News from Owerri (Nigeria)

We publish part of a letter received from Owerri (Nigeria), talking about their activities

“About our activities, during last lent, the Layclaretians conducted our yearly Lenten Retreat/Recollection. It is usually a full day's encounter. The topic of the retreat delivered by our Assessor Fr. Christian Eze is 'Fulfilling God's Call in Our Lives.' He discussed it under the following dimensions: the Human Vocation, the Christian Vocation, the Law Vocation and finally vocation to eternal glory or ignominy. After the lecture, we went into workshops- had 4 groups to further discuss the lecture and finally had presentations by the groups. In addition to the lecture, we included songs, prayers (ROSARY), confession and finally ended with the Mass. We were spiritually nurished and we enjoyed it. We did not take pictures, next time we shall take pictures and send them to you. We are looking forward and preparing for the feast of Immaculate Heart of Mary in the month of June. Rest assured of our prayers as you prepare for the ASSEMBLY in Brazil. We humbly commit the General Council to Jesus, Mary and Claret for a successful Assembly. Thank you and God bless. Yours in Christ, Mary and Claret”, BRO. ALEX.”

Deceases in Colombia

From Colombia, the coordinator of this region informs us about sad news:
“This time I am writing to inform you about of a great loss for the movement: the death of our sisters IVES PALACIO GARCIA and SHIRLEY PALENCIA, from Rio Sucio and Medellin respectively."
May the Lord receive their soul and reward their dedication to the the Kingdom.

Imaichi community (Japan) without direct damages

Fr Jose Llamas from the parish of Imaichi (that is an small district in Asahi, inside of the southern city of Osaka, not in the north as we explained in previous news), has established communication with the Chairwoman of the group of layclaretians. She told him that has relatives in the earthquake zone, but the tsunamis didn´t reached them, so that all of are well apart from the hardships that the situation demands. Other members of the group do not have family there. The group is formed by 13 persons quite elderly.
We thank P. Josep for his quick reply and his service of dialogue with that community.

Letter from Hirakata

"Thank you very much for conveying your prayers for the Japanese people. The natural disaster was unprecedentedly enormous. Tsunami was as high as 23 m in some parts. Now some 23,000 people are living in the "escape- from-difficulties" places and the total number of casualties plus missings now exceed 22,000. Kansai area where we live were free from the casualties. All Japanese are united to help them. The parish of Hirakata could raise the help-fund of some 840,000 yen last Sunday at the church. Many NPOs are raising the funds on the streets. The people know that years of assistances, governmental or not, to the devastated areas are necessary.


Thank you very much again for your thoughtfulness."

Mr.Tomoaki Naganawa

Our layclaretians comunities in Japan.

We have two communities in Japan: "Barbastro Martyrs" in Hirakata and the layclaretians from Imaichi.

We have received the first news from our brother Tomoaki Naganawa at Hirakata. In their zone (near Osaka) the earthquake and the tsunami have had a little impact. It seems that the community of Imaichi has had no direct damage, but this is not confirmed yet. Imaichi is about 250 kms from the epicenter and about 170 km from Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Although they have been not directly affected, Mr. Naganawa tell us that it has been a great shock for the Japaneses. He says it may have been about 10,000 people missing, and anywhere there are people who dosen´t know any notice about the situation of some member of their family

They came back wiht our Father.

On 9 of february Juan Miguel Lasa died at Seville. He and his wife, M ª Luisa, were members of the Layclaretian Comunity of Siloé from the begining. Siloé is the oldest comunity from Bética. It was founded more than 25 years ago. They are testimony of fidelity and love to the Movement,
Two days later, in Maracaibo (Venezuela) died P José De Luis Vázquez. Native from Bética, the last 12 years he was in Venezuela. He was asessor in layclaretians comunities in Seville and Venezuela. His availability and signs of love towards the Movement have been always a gift for all who have known him.
We thank God for the fidelity live of both, while we pray to hold and comfort their families.

New Community in discernment process in Arequipa (Peru).

Last December, during the meeting of the General Council in Brazil to prepare the next General Assembly, the admission under discernment process in the Lay Claretian Movement requested by the community of Arequipa(Peru) was approved.

This community began its journey in September 2009 by the initiative of their religious assessor, P. Amador Martín del Molino CMF. At this moment they are 14 members who meet fortnightly in the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Arequipa. Their coordinator is Luis Contreras Chávez.

They perform their evangelistic work with catechesis of adults and the evangelization through the catholic radio and television called “Redkatolikos”

We enjoy this news and we welcome you while we pray for the Lord to enlighten your journey of faith.