ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE THIRD WORLD CONGRESS OF ECCLESIAL MOVEMENTS AND NEW COMMUNITIES

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Dear brothers and sisters, Goodmorning!

I offer cordial greetings to all of you taking part in this Congress sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. I thank Cardinal Ryłko for his words, as well as Archbishop Clemens. At the heart of your deliberations in these days are two elements which are essential for Christian life: conversion and mission. These are intimately connected. In fact, without an authentic conversion of heart and mind, the Gospel cannot be proclaimed; at the same time, if we are not open to mission, conversion is not possible and faith becomes sterile. The Movements and New Communities that you represent are moving towards a deeper sense of belonging to the Church, a maturity that requires vigilance in the path of daily conversion. This will enable an ever more dynamic and fruitful evangelization. I would like, therefore, to offer you a few suggestions for your journey of faith and ecclesial life.

1. First, it is necessary to preserve the freshness of your charism, never lose that freshness, the freshness of your charism, always renewing the “first love” (cf. Rev 2:4). As time goes by, there is a greater temptation to become comfortable, to become hardened in set ways of doing things, which, while reassuring, are nonetheless sterile. There is the temptation to cage in the Holy Spirit: this is a temptation! However, “realities are more important than ideas” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 231-233); even if a certain institutionalization of the charism is necessary for its survival, we ought not delude ourselves into thinking that external structures can guarantee the working of the Holy Spirit. The newness of your experiences does not consist in methods or forms, or the newness itself, all of which are important, but rather in your willingness to respond with renewed enthusiasm to the Lord’s call. Such evangelical courage has allowed for the growth of your Movements and New Communities. If forms and methods become ends in themselves, they become ideological, removed from reality which is constantly developing; closed to the newness of the Spirit, such rigid forms and methods will eventually stifle the very charism which gave them life. We need always to return to the sources of our charism, and thus to rediscover the driving force needed to respond to challenges. You have not been schooled in such a spirituality. You have not attended an institution of spirituality in this way. You are not simply a small group. No! You are rather a movement, always on the way, always in movement, always open to God’s surprises which are in harmony with the first call of the movement, namely the founding charism.

2. A further issue concerns the way of welcoming and accompanying men and women of today, in particular, the youth (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 105-106). We are part of a wounded humanity – and we must be honest in saying this – in which all of the educational institutions, especially the most important one, the family, are experiencing grave difficulties almost everywhere in the world. Men and women today experience serious identity problems and have difficulty making proper choices; as a result, they tend to be conditioned and to delegate important decisions about their own lives to others. We need to resist the temptation of usurping individual freedom, of directing them without allowing for their growth in genuine maturity. Every person has their own time, their own path, and we must accompany this journey. Moral or spiritual progress which manipulates a person’s immaturity is only an apparent success, and one destined to fail. It is better to achieve less and move forward without seeking attention. Christian education, rather, requires a patient accompaniment which is capable of waiting for the right moment for each person, as the Lord does with each one of us. The Lord is patient with us! Patience is the only way to love truly and to lead others into a sincere relationship with the Lord.

3. One other consideration we must never forget is that the most precious good, the seal of the Holy Spirit, is communion. This is the supreme blessing that Jesus won for us on the Cross, the grace which the Risen Christ continually implores for us as he reveals to the Father his glorious wounds, “As you, Father, are in me, and I in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me (Jn 17:21). For the world to believe that Jesus is Lord, it needs to see communion among Christians. If, on the other hand, the world sees divisions, rivalries, backbiting, the terrorism of gossip, please… if these things are seen, regardless of the cause, how can we evangelize? Remember this further principle: “Unity prevails over conflict” (Evangelii Gaudium, 226-230), because our brothers and sisters are always of greater value than our personal attitudes; indeed, it is for our brothers and sisters that Christ has shed his blood (1 Pet 1:18-19); it has not been shed for my ideas! In addition, real communion cannot exist in Movements or in New Communities unless these are integrated within the greater communion of our Holy Mother, the hierarchical Church. “The whole is greater than the part” (cf Evangelii Gaudium, 234-237), and the part only has meaning in relation to the whole. Communion also consists in confronting together and in a united fashion the most pressing questions of our day, such as life, the family, peace, the fight against poverty in all its forms, religious freedom and education. In particular, New Movements and Communities are called to coordinate their efforts in caring for those wounded by a globalized mentality which places consumption at the centre, neglecting God and those values which are essential for life.

In order to attain ecclesial maturity, therefore, maintain – I say again – the freshness of your charism, respect the freedom of each person, and always strive for communion. Do not forget, however, that to reach this goal, conversion must be missionary: the strength to overcome temptations and insufficiencies comes from the profound joy of proclaiming the Gospel, which is the foundation of your charisms. In fact, “when the Church summons Christians to take up the task of evangelization, she is simply pointing to the source of authentic personal fulfilment” (Evangelii Gaudium, 10), the true motivation for renewal of one’s own life, since all mission is a sharing in the mission of Christ who always precedes and accompanies us in the work of evangelization. 

Dear brothers and sisters, you have already borne much fruit for the Church and the world. You will bear even greater fruit with the help of the Holy Spirit, who raises up and renews his gifts and charisms, and through the intercession of Mary, who never ceases to assist and accompany her children. Go forward, always in movement… never stop but always keep moving! I assure you of my prayers and I ask you to pray for me – I have great need, truly – and I cordially impart to each of you my blessing. I now ask you, together, to pray to Our Lady who had the experience of keeping alive the freshness of the first encounter with God, of moving forward in humility, always being on the way, respecting each person’s time. She never tired of having this missionary heart. 

 Hail Mary…

The Word becomes Life: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6,12)

My name is Przemyslaw Wilczynski and I am a fresh Lay Claretian from Poland. I was asked to write a short testimony on the Bible quote that is important to me.

It was year 1999 when I first met the people from the youth evang community led by the Claretians in Wroclaw, Poland. The name of the group was “Send me”. Next year, I attended their 2 week retreat, where I experienced a very profound meeting with God’s love. Being there with those people who were literally filled with love and openness, I could finally feel myself at ease and was able to open my heart to what God wanted to tell me. That time of my life was very crucial, as I was entering my adulthood; and my life had been hectic back then, especially when it comes to my family. Sometimes I felt hopeless and abandoned when struggling with the problems I had. 

The retreat was divided into the two separate parts. First, we were introduced to the kerygma – during the lectures, but more importantly during the evening prayer meetings. The second part was the practical preparation to evangelization, since the Send me community specialized in concerts, prayer meetings, and the street and door-to-door evang. 

During one of such the prayer meetings, one of the people responsible for us received a Word of God especially for me. She read me a passage from the book of Judges and explained that it was what she believed Jesus wanted me to know. And He was saying: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6,12). 

Believe me when I say that I did not feel like a mighty warrior at all! On the contrary, but the Words were so strong that they destroyed every obstacle and doubt in my heart. With those few words Jesus gave me strength to live and to carry on with my life. I wanted to run, to proclaim the Good News to the people on the streets, which I have been doing for many years now and on many different ways. I joined the community and thanks to God’s grace and those Words, I have evangelized on many occasions in various European countries (England, Germany, Italy). 

This is how He acts: first, He let me experienced the fraternal love through my friends there, and next He spoke to me personally. “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” has been accompanying me ever since, and there have been two or three more times when He again spoke the exact words to me. And always in difficult and important situations . His love is always coming through other people and through His living Word. We just need to have our eyes and our ears wide open. 

 Przemyslaw Wilczynski, sc (Poland)

Our spiritual life is nourished, expressed and developed by the Word of God, liturgical praise, prayer and the sacraments, above all by the Eucharist and the sacrament of our brothers and sisters. The Word of God is the primary source of our spirituality. It discloses God's saving plan to us, and fortifies and encourages us in building up the Kingdom. Accepted with docility, it demands that we constantly change our lives in order to fulfill the Father's will and Jesus Christ (LayClaretian Sourcebook 36,37)

 

1st group of Polish Lay Claretians. Welcome!

Approved by the General Council the 1st group of Polish Lay Claretians. Welcome!

24th Octuber they received the sourcebook. They share their experience of this day.

 

 "On the feast of St. Anthony Maria Claret, we were invited by the Claretians to their parish church (whose saint patron is also Claret) where they had prepared an Eucharist for us. During the liturgy we were accepted into the Lay Claretian Movement. It was very solemn, what made us feel very special that day. There were six Claretians celebrating it (including Fr. Robert – our assessor), three seminarians, and the church full of parishioners. Each one of us received a booklet with the Polish translation of Ideario, and had a chance to lay a kiss on the relics of St. Claret. For me, the most moving and powerful moment was when Fr. Alexander, while handing me in the reliquary, said: “This is your father now.” After the Mass, everyone was congratulating us and welcoming us to the Family. We carried on celebrating in a nice restaurant.

At the moment there are three of us who joined the Claretian Family, and a few other people who participate in our meetings. Each week we share the gospel and our day to day testimonies online in small groups. Our plans for the upcoming year are both to grow in our spirituality and to build a strong group engaged in changing our world through evangelization.

We would also like to thank you for all your words of welcome and support and prayer.

May God bless OUR Claretian Family!"

Przemek Wilczynski sc.

The Word becomes Life: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”

In October, a Claretian and missionary month, we start a periodical posted. The testimony from several Lay Claretian of how God's Word has challenged their lives. Sharing faith, sharing life.

 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:23-26 

In my life I always enjoyed religious education, which was transformed into an encounter with God when I came across His Word. This Word did not speak to me about rules or precepts that I could not understand, It spoke of love, something so easy but so difficult at the same time. ... Heed his Word in a world where what prevails is the power, have, enjoy ... I was more or less quiet living the faith in my own way, I loved the Lord, I celebrated the Eucharist ... but I was not happy, and how not to be happy if God loves me? As time went by I realized, Who loves me will obey my word; and my Father will love him, and my Father and I will come to live with him (Jn 14:23), I was reading his Word but I paid attention to mine. Eventually it was about time for me to make life review in the group I was in, and I realized I met the Word, but I did not love him, I only knew it. Then I began to rethink my life. From prayer, not listen to me but listen to the Word: What does God want from me ?, and it's at this moment when I realize that God was always there for me, waiting for me to open up to his love me and let me guide by his Holy Spirit. That I leave me be transformed by Him as Mary did. Since then I fall as a human, but I get up knowing that He is with me and loves me. That he doesn't want me just to be good, but holy. That I walk by with the power of the Holy Spirit following His Word. Making him to be known to others. This is now my task.

José Portaz, sc (Pentecostés, Bética)

Our spiritual life is nourished, expressed and developed by the Word of God, liturgical praise, prayer and the sacraments, above all by the Eucharist and the sacrament of our brothers and sisters. The Word of God is the primary source of our spirituality. It discloses God's saving plan to us, and fortifies and encourages us in building up the Kingdom. Accepted with docility, it demands that we constantly change our lives in order to fulfill the Father's will and Jesus Christ (LayClaretian Sourcebook 36,37)

Pray for Peace

We, Layclaretian Movement, unite ourselves with all efforts of the international community in general, and the Catholic Church in particular, to stop the escalating violence in the Middle East, especially in Syria. We join in a particular way through prayer, responding to the call for a day of Fasting and Prayer held on Sunday September 7th. 

As Christians, as Claretians, as laity and as citizens we choose to build a peaceful society, where the values of brotherhood and inter-faith and inter-cultural co-existence are the defining characteristics of the States, being held above any economic or ideological interest which, as is well known, are behind these and many other conflicts. 

Begining of Layclaretians in S. Petersburg (Russia)

From the Northern Region of Spain, we are happy to communicate to you that, in St. Petersburg (Russia), a pair of persons are discerning to become layclaretians, which hopefully, will grow in number to form a group. 

Juan Lozano, CMF, who had been the advisor of the Northern Region of Spain during five years (in addition to his being a layclaretian before becoming a claretian missionary), was designated to Saint Petersburg in June, 2013. 

One of his wishes during his farewell speech, was the possibility to form Russian lay claretians. The claretian missionaries have no parish in Saint Petersburg but Juan presides the Holy Eucharist in Spanish every Saturday and then stays to be with the people in the local church. His style has pleased many people and has emerged a small group who feel a certain harmony with the Claretian identity which he transmits. Specifically, the most interested are two women, mother and daughter, Tatiana and Ksenia, who speak spanish quite well.

By getting so interested about Claretian Spirit, Juan told them about lay claretians. He told them what it is and how the movement is organized and has given them some materials to read about Claret. They are very pleased with these materials and are now starting to read the Commentary to Lay Claretian Sourcebook of P Antonio Vidales. 

Soon they will send a letter to the Regional

Council asking for a period of discernment to become lay claretians. They are accompanied and guided by Juan. In the future, they would like to come to Spain to a regional meeting to meet the different lay claretians groups and to see if they really feel identified with the concrete reality of the Claretian charism embodied in existing communities. Currently they convey great enthusiasm and desire to deepen the Claretian charism and spread it to more people.

May the Holy Spirit continue to encourage and ensure that this Claretian mission in Russia to be strengthened. We entrust it to the Inmaculate Heart of Mary. 

New Head of Communication of Lay Claretian Movement.

Luis Antonio Rodriguez Huertas has been appointed by the General Council as the new Head of Communication of Lay Claretian Movement.
Luis A. is Lay Claretian in the community of Buensuceso (Granada) in Betica Region.
Born in Seville but raised in Extremadura, he is married to Cristina. He studied advertising and public relations, in addition to theology.
He is currently working as head of Caritas Sensitization in Almeria, also working in Caritas in the Diocese of Guadix and Baza.
He is also actively involved in politics in the party "For A Fairer World".
We thank you for the service you provide to our Movement.

Report of the First Meeting Claretian family JPIC

" Lover of the poor , affordable to all, 

I request the general and particular good 

With entrails of real father for all , 

Always loving to attract God to all ... " 

Letter from P. John Nepomuceno Lobo, oc

On February 11st and 12nd, 2014 the JPIC delegates from each of the branches of the Claretian Family have met to celebrate the 1st training meeting in Vic with the theme TRAINING FOR JPIC ( Justice, Peace and Integrity of creation) . 

The group consists of six institutions of the Claretian Family . The Claretian Missionaries represented by Robert Omondi , Demuel Tavarez , Miguel Angel Lopez Velasco and Laura ( lay of the Procura of the province of Santiago ), the Claretian Missionaries of the Institution with Maria Gracia García- Baquero , the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate with Mari Cruz Sibacha Confienza and Ines Elobo Roca ; Cordimarian Missionary Sisters with Victoria Lopez, Lay Claretians with Juan Carlos Diaz , and the Sisters of Mary Immaculate with Ascension Redondo Muñoz .

The meeting began with the Eucharist presided by Fr Tavarez Demuel CMF. Followed by a motivation from Brother Robert Omondi CMF inviting the participants to be " vigilant " in this time of training and consider each of the participating institutions as the current work is aimed to them, to achieve conclusions as Claretian Family 

The different developed talks have enriched , challenged and open alternative. The first was entitled "Claret in Cuba" by Carlos Sánchez CMF , the second presentation was "Organization and animation of the local Church in the social pastoral , JPIC and Human Rights" exposed by the lay Laura Ortiz , then "JPIC and Social Doctrine of the Church" developed by Demuel Tavarez , CMF , and finally "the Prefecture of Apostolate and JPIC", by Miguel Angel Velasco, cmf . 

Also the presentation and discussion of the work that all the institutions are doing in this area have shown the diversity in structures, processes and carrying out in JPIC of different positions and branches of the Claretian Family , while they’ve enriched the experience and the meeting . Several common elements appear: our common charism with the figure of P. Claret, the cry of the poor and the prophetic urge to go to the causes of injustice. 

Some suggestions have emerged from the meeting: 

1. To keep a meeting every two years between responsibles of JPIC in the Claretian Family to: assess the process that we are carrying out and train us in Claretian charism and Social Doctrine of the Church. 
2. Foster meetings in areas of presence of the branches of the Claretian Family to reflect and collaborate in common projects. 
3. Promote to share training materials prepared by each branch about Claret and JPIC. 
4. Schedule lay training locally. 

We share the final message that participants leave us :

Final Message of I. Claretian Family Meeting in Vic 

 Our First Meeting of Claretian Family in Vic lasted only two days, but intense both in content JPIC , and fraternity. We have been enriched by the contributions and experiences of each branch of the family , we have " dreamed " , designed and we have grown up in this way. We feel moved by the Spirit of Claret, as in the diversity we find in the unity , noting that we are a seeking community to better perform the mission in the Church. We want to carry out the conclusions we have come together, confident in the support of our General Governments for its realization. We pray that Claret continues inspiring our mission and evangelization zeal to continue responding to new calls from poor.

Our trip to Spain 2013

Three of us set off from England. Bridget, Ann and I set off for the meeting in Madrid very early on Friday 1st November 2013, full of excitement and anticipation. Our weekend was to be a truly special one that we won’t be forgetting.

We were met by German, who drove us to our Hotel and gave us directions back to the School where we would all be meeting later at 4.00 pm. This gave us time for a lovely lunch and our first glass of wine!!

Our experience was such a positive one of everyone’s kindness and support and of fabulous translating at every talk or group discussion. It became all too clear to me that the essence of the Lay Claretians is about how we live out our lives, rather than what we do. Many of the groups we met from the North and South regions had gone to Claretian Schools, and had the flavour of what it was to be a Claretian from quite an early age. We felt similar in that we had grown up around our wonderful Claretian Parish Community and felt we had been immersed in it because of that. One of the group asked me why I had joined, and I said it was because we had been invited to think about creating a group and because we felt a part of something even before we conceptualised what it really was. 

We were quite ashamed to hear that most said they had no English and actually very quickly proved themselves well able to translate from Spanish to English and back again.leaving us very envious and in awe of their skills. 

We had the initial meeting, Mass and Supper and were then off to meet with Fr Paul who was able to join us, which was lovely, and we found ourselves walking towards an Irish pub in the vicinity that he had heard about before. 

The weekend was a packed one full of talks, group work and on the Saturday an afternoon tour of the famous landmarks in Sol where Anthony Mary Claret had worked, lived, said Mass and been Confessor to the Queen. We were rather glad to get back after it though as we were four hours walking and listening on that occasion – but wouldn’t have missed it for the world. One of our group from England didn’t join us – I won’t say who, but she had to get a rather large glass of wine ready for our return!! 

That evening we had Dinner and a fabulous Concert. They really did think of everything and because it was such a lovely group that spanned all ages, this ticked all the boxes for keeping everyone happy from our youngest little ones, to the eldest octogenarians. 

There were testimonials that were very inspiring from a Politician, a Nurse, and a devoted couple, about their journeys in life and what inspires them to keep doing what they are doing, be it in the family or in their work and home environments. Without speaking about being a Lay Claretian they spoke about living a life that centred itself in Christ and in doing what was right for themselves and those around them. 

The main speaker was an Economist who spoke about being real and not being frightened of being ourselves and standing up for our beliefs when that was warranted. We each had a translator sitting beside us during the talks, which made it great for us, but of course it meant that they had a job to really take on board what was being said for themselves. It was hard sometimes to take it all in, but we are so grateful for the time taken by the group to do this for us and allow us to feel such a big part of the whole experience. 

Even on our “walk about town” in Sol, we had three wonderful translators who spent their time translating for us, which after four hours was really something!! We always found at meal times too, various group members would come up to us and include us in their conversation making sure they had a translator nearby if they didn’t feel able to translate what had been said themselves. Often shy to come forward feeling they didn’t speak English that well, yet totally under-estimating their own skills in that area. 

On the last day of the meeting we were invited up to the front of the Hall to talk, and with translators nearby, we thanked everyone individually for making it such a wonderful and memorable few days and shared our delight at being able to be there with them. We have each in our own way determined to join them next time and to perhaps have a little Spanish under our belts the next time we meet everyone. 

Thank you Tino so much for inviting us and making it such a fabulous few days. It’s been a real journey in our understanding of what it is to be a part of the International Movement and to get the flavour of what it is to be a part of something so special. Thank You 

Jo Farrell 

Claretian missionary meeting of Europe

Between October 28th and November 3rd 2013, thirty-four Claretian missionaries and a layman, with apostolic responsibilities in the Province of Portugal , met to celebrate a continental missionary encounter. They were from nine of the ten agencies that the Congregation has today in Europe , preaching in eight countries (Belarus, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the UK and Russia). Germany could not attend. 

The aim of the meeting was to promote reflection on the evangelizing Claretian priorities for Europe and the characteristics for the lifestyle and mission in a time period of approximately 15-20 years. Being aware that Europe Claretians agencies are engaged in a serious process of discernment looking for the best way to continue to proclaim the Gospel in this part of the world. 

The Claretians in Europe has defined the today's challenges, those they feel called to respond with a unique contribution as : 

1. A Mission that is born from the Spirit's action in us and drives us to live in an attitude of listening and discernment. 

2. A mission that makes us brothers , that requires us to live in deep communion and care our fraternity as the first missionary word . 

3 . A shared mission with the other disciples of the Lord and many other men and women. 

4 . A solidary Mission that is expressed uniquely in the commitment with the poor and excluded. 

5. A Mission that proclaims the Word in dialogue , ready and willing to go to the existential boundaries , geographic , social and cultural of the evangelization. 

In the conclusions of the meeting priority areas for action have been identified: 

1. Evangelization of children , youth and families with special attention to the vocational dimension 

2 . Commitment to the poor, excluded and migrants. 

3 . Dialogue and evangelizing presence in areas of unbelievers, indifferent and non-Christians. 

4. Creating and animating Christian communities boosted by the Word of God. 

5. Foster and qualification of agents of evangelization. 

6 . Evangelizing presence on the Internet. 

And as strategic positions related to the area of apostolate: 

1. Schools with a clear educational project , missionary and evangelist . 

2 . Missionary parishes, samaritans and committed to their environments. 

3 . Claretian communities and apostolic positions in contexts of poverty and exclusion. 

4. Equipment and specialized provincial and interprovincial presences in shared mission in three areas : management and charismatic animation of own apostolic work: service to other works and projects of Church and border and first announcement . 

5. Training centers for evangelizing agents . 

6. Mission Offices, NGO and foundations that support the missionary work of the congregation .

¡FELIZ DIA DEL PADRE CLARET! HAPPY CLARET´S DAY

Queridas hermanas. Queridos hermanos. 

Que este día en el que recordamos a San Antonio María Claret sirva para renovar nuestro impulso misionero, nuestra pasión evangelizadora. 

Le pido al Señor que cada día podamos dar un mejor testimonio allá y desde donde nuestros hermanos sufren la exclusión, la pobreza y la injusticia. Que nos dé un corazón de Madre que sienta todo sufrimiento como suyo. Que la intercesión de Claret y los beatos mártires nos ayude. 

Con todo mi afecto. Tino. 

Dear sisters and brothers, 

Today we remember Saint Anthony Mary Claret and it must motivate us to renew our missionary impulse and the evangelization passion we live. 

I pray to the Lord that we can give a better testimony in those places where our brothers suffer exclusion, poverty and injustice everyday. That he gives us a mother's heart that feels all suffering as his own. I pray for the intercession of the blessed martyrs Claret and help us.

Warm regards. Tino

Constantino Rodríguez, sc. 
Secretario General Movimiento de Seglares Claretianos

Meeting of the Claretian Family

The Eighth Meeting of the Claretian Family has taken place in the city of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) from July 28th to August 4th, 2013.

The branches of the Claretian Family who participated were: Claretian Missionaries, Religious of Mary Immaculate Claretian Missionary Sisters, Missionaries of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Missionaries of Mary Immaculate Claretian Missionary Institution, Institute Affiliation Cordimarian and Movement Lay Claretians. From the very first moment, we havw lived a true family experience.

As a central theme of this meeting, the promotion of "Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation." And based on the Apostolic Exhortation documentary "Africae Munus". This document has been complemented by the different experiences that in this area the different branches of the CF develop, work and live , as well as the experience of the Claretian Family Missions in Africa, specifically in the reality of Equatorial Guinea.

Enriched with interesting presentations on the African reality and visits to areas of Mission, sharing Eucharist and prayer has deepened worked together on the challenges that evangelization actually represents.

As fruits of these working days the Secretary General of the LCM Tino Rodriguez was elected as New Claretian Family Coordinator for the next four years. It was determined that the next World Claretian Family Meeting will be in Brazil in 2017 with the theme "Dialogue with the culture for a New Evangelization." And he wrote the manifesto addressed to all members of the Claretian Family which we reproduce:

MESSAGE TO THE FAMILY CLARETIAN

Dear brothers and sisters of the Claretian Family , We send a warm greeting from Bata, in Equatorial Guinea, where we’ve just concluded the Eighth Meeting of the Claretian Family.

As in the past, the conference has provided an opportunity to thank God for the gift of our missionary charisma and the multiplicity of expressions through which we offer the service to the Church and the world. The meeting and sharing enriches and encourages us to live faithfully creative this gift that has come across our Founders and those who, with their lives, have been writing the history of our Institutes

This time we have met in Africa, concretely in Equatorial Guinea. The contact with the reality of Africa has become a stimulus to our thinking that, this time, it was centered on the commitment for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). The exuberance of its vegetation and threats of aggressive exploitation of its natural resources; the cultural expressions of their people which express a deep love for life and the desire to live in solidarity; the struggle of its people for social and political organization that respects the rights of individuals and of the various groups that make up the African society; all of those have helped us to become aware of the importance of upholding our responsibility in building a world that responds to God's plan for his children. We believe that the commitment to JPIC is an integral part of our work of evangelization.

We’ve shared various activities and initiatives that each group is carrying out in the field of social ministry. Everyone, from the peculiarity of their vocation, is working to make the dignity of every person and people respected. As Claret, we have been called to deal with a distinctly materialistic culture that "is drying up the heart and guts of society" (cf. Aut 357) and excludes many millions of people. 

We have let ourselves to be challenged by the Gospel of the Lord under the guidance that the Magisterium of the Church and our own institutions have been giving to integrate into our personal lives, in our communities and in our missionary outreach commitment for JPIC. In this regard, we read and discussed, in a special way, the apostolic exhortation "Africae Munus", which includes the contributions of the second special session for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. 

And we have dreamed of projects and initiatives that, in this area, could be performed as Claretian Family. We are aware of our limitations and the difficulty of fleshing out these dreams, but we will not give them up. Therefore we have agreed: 

a.) To conduct a further effort to emphasize the dimension of JPIC in all our ministries, highlighting the urgency of responding to situations of denying or lack of attention to human rights. So we are committed to work in concienciation of all our brothers and sisters and to integrate systematically this topic at all stages of the training, initial and continuous. 

b.) To appoint a person responsible for this task in each of the Claretian Family groups and seek specific habits for collaboration. To do this, we will share information between us and we will arrange a meeting of leaders of JPIC of each group to improve this collaboration. 

c.) To collaborate on the project that, in the frame of non-governmental organizations accredited to the United Nations, the Claretian Missionaries currently have. For this we will share the information about the projects and activities that each of the groups have in the area of attention to human rights and peoples, and we will make echo of these realities to the relevant organs of UNO. This activity presents extremely important spaces to us to reach these instances the voice of many people and people living in situations of exploitation and marginalization and introduces us into the dialogue dynamic with other people and groups working for the transformation of the world. 

During the meeting we elected the Secretary General of the Movement of Lay Claretians, Constantino Rodríguez as new Coordinator of the Claretian Family. We have also had occasion to thank Maria Soledad Galerón, Superior General of the Missionaries Claretian, her service as Coordinator for the past four years. We also decided to create a web portal about the Claretian Family that facilitates communication between us and allow us to make known to others our reality as Missionary Family. During the meeting we had the opportunity to know the reality of the Claretian Family in Equatorial Guinea. We have been deeply impressed by the missionary witness of so many brothers and sisters who have given the best of their lives in the service of the evangelization of the Guinean people. Among the members of our family, the Claretian Missionaries and Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate have been, above all, the main protagonists of this missionary history.The visit to the tomb of the Mother Imelda Makole, founder of the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (with Claretian Bishop Mons. Armengol Coll), has been for all an experience of grace. The missionary history of the Claretian Family in Equatorial Guinea continues being written by three hands today, as the Lay Claretians have joined the other two groups. e conclude the meeting feeling closer to each other and deeply grateful to the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate and to the Claretian Missionaries for the many courtesies we have received during these days. We entrust our lives and our projects to the Heart of Mary. We would want her deep "warmth" could be the imprint that characterizes them. 

Bata, August 4th , 2013. 

Signed: Josep Maria Abella (Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Claretian Missionaries); 

M ª Soledad Galerón (Sisters of Maria Immaculate, Claretian Missionaries); Carolina Sanchez (Daughters Secular Institute of the Blessed and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Affiliation Cordimarian); Constantino Rodriguez (Lay Claretian Movement); Josefa Tuku (Missionaries of Mary Immaculate); Pilar Rovira (Claretian Missionaries of the Institution); Maria de Fatima Ships (Missionaries of St. Anthony Mary Claret)

Questionnaire: Working in defense of the Peace, the Justice and the Integrity of the Creation (JPIC).

Dear brothers and sisters, 
The main responsibles of each branch of the Claretian Family meet every four years to strengthen and develop our common charisma, that unites us in the Holy Spirit through Claret. 
In our last meeting (Vic, 2009), we all saw the need of working better and together in defense of the Peace, the Justice and the Integrity of the Creation (JPIC). So we decided to take a monograph in the VIII Claretian Family Meeting to be held at Bata (Equatorial Guinea). 
The new delegate for JPIC of the movement, our brother Juan Carlos Díaz, from the community of San Pedro Sula in Honduras, will attend the meeting with me. Juan Carlos is responsible of sensibilization and consolidation, training and information on everything related to JPIC in our movement from now on. 
To know the reality of JPIC in the different regions and groups of the movement , a questionnaire has been released. This questionnaire needs to be fulfilled at the group level and region level before July 9th. You can do it here.
A fraternal embrace in the Heart of Mary, 

Constantino Rodríguez, lc 
General Secretary Lay Claretian Movement

A new group in UK

In the UK there are three Claretians parishes: The Immaculate Heart of Mary at Hayes, Buckden at Huntingdon and the parish of Leyton. 

Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in Botwell, Hayes, vibrates by the work of a shared mission between lay and Claretian, in a cooperative effort to communicate everybody the love from God. 

They has been celebrating the centenary of the arrival of the Claretians to England in 1912 and the beginning of his first parish in Hayes. And they make emphasis in this event with a huge collaborative effort between lay and Claretians. 

The Lay want to put their faith into action and, for some of them, the incarnation of this desire has been joining to the Lay Claretian Movement looking for a way of commitment with the claretian charism. So, they has formed a group which will be visited by the MSC Secretary General, Tino Rodriguez, in the next months. We hope that they request the entry like a Discernment Group soon. 

We pray for them on this way that they begin and we put them into the Heart of Mary.

Explaining the Lay Claretian Movement in the meeting "Encounter with Claret"

This year the training meeting “Encounter with Claret” (called by the Claretian Missionaries to reinforce the continuous formation of their congregation) is addressed to English speakers all around the world. In this context there’s a day focused in knowing the different branches of the Claretian Family, and took place in Colmenar Viejo (Madrid) yesterday 24th September 2012. The Lay Claretian Movement was invited to this session to share our charisma with fathers from India, Ghana, Nigeria, Indonesia, Macau, China and Philippines. During the evening Tono Paramés (Emaús, Bética) explained the Movement to them trying to clarify concretely what’s our Movement, who and where we are, our history and future. After the presentation there was a round-table with representatives of the Claretian Missionaries Sisters (Yolanda from Poland) and Cordimarian Filiation (Rosa and Teresa from Spain) It was a very nice experience to know the doubts and problems of our fathers in their countries, and this event has reinforced the LCM idea of letting us to be well known specially in Asia and Africa, where there’s a generational step between the youngest lay people and the old LCM communities and other Claretian Associated Groups.

Lay Claretians from Chile start “THE FORGE” project

The Lay Claretians from Linares, Santiago y Curicó got together in the Monastery of Quilvo on Saturday 31st of March 2012 for a spiritual retreat to start the project “The Forge in our daily life for lay people”.

The retreat was directed by Father Pepe Abarza, cmf, who organized this religious meeting together with the team of laypeople from Curicó. Fr. Pepe presented the project “The Forge in our daily life” organized by the Congregation of the Claretian Missionaries.

The lay Claretians learned about and embraced the four focal points to make them a tool of spiritual growth asbelievers and missionaries. The cores are “QUID PRODEST”, “PATRIS MEI”, “CARITAS CHRISTI” AND “SPIRITUS DOMINI”. In this retreat “QUID PRODEST”, the first stage, was started. It is meant to enlighten their life up to Advent 2012.

There are already many lay Claretians from all over the world who are bringing this project to life. It helps us to growin union with Jesus, in the forge of God and Mary’s love, to renew our vocation and become arrows to be shot at the world to evangelize.

We are attaching a prayer for the lay Claretians who are doing the Forge project. The prayer written a few yearsago by our Caribbean brothers and sisters has become widespread and has helped unite all the regions in common prayer. We encourage you to say this prayer in your group so that the way our Chilean brothers have started bears plentiful fruit in their heart and live.

Prayer for lay Claretians on the Forge

Father of love and mercy,

We thank you for having called us

To live the experience of the Forge

As lay Claretians.

Shed your Holy Spirit on us,

And grant us the capacity

To overcome the obstacles,

To listen to your call

And to answer with generosity

So that we can increasingly grow in union

with Jesus your Son,

The Disciple and Missionary of your Kingdom.

Faithful Heart of Mary, intercede for us with your Son

So that the experience of the Forge

Rekindles the flame of His love

In our hearts

And we are able to burn with missionary love

The way our Founder Father,

St Anthony Mary Claret, did.

Amen.

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”.

Fallecimiento en Puerto Rico

Anunciamos con profundo pesar que en la noche del domingo 11 de diciembre ha fallecido nuestra hermana LILLIAM (Lilly) ÁLAMO de la comunidad San Antonio María Claret en Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Nos hacemos solidarios en la fe y la fraternidad con la familia de Lilly en estos momentos de dolor y ponemos nuestra esperanza en la Resurrección de Jesucrsito.

Pido a todos los Seglares Claretianos que tengamos presente a nuestra hermana en nuestras oraciones personales y comunitarias.

¡ QUE DESCANSE EN PAZ !

We announce with deep sadness that on the night of Sunday, December 11 our sister LILLIAM (Lilly) ALAMO from the community of San Antonio Maria Claret at Bayamón, Puerto Rico, has died.
We are in solidarity with faith and fellowship to Lilly's family in this painful moment and we put our hope on Resurrection of Jesucrsito.
I call on all Lay Claretians so that we have in mind our sister during our personal and communitarian prayers.

Nancy Burgos sc, coordinadora Región Caribe