History

        On November 9, 1732,  in Scala, Italy St. Alphonsus Liguori founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C. Ss. R.) to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ announcing the Good News to the poor. He was 36 years old. His life became one of mission and service to the most abandoned. The Congregation was approved by Benedict XIV on February 25, 1749.

     Redemptorist Missionaries continue the charism of Alphonsus in the Church and in society. "Strong in faith, rejoicing in hope, burning with charity, on fire with zeal, in humility of heart and persevering in prayer, Redemptorists as apostolic men and genuine disciples of Saint Alphonsus follow Christ the Redeemer with Hearts full of joy; denying themselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding and challenging, they share in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it in Gospel simplicity of life and language, that they may bring to people Plentiful Redemption" (Redemptorist Constitutions, No. 20).

   Redemptorists live in missionary communities, always welcoming and prayerful, like Mary of Nazareth. By means of missions, retreats, parish ministry, ecumenical apostolates, the ministry of reconciliation and the teaching of Moral Theology, they proclaim the love of God our Father which in Jesus "dwelt amongst us" so as to become profound mercy and The Word of Life which nourishes the human heart and gives life meaning so as to live it to the fullest in freedom and solidarity with others. And, like Alphonsus, Redemptorists make a very clear option for the poor affirming their dignity and greatness before God and believing that the Good News of Our Lord is meant in a special way for them.

      There are over 5,300 Redemptorists; they work in 77 countries on all 5 continents helped by many men and women who collaborate in their mission and together form the Redemptorist Family. "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" is the missionary icon of the Congregation.

     In addition to St. Alphonsus, three other Redemptorists have been canonized: St. Gerard Majella, St. Clement Hofbauer and St. John Neumann. Nine Redemptorists have been beatified: Gennaro Sarnelli, Peter Donders, Gaspar Stanggassinger, Francesco Saverio Seelos, Domenico Metodio Trčka, Vasyl Velychkovskyi, Zynoviy Kovalyk, Mykolay Charnetskyi e Ivan Ziatyk.

     Irish Redemptorist  Missionaries came to India in 1940 and established their first foundation inBangalore. The superior of the mission Fr. Mathew Hickey, with his far-sighted vision laid the foundation of a future Redemptorist  province by opening a Novitiate there in 1943. Among the candidates entered this Novitiate were not only those from the Latin Church bit also those from the ancient Church of the St. Thomas Christians, now a Major  Archiepiscopal Church of the Syro-Malabar Rite. These Syro-Malabar candidates had permission from the Holy See to conform themselves to the Latin Rite in everything while retaining their own Oriental Rite. The Redemptorist Mission in India and Sree Lanka was constituted a Vice-Province on October 1, 1945 and a Province on Aughust 15, 1972.

     The teaching of II Vatican Council on the nature of the Church of Christ as a Communion of Individual Churches of equal dignity and rights, and the Church’s mind with regard to Oriental Rites set forth in the Council’s Decree on Eastern  Catholic Churches gave inspiration and impetus to Redemprotists from the Syro-Malabar Church to study more profoundly the history  and heritage of their own Church. They petitioned the Provincial Chapter of 1990 to establish a Syro-Malabar unit of the Congregation. After the chapter overwhelmingly favoured this request, the region of Alwaye, depending on the Latin Province of Bangalore, was approved by the General Council by its Rescript dated December 28, 1991. The official inauguration of the Region of Alwaye took place on February 19, 1992 at Chowara. This region was attached to the Syro-Malabar Church and its members were given the faculty of bi-ritualism by the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

     The General Government by its Decree dated 5, 1995 raised the Region of Alwaye to the status of an autonomous Vice-Province with its headquarters at Chowara. This decree became  effective on July3, 1995, the solemnity of St. Thomas the Apostle of India. The Holy See by its Decree dated May 2, 1996 attached this new Major Unit of the Congregation to the Syro-Malabar Church. The Vice-Province was erected as Liguori Province on June 27, 2008 with its headquarters at Liguori Bhavan, Mattoor. The province has 100 members now! 55 priests and 45 professed students.

STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE LIGUORI PROVINCE

Professed Members	100
Priests	55
Professed Students	45
Students in Formation	81
IV Theologians	04
III Theologians	06
II Theologians	03
I Theologians	03
Regents	08
III Philosophers	01
II Philosophers	08
I Philosophers	12
Plus Two Students	12
Plus One Students	03
Orientation year Students	21
Canonically Erected Houses	08
Confreres Gone to Eternal Rest	03