Our Mission as Redemptorists
The charism of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is to bring the good news of plentiful redemption to the poor and the most abandoned. Our Constitution and Statutes state that the poor are the financially poor, and the abandoned are people who have never heard the gospel, those who could not accept the gospel as good news, and those who have been hurt by division in the Church. Since the founding of the Congregation, one way we have fulfilled our charism has been through itinerant mission preaching.
Fr. Peter Schavitz, C.Ss.R. was my mentor, taught me how to preach parish missions, and was a partner on several missions. If you are reading this article, you have probably either heard of Fr. Pete or attended one of his missions. In his lifetime, Fr. Pete preached over four hundred parish missions. Through his extensive experience, Fr. Pete mastered the art of parish mission preaching. Still, he was always the student refining a process that created what he called “an extraordinary preaching experience.”
The first step in the process is to pray. Once a parish expressed interest in hosting a parish mission, Fr. Pete began to pray every day for the success of the mission. He realized that with God all things are possible, and without God we can not do anything. It is God who prepares hearts to hear the Word, inspires people to participate, and brings about the mission’s success. And so, Fr. Pete would ask the confreres, the Redemptoristines, the parish itself, and other parishes to pray for the success of the mission.
The second step was to prepare for the mission. Fr. Pete always had a pre-mission meeting. He would travel to the parish and meet with the mission planning team. The team would consist of people willing to provide transportation, childcare, refreshments, hospitality, and music. Also, the team would have people responsible for promotion, liturgy, environment, and planning. Father wanted to get as many people in the parish involved as possible. And Father would train them. He would say, “Your job is to get people here on the first night, and my job is to get them to come back the second night and bring along someone else.”
The third step was to preach the mission. Fr. Pete was a dynamic preacher. He had a master’s degree in communication. He knew that his use of words, timing, and symbols needed to touch people’s hearts. So, he would always preach for at least four or five nights and would celebrate all the Masses while he was there. Also, reconciliation was always offered. If he could engage the people enough, they might make a radical choice to allow Jesus to be the Lord of their lives.
Finally, Fr. Pete would ask the people to perpetuate the mission. Having been inspired, people were invited to continue the mission by joining a bible study, becoming involved in a ministry, and doing corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The seeds had been planted, and by continuing the mission, those seeds could be watered, and permanent spiritual growth would occur.
Fr. Pete was the master and the student at giving parish missions. He continuously asked himself how he could make each mission a little better. His legacy of preaching missions will continue through the thousands of lives his preaching inspired. When asked what he had been doing, Fr. Pete would say, “Saving souls for Jesus, because with Him is Plentiful Redemption.”
Yours in the Redeemer,
Rev. Donald Willard, C.Ss.R.
Also in This Issue:
Scott Partin Professes Perpetual Vows
Redemptorist Preached the 119th Novena to Good St. Anne
In Remembrance: Fr. Peter Schavitz, C.Ss.R.
Irresistible Cake & Scones from the Bronx
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