The Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Latin: Filii Sanctissimi Redemptoris; FSSR), commonly known as The Sons and The Transalpine Redemptorists, are a religious institute of the Catholic Church canonically erected in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen and based on Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, as well as in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, until July 2024. They were formed in 1988 as a traditionalist offshoot of the Redemptorists, following a monastic rule based on that of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, and was later formally erected as a religious institute in 2012.
Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer | |
Filii Sanctissimi Redemptoris | |
 The general seal of the FSSR | |
| Abbreviation | FSSR |
|---|---|
| Formation | August 2, 1988 |
| Type | Clerical institute of diocesan right |
| Headquarters | Golgotha Monastery, Papa Stronsay, Scotland |
Rector major | Michael Mary |
| Website | papastronsay |
History
editThe community was founded as the Transalpine Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer on 2 August 1988 by the Redemptorist priest Michael Mary Sim as a traditional Redemptorist religious community affiliated with the Society of Saint Pius X.
Originally based at the Monastery of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, they moved to the Mother of Perpetual Succour Monastery in Joinville, Haute-Marne, France, in 1994, until they bought the island of Papa Stronsay on 31 May 1999.[1] There they established the Golgotha Monastery, and have published The Catholic monthly since 1982. They promote a Redemptorist Purgatorian Confraternity.[2] In July 2007 the institute established a second monastery in Christchurch, New Zealand.[3]
In June 2008, the community petitioned the Holy See for reconciliation and this was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI who declared them to be in "canonical good standing" within the Catholic Church.[4] The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum was the main incentive which caused the community to reconsider their position.[5] Most of the members accepted the move, while a remnant continue to be affiliated with the SSPX. They changed their official name to The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (FSSR), and made alterations to their religious habit in order to more clearly differentiate themselves from that of the Redemptorists.[6] However, they were not canonically established as a religious institute and thus their faculties for celebrating Mass were for some years restricted to the islands of Papa Stronsay and Stronsay.[7]
On 15 August 2012, the community of fifteen was granted canonical recognition as a clerical institute of diocesan right by Hugh Gilbert, Bishop of Aberdeen.[8] In June 2013, the congregation celebrated the ordination in Rome of two of its members.[9] During 2017 another small community was established at Kakahu by the Christchurch monastery.
On 7 October 2020, the community was invited to establish a monastery in the Diocese of Great Falls–Billings, Montana, US.[10]
In 2023, a New Zealand journalistic investigation suggested[11] abuse within the community, including multiple exorcisms being conducted on children without the approval of the local Bishop. Shortly after, Michael Gielen, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch suspended all exorcisms in the Diocese.[12][13] The Rector Major of the order responded to all the accusations and denied them. He specifically stressed that no exorcisms without the approval of the bishop were performed, that none of two involved minors, and that certain allegations concerned a priest who was not a member of their community.[14]
The Bishop of Christchurch announced on 13 July 2024 that priests of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer — also known as the Transalpine Redemptorists — would no longer be allowed to minister in the Diocese of Christchurch.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Untitled Document papastronsay.com". www.papastronsay.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Purgatorian Archconfraternity". www.archconfraternity.com. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Williams, Huw (9 March 2020). "The monks who bought their own Scottish island". BBC. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ Redemptorists, Transalpine (1 July 2008). "Transalpine Redemptorists at home: Canonical Good Standing". Transalpine Redemptorists at home. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "'When we left, the stones came from behind' | CatholicHerald.co.uk". CatholicHerald.co.uk. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Redemptorists, Transalpine (20 July 2008). "Transalpine Redemptorists at home: No more servants, but sons. (Gal. IV:7)". Transalpine Redemptorists at home. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Redemptorists, Transalpine (15 May 2010). "Transalpine Redemptorists at home: A Note from Rome". Transalpine Redemptorists at home. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ "Catholic Herald - Traditionalist group granted formal status within the Church after a four-year wait". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Group celebrates first ordinations since reunion with Rome". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
- ^ Redemptorists, Transalpine (29 December 2020). "Our American Foundation - Montana Rosa Mystica - Christmas Letter from Father Michael Mary". Transalpine Redemptorists at home. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Church accused of performing unlicensed exorcisms". NZ Herald. 14 September 2023.
- ^ Staff, NZ Catholic (23 August 2023). "Exorcisms suspended in Chch diocese until further notice". NZ Catholic Newspaper.
- ^ "Ritualistic Child Abuse In New Zealand Catholic Church. Bishops Remain Silent As Safeguarding Is Questioned | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz.
- ^ "Paddy Gower Has Issues: Catholic order accused of abuse of power, unauthorised exorcisms". Newshub – via www.newshub.co.nz.
- ^ Luke Coppen, "New Zealand bishop expels traditionalist order", The Pillar, 16 July 2024(Retrieved 16 July 2024)
External links
edit- Golgotha Monastery, Papa Stronsay, Orkney Scotland (official website)
- Transalpine Redemptorists at home (official blog)
- Friends of Papa Stronsay Archived 28 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine