It is always a pleasure to say good words about the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers.
As a young man, I spent several years in the Redemptorist formation system. They were wonderful years. There I met some of the finest men I have known in my life. In those years I made friends both in and out of the order who have stayed friends througout my life.
When the priest sexual abuse scandals emerged in the last several years, like many others, I was shocked. I spent my adolescent and early adult years raised in the trust of priests. Never once did I see or suspect any impropriety amongst the Redemptorists in whose trust I was placed. Quite the opposite. I learned the virtues of Christian manhood from those fine examples. Through the years I have been in touch with my classmates from those years. Invariably my memories have been validated by their similar recollections.
For any young men considering a religious vocation, I would recommend the Redemptorists to you without any reservation. They have a wonderful sense of spirituality in community. The words that come to my mind when I think of my experiences with the CSSRs are prayerful, practical, pastoral, and committed.
