“The Day That The Lord Has Made” for Our Associates

Our Holy Father, Francis encouraged consecrated persons to share their ideals, spirit and mission with the laity. In 2001 we began a tradition of having an Associates program. Around our religious family, the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer, is a “charismatic family”, which includes lay members of our Congregation who identify with the same Charism, and who feel called, precisely as lay persons, to share in the same Charism.

Our Associate members are aware of the gift they have received by living in the presence of our Sisters, heirs of the Venerable Mother Alphonse Marie. They are united with the Sisters of the Congregation in living their Charism by participating in its redemptive mission. They respond fully to the call to personal holiness for the redemption of the world. It is a grace to celebrate with our “family”, to grow and respond together to the promptings of the Spirit within today’s society. This is an opportunity for mutual enrichment and support.

On September 18, 2016 we were invited to experience a “Day” of Thanksgiving to the Lord. It was “the Day that the Lord has made” for our Associates, a day for their annual renewal promising to follow the Charism of our Foundress, Mother Alphonse Marie and co-work, in the Spirit of our Congregation, on the work of the Redemption. Seventeen Associates made a commitment for one year. This commitment was renewed during a Vesper Prayer Service with the Sisters. The new Associates were given a lapel pin, the By-Laws for the Divine Redeemer Associates, and they signed the Commitment Book. Supper with the Sisters followed. It was an opportunity to review the progress our Associates made and to consider what further steps can be taken towards greater mutual understanding and greater cooperation in many areas of service.

We rejoiced with our Associates, and we are grateful with them to our Redeemer for this Day and for all the gifts we continue to receive, for our Foundress, and for continuing to be faithful to her Charism.

Journeying together always brings enrichment, and it opens new paths to relationships between peoples and cultures, which nowadays appears so difficult.