Madrid, Spain. From May 24 to 26, 2022, Provincial Superiors of the three Claretian Major Organisms with presence and communities in Spain, Frs. Carlos Alberto Candeias do Nacimiento CMF (Fàtima), Ricard Costa-Jussà i Bordas CMF (Sanctus Paulus), and Adolfo Lamata Muyo CMF (Santiago), participated in the XXVIII General Assembly of the Spanish Conference of Religious Men and Women (CONFER) held at Hotel ELBA in Madrid.

In addition to the three Major Superiors, the following also took part in the Assembly: Msgr. Luis Ángel de las Heras, CMF, Bishop of Leon and president of the Episcopal Commission for the Consecrated Life of Spain, and Cardinal Aquilino Bocos, CMF, as well as some Claretians who collaborate intensely with the CONFER in the animation of the youth and vocations ministry, the formation of consecrated persons and canon law counseling.

The encounter, which is held every year, has focused this time on the study of synodality and the response that the Spanish Consecrated Life must give to the present social and ecclesial situation.

According to the web page of CONFER, in a speech delivered to around 200 General and Provincial Superiors, the President of CONFER and the Vice-President expressed:

“We feel we are Church, walking together, building together the desire of God to be a united family, where each one, from the received vocation, deploys all his/her potential to feel protagonist and builder of the Church of Jesus: a Church that wants to be fraternal, broad, inclusive, where everyone fits and where we can say the best word that springs from the interior of our persons. As joyful witnesses of the Risen One that we are, we do not lose sight of our commitment to the most vulnerable in society.”

The XXVIII General Assembly approved the update of the Protocol for Protection and Action in cases of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, helped by the Pontifical University of Comillas and the Legal Office of CONFER.