Cúcuta, Colombia. The Interprovincial Encounter of Missionaries in the Quinquennium stage of the Claretian Provinces of Colombia-Venezuela and Colombia-Ecuador was held on September 11, 2023, in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. This event was held as part of the celebrations for the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the Claretian Missionaries.

A group of eleven young Claretians came together with the aim of sharing their missionary experiences and receiving training on discerning leadership. The focus was on developing their identity, loyalty, and missionary service both within the Congregation and in their respective organizations. The local community of Cúcuta warmly welcomed the participants and showed great kindness towards them, even amidst their daily work. This hospitality left a lasting impression on the group.

At the gathering, they were filled with joy as they met Claretians from diverse backgrounds and observed the different faces that make up the Congregation. They recognized the importance of interculturality and began with a prayer calling on all attendees to feel inspired by Jesus’ mission (Lk 6, 12-19) and to embody the Claretian charism through their communitarian and missionary identity. All of them participated in activities that aimed to strengthen their identity, commitment, and missionary dedication as members of the provincial communities where these young missionaries serve.