Redemptorist, CSsR

The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, CSsR

The Redemptorists are a religious congregation of men founded in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Their mission is to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, by preaching the word of God to the poor, as He declared of Himself: ‘He sent me to preach the Good News to the poor.’. They began this work among the poor and forgotten shepherds living in the hill country surrounding Naples, in southern Italy. The Congregation grew and expanded its ministry outside of Italy when, in 1785, Clement Hofbauer and Thaddeus Heubl returned to their homeland, Austria, to establish the Congregation there. Through many trials the Congregation grew and, in 1830, was approached to send missionaries to America. In 1832, when the Congregation was 100 years old, six Redemptorists (three priests and three Brothers) journeyed to America. At the present time, there are over 6,000 Redemptorists working for people in nearly every part of the world. Redemptorists maintain the missionary zeal taught to them by their founder, Saint Alphonsus Liguori.