The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists)
The Redemptorists were founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori in response to a call he heard from Jesus—through the poor and abandoned.
In 1730, worn from his missionary work, Alphonsus traveled with companions to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dei Monti in Scala, a small town along the Amalfi Coast. There, he encountered shepherds who had been forgotten by the Church and were spiritually hungry for the Gospel. After much prayer and discernment, Alphonsus felt a deep conviction to return. These shepherds, abandoned by society, needed to hear the message of hope and mercy found in Jesus Christ.
On November 9, 1732, St. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer to follow the example of Christ by preaching the Good News to the poor and most abandoned.
That same mission continues today through the work of Redemptorists around the world—in parishes, through missions, retreats, reconciliation, moral theology, and ecumenical outreach. The Redemptorists came to the United States in 1832, and have served faithfully ever since.
Their charism is beautifully captured in their Constitutions:
“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.”
— Redemptorist Constitutions, No. 20
Redemptorist Saints & Blesseds
The Redemptorist family includes many saints and blesseds who lived lives of heroic faith:
- St. Gerard Majella – Patron of mothers and unborn children
- St. Clement Hofbauer – Apostle of Vienna and Warsaw
- St. John Neumann – Bishop and pioneer of Catholic education in the U.S.
- Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos – Missionary of compassion in America
- And many more, including Blesseds Gennaro Sarnelli, Peter Donders, Gaspar Stanggassinger, and others who gave their lives in witness to Christ.
