Vicar Apostolic; here, there is a mission entrusted to your confreres.  I want, here and now, to send a big affectionate greeting to all your missionary confreres.  And if you have the opportunity of meeting them, say to them too: “The Pope told me to greet you and to bless you!”

And finally, dearest sons, you have a qualification that distinguishes and specializes you in the Church of God.  You continue the school of morality, or religious ethics, of Moral Theology, of which your Founder St. Alphonsus has left you such magnificent works, with his command to you to pass on this heritage, saying: “Continue.”

Become really specialists in this field of ecclesiastical science, in this field of Moral Theology.  Strive to be really qualified and genuinely balanced students and authors in it.

You know the crisis through which Moral Theology is passing in the Church, that is, the crisis of relativism, which holds the possibility that Moral Theology can change – just as man’s customs change, and society changes, and theories that govern the world change, so too even the Law of God, of which we must be the interpreters.  This relationship between man and his fellowmen, which Moral Theology codifies and expresses – all this can be submitted to critical, even radical examination, especially on some point where the observance of the Law of God, confirmed by the Church, becomes hard and difficult.

Be really good moralists.  We very strongly recommend this to you.  The Law of God does not change.  We must not easily call into question and subject to discussion what comes to us from God, nor the interpretation which the Church has given with the greatest caution and wisdom.  We must say: “This is what the Lord has said.”  “This is what the Lord wants.”

Have great confidence in the teaching authority which guides all of us, because all of us are disciples of the Chair of Christ who is our Teacher.

And when the principle is stated, when the law is established and is clear in what it demands, and in the possibility of its being observed and applied to the necessities of men – then become Pastors.  That is, find a way of making the matter understood – a Theology of Language.  See how you can be modern – A Theology of the Times.  See how you can understand the society in which we live – I would call this a Theology of the People.

These are all flexibilities of pastoral theology; to be pastors is to add love to the knowledge we possess.  And love has so many resources – on the one hand, the power to convince, and on the other hand, to make easy the carrying-out of an obligation.

Be good pastors.  As we said before, get close to souls in the sacred ministry, especially in the hearing of confessions, and you will find out how much indulgence is necessary, how much, I would say, “elasticity” the Law of God itself is capable of assuming, for the very purpose of adapting itself to the weaknesses and requirements of man’s human condition. Courage!  As we have said in our short discourse, take your vocation very, very seriously.  It is a tremendous and unique grace that God has granted you, to be committed by your dedication in the religious life to the service of God, and also to the service of the neighbour of the people of our time.

Attach great, great importance to this choice which God has made of you.  It is not an event, just like any other; it is not a happening like any other.  It is a secret which rests over and influences your whole life, and truly makes of you true ministers of the wisdom of the Gospel and of the grace which Christ has given in inheritance to His Church.

And feel sure that I shall share these sentiments of yours, in my capacity of brother and father, and as one who has been commissioned “to strengthen you, sons of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.”

And to give you a sign of this affection of mine for you, and of my fidelity, I promise to say Holy Mass especially for your Congregation.

Now I give you my blessing.  And then I shall come down among you for a photograph to commemorate the occasion.

Fr. Stephen loved music, as did all his family. He played the button accordion with great skill.

The Month’s Mind Mass for Fr. Stephen McCabe, Redemptorist, was celebrated on Sunday Nov. 30th at 3pm in Marianella Chapel, Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin. The chapel was packed with people who knew and loved Stephen and/or members of his family, and the Redemptorists.

Below is what was published on this site one month ago or so:

Your prayers are requested for the happy repose of the soul of Fr. Stephen McCabe (aged 63) who died at 6.40am this morning (Monday 27th October 2014) after a long struggle with cancer, in Fortaleza, Brazil. Fr. Albert McGettrick was with him when he died.

Fr. Stephen grew up beside Orwell Road in Rathgar in Dublin, very near Marianella, the Redemptorist Community on Orwell Road. We offer our deepest sympathies to Fr. Stephen’s sisters and brothers. May he rest in peace.  

Stephen’s remains will be brought to São Raimundo church (in Fortaleza, Brazil) at noon today (Monday).     Funeral Mass to-morrow Tuesday at 9.00am and burial afterwards in the cemetery PARQUE DA PAZ – all times local to Fortaleza.

At a date to be arranged with Fr. Stephen’s family there will be a Mass in Marianella.

For now let us remember Stephen in our prayers.

The Catholic Church in Nazária in Piaui, were Fr. Stephen worked for several years in recent times.

Fr. Stephen McCabe was born in 1951, professed a Redemptorist in 1970 and ordained a priest on June 3rd, 1978. He was diagnosed with cerebral cancer a few years back, and died in Fortaleza in Brazil today, October 27th, at the age of 63.

Fr. Stephen was greatly loved among all of us Redemptorists, both in the Dublin Province, and in the Vice-Province of Fortaleza. He was a man of immense kindness, gentleness, joy, wisdom, prayer,- and a great musician who entertained us on different occasions. May his dear soul rest in the embrace of God whom he served with such devotion and dedication and joy as a Redemptorist priest. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis!

The following was sent to us today, written by one of his confreres in Brazil, Fr. Brendan McDonald.

Rev. Stephen Paul Mc Cabe C.Ss.R.

On the 27th. of October 2014, at the Curé  d’Ars Hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, Father Stephen Mc Cabe went to his eternal reward after a long period of illness bravely and camly borne.

Father Stephen was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 14th. of August 1951.  He was the eldest son of Michael Mc Cabe and Kathleen Kiernan.  He had two brothers and three sisters who came to visit him in Brazil shortly before his death.  He was baptized at Saint Andrew’s Church in Dublin.  His primary education was done with the De La Salle Brothers and his secondary education with the Christian Brothers both schools being in Dublin.

In 1969 the Christian Brothers organized a retreat for their students.  The retreat was preached by the Redemptorists.  At the closing of the retreat Father Denis Farrell C.Ss.R. invited Stephen to become a Redemptorist.  Despite some inicial misgivings on his mother’s part, as she considered the Redemptorists a very rigorous and austere religious congregation, Stephen began his postulancy followed by his noviciate in 1969.  He was professed on the 1st. of September 1970.

He read philosophy at University College, Galway from 1970 to 1973.  This was followed by his theology course at the Spiritain Missionary Institute [Kimmage].  Stephen spent two years on a period of probation in Brazil from 1975 to 1977.  This time was mainly to study Portuguese, and to adapt to the climate and customs in Brazil.  He spent most of this time in CENFI (Center for Intercultural Formation) in Brasília.

In 1977/1978 Stephen returned to the Spiritan Missionary Institute in Dublin to complete his theological formation.  On the 5th. of Feburary 1978 he made his final profession and on the 3rd of June that same year he was ordained a priest.

Returning to Brazil in 1979 Stephen was sent to Teresina the capital of the State of Piauí where he spent many years including some as Parish Priest.  He also worked in a poor district called Serviluz as well as in a very poor district called São Miguel, Messejana both in the city of Fortaleza.  He also spent some time in formation with our postulants in Bela Vista, Fortaleza.  Father Stephen spent his last years working in Paraiso do Tocantins, and in Nazária in Piauí. He was working in the Interprovincial Noviciate in Campina Grande when he was diagnosed with cerebral cancer.  He suffered this illness with great patience and admirable courage.

Father Stephen was a man of profound faith and an intense spiritual life among which traits were noted: his spirit of prayer, his fervent priestly ministry, his beautiful witness of a simple and austere life, his total understanding of the evangelical message, his great dedication to his religious confreres, his sincere welcome and respect for the poor, his constant smile and jovial manner, his serenity, peacefullness and freindly manner of being as well as his dedication to study and work.

Father Stephen liked to visit the communities on the perifery of the city, as well as the abandoned communities in the interior of the state.  He was a great musician and many Redemptorist feasts and liturgies were animated by his accordian or organ playing.

A poet once said: “Nobody dies while he lives on in someones heart”.  I know for certain that Stephen is very much alive in the hearts of his Redemptorist confreres, the members of his family and the countless friends he made during his priestly ministry.

Stephen, may the heavenly choir receive you and bring you to the Holy City, the Heavenly Jerusalem, where you will have your well earned eternal rest and the crown our holy founder Saint Alphonsus promised to us Redemptorists who were faithful and persevered in their vocation.                 Fr. Brendan Coleman Mc Donald C.Ss.R. 

Padre Estêvão McCabe, C.Ss.R.

Notícia: [NOTA DE FALECIMENTO] Pe. Estêvão Mc Cabe C.Ss.R.

Faleceu por volta das 3.38 horas no dia 27 de outubro de 2014 no Hospital Cura d’Ars, em Fortaleza no Ceará, depois de uma longa doença corajosamente enfrentada, o Padre Estêvão (Stephen Paul) Mc Cabe.  O falecido nasceu em Dublin, Irlanda no dia 14 de agosto de 1951. Foi o primeiro filho de Michael Mc Cabe e Kathleen Kiernan. Teve dois   irmãos e três irmãs. Foi batizado na Igreja de Santo André em Dublin. Sua educação primária foi feita com os Irmãos De La Salle, e cursou o colegial com os Irmãos Cristãos, ambas as escolas sendo em Dublin. Em 1969 houve um retiro espiritual na escola dos Irmãos Cristãos pregado pelos Padres Redentoristas. No final do retiro Pe. Denis Farrell C.Ss.R. convidou o jovem Estêvão para ser redentorista. Apesar do receio de sua mãe que considerou a Congregação Redentorista muito rigorosa e austera, Estêvão começou o postulando seguido pelo noviciado em 1969. Fez seus primeiros votos no dia primeiro de  setembro de 1970.

Cursou filosofia na Universidade de Galway de 1970 até 1973, e de 1973 até 1975 seu curso de teologia no Instituto Missionário dos Padres Spiritanos. De 1975 até 1977 fez estágio de dois anos  aqui no Brasil. O estágio foi principalmente para aprender a língua portuguesa e adaptar-se ao clima e aos costumes brasileiros. Com esse estudou no CENFI Centro de Formação Intercultural) em Brasília. Durante os anos 1977 e 1978 terminou seu curso de teologia  no Instituto Missionário dos Padres Spiritanos em Dublin. No dia 5 de fevereiro fez sua profissão religiosa permanente e no dia 3 de junho de 1978 foi ordenado presbítero.

Voltando ao Brasil em 1979 foi nomeado para Teresina, Piauí, onde ficou por muitos anos. Trabalhou também aqui em Fortaleza em Serviluz, na área da Praia do Futuro e na favela de São Miguel em Messejana. Passou alguns anos na formação dos postulantes no bairro de Bela Vista. Seus últimos anos de vida encontrou Pe. Estêvão trabalhando em Paraiso do Tocantins, em Nazária no Piauí, e depois no noviciado Interprovincial em Campina Grande. Nesta última cidade foi diagnosticado com câncer cerebral e lutou contra essa doença até sua morte com grande paciência e admirável coragem.

Pe. Estevão foi um homem de profunda fé e intensa vida espiritual na qual se destacam um espírito de oração, fervoroso ministério sacerdotal, boníssima testemunha de vida simples e austera,  brilhante inteligência com total dominação da mensagem evangélica,  total dedicação aos seus confrades, acolhimento alegre e sincero com sensibilidade e respeito aos pobres e menos favorecidos, sempre sorridente e jovial, era de fácil convivência, pessoa serena, simpática, dedicado ao estudo e trabalho.

Pe. Estêvão gostava de visitar as comunidades na parte periférica de Teresina e as comunidades mais abandonadas no interior. Dotado com inteligência musical, Estêvão como sanfonista alegrou muitas festas redentoristas e festas do povo além de celebrações litúrgicas. O poeta disse: “Ninguém, morre enquanto permanece vivo no coração de alguém”. Tenho certeza absoluta que Estêvão está muito vivo nos corações de seus confrades, de seus familiares e nos corações dos incontáveis fieis que o ama.

Querido Estêvão que o coro festivo te acolha e te conduza à Cidade Santa, à Jerusalém Celestial, para que tenhas um descanso eterno.

Por Pe. Brendan Coleman Mc Donald C.Ss.R.