With yesterday’s evening prayer, we begin our journey in this Claretian Spirituality Congress for the 175th Foundation Anniversary of our beloved Congregation. The blanket of the nomadic African Urkana and Masai peoples welcomes us with the colors of the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Today, Monday morning, we gathered at the Temple of our Mother House in Vic to celebrate the Eucharist. The homily brought to our hearts the merciful and prophetic gesture of the prophet Hosea, which shows us how God welcomes and forgives our infidelities. In the Gospel, we contemplate Jesus’ love and compassion for all of us—love and compassion that restores the health and lives of those who approach Him with faith and trust.

After that, to welcome all of us to participate in this congress, we received warm words from Fr. Juan Martín Askaiturrieta, CMF, Provincial Superior of the Province of Sanctus Paulus, and the Most Rev. Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, Superior General. Those were words that made us feel at home and pushed us with the enthusiasm to live a new Pentecost. Lastly, we had the clear and precise guidance of Fr. Carlos Sanchez, CMF, General Prefect of Spirituality and Community Life, about the progress of our congress.

In light of the story of Visitation, we met the brothers and sisters, members of this Congress, who showed what God has done in us and is a source of vital joy. We tried to find God’s presence in others’ lives in each dialogue. We met, talked, and told our stories. We were enlightened by God’s presence and grateful for the life He gave us all.

During the afternoon, we continued with the itinerary of meeting each other, but this time from the significant Claretian places. We went on a pilgrimage through the church of Sant Domenec, where the seminarian Antoni Claret prayed daily. We passed by the chapel of Felip Neri, a place of vocational discernment and sacramental reconciliation of the young saint. And, finally, the church of Sant Just; by that time, this church was the chapel of the seminary of Vic, a place of the silent witness of the foundation of our Congregation. A place of talks and missionary dreams, and where Fr. Claret received the mission to pastor the island of Cuba. On our return, we drew the face of our Founder, whom we want to outline throughout these days.

Finally, we prayed the evening prayer, directed by our brothers from Colombia, who brightened our missionary encounter with the Lord with different signs and symbols.

The Communication Team