Argentina-Uruguay Regional Assembly

The Argentina-Uruguay Regional Assembly of the Lay Claretian Movement was held on March 24th and 25th 2012. The participants reflected on the present and future of lay people in the region, producing a final document with several commitments.

The meeting, which took place in the house of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Córdoba, took the documents from the last General Assembly of the Lay Claretian Movement in Aparecida as a starting point to work on.

On the occasion of the Assembly a new Regional Council was elected for the next two years: Alberto Mazza (RegionalCoordinator), Agueda Pillitteri (Training), Nene Saroba (Economy), Father Remigio Chmelar (Religious Adviser).

We thank the outgoing team for their effort and commitment. They have done their duty with perseverance andfondness. And we pray God to enlighten the way of this new period and to bless this region, which is not without difficulties but is rich in love for God, Claret and the Movement.

Next Assembly of the Region Argentina-Uruguay

We've received the call for the next Assembly of the Region Argentina-Uruguay that will take place on 24 and March 25 in Jujuy (Argentina).
We raise our prayer to the Heart of Mary to guide them in the journey of faith and fidelity to God and fill them with strength and hope.

Dear friends,
After many difficulties we have set a date for the Regional Assembly of the Movement.
With the certainty that gives us the faith what is God's work always goes on, today we make this new edition, with the hope that the Movement get renewed and revitalized.
We implore the Lord, the giver of all good, to enlighten and strengthen us, and Inmaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother who accompanies and guides us.
Regional Council
Nene Saroba

12th Betica Regional Assembly

The 12th Betica Regional Assembly of the Lay Claretian Movement was held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) from 24th to 26th February.
Around 140 people (83 full lay Claretians, 19 discerning lay Claretians, 7 religious advisers, 10 guests and 21 children) got together on one of the so called ‘fortunate islands’ for one of the largest Assemblies we have ever have in our Region. We feel full of joy, fortunate and blessed because we are living a moment of grace and growth, and we know it is a gift from God.
We had moments to share our experiences and learn from one another. We listened to different testimonies: from lay Claretians who guide and advise discerning communities (groups); the value of the family and the integration of children in our life of faith; personal experiences of those who completed the Forge process; practical cases of how to schedule meetings for a community along a year; testimonies from some people who attended the General Assembly in Brazil; wonderful personal testimonies given by our elder brothers and sisters who have remained faithful to their lay Claretian vocation and commitment.
We had moments to enjoy and feel Claret alive and on mission, when visiting some of the beloved places he used to go on a pilgrimage and where he left his mark. We had the chance to recall what he did and said there.
We also had time to revise the Communities’ and the Council’s reports and to decide on future lines of action.
We had time to celebrate too, when receiving a new Community (Getsemaní, in Málaga) who was admitted to the Movement after their discernment period. During the beautiful welcome Eucharist, we were reminded that “being a lay Claretian is after all a vocation, an answer to God’s call”.

There was an intense moment of prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us during the Elections. The new elected Council, whom we thank for their availability and generosity, is as follows:

• Coordinator: Laura Rodríguez
• Training: Paco Durán
• Economy: Mayte Albandea
• Communications: Vito Flores
• Religious Adviser: F. Juan Carlos Monroy, cmf

We all shared the feeling of being brothers and sisters in God. We also felt very close so many Communities and people from all the Regions in the world who sent us their greetings and prayers.THANK YOU
We all felt the need to thank God so much for everything He grants us, for what we are, for what we are living.
Filled with peace and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we return home remembering that we need to give our testimony in order for “God to be known, loved, served and worshiped by everyone”.

Regional Assembly in Venezuela

Venezuela Region has performed its Regional Assembly at Paso Real-Cubiro, on  the weekend from 5th to 7th of August, with the participation of 38 persons. During this time, they has worked through the identity and spirituality of the lay, continuing with the lines of action of the recent General Assembly in Aparecida, Brazil. P Jesus Leon cmf  was in charge of leading and motivating this training.

During the Assembly, there have been Regional Council elections with the following results:
Coordinator: Alicia Katari
Secretary: Maria Gonzalez.
Training Secretary: Nailett Marvàez
Economy Secretary: Dilcia Kings.
Religious Assessor: P Jesus Leon
Head of Communication: Joseph G. Melendez.
We thank God for the fruits of the meeting in our brothers from Venezuela, and we are grateful to the responsible team for their availability and service. We pray for the Spirit to enlighten them so they know how to carry the region by the paths that our God wishes, with enthusiasm and openness to the will of our Father. We hope going together making possible that God may be better known, loved, served and praised by all the world.