Overview

St. Alphonsus Liguori founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) in Naples, Italy in 1732. The original mission as set forth by St. Alphonsus was to strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ in preaching the Gospel to the poor, particularly to those who live on the margins of Church and society.

St. Alphonsus began his ministry in the hills overlooking Naples to address the spiritual needs of the poor, neglected goat herders and shepherds living in these rural, mountainous areas.

At first, only a handful of men made up the Redemptorists. Over time though the congregation would expand beyond the Kingdom of Naples, first into central Italy and then further northward into Poland. By the early 1800s, Redemptorist communities were established in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, Belgium and Holland. In 1832, the centennial year of the foundation of the Congregation, six Redemptorist missionaries (three priests and three brothers) traveled to the United States of America to establish the first Redemptorist mission outside of Europe. Additional Redemptorist missions were later established in Latin America, Australia, and eventually Africa and Asia.

All Redemptorists use the initials “C.Ss.R.” after their last names. These four letters are an abbreviation for Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris, the Latin for “Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer."

Redemptorist priests and brothers all profess vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The Amalfi Coast in Italy where Father Alphonsus Liguori ministered to the poor and neglected.