Bogotá, Colombia. On October 7, the III Claretian Spirituality Congress of organized by the Secretariat of Spirituality of the Province of Colombia Oriental-Ecuador took place within the framework of the celebration of the 100 years of Claretian presence in the locality of Bosa, in Bogotá.
Fr. Josué González, CMF, Provincial Superior, was responsible for opening the event, in this grateful memory for all the work done by so many Claretians throughout these one hundred years of journey in Bosa. He also reminded the participants that the Congress seeks to generate awareness of the vocation and mission; therefore, the themes of deepening were: the beginnings, re-reading of the Claretian mission and the perspectives from the ecclesial to the missionary journey today.
Fr. Carlos Sánchez, CMF, General Prefect of Spirituality and Community Life, who spoke about spirituality as openness to the living presence of the Spirit, who illuminates life, encouraging us to the mission to bring the good news to the poor.
After the official greetings and welcomes, the presentations continued. Fr. Alfonso Reyes, CMF, Coordinator of the Secretariat of Spirituality, who presented the evolution of education and pastoral ministry, from the traditional, new and contemporary perspective. He gave guidelines on the historical journey, the features of literature, music, architecture, painting, psychology, etc., which marked these one hundred years.
Fr. Carlos Rozo, CMF, and Master Oswaldo Martínez, presented a theological-pastoral reading of the missionary action of the Claretians in the locality of Bosa. A presentation was made taking into account seven elements: a) hermeneutical criteria; b) the formation of a critical conscience; c) searching for the Jesus of history; d) a missionary and inserted church; e) articulation with the social and ecclesial movement, f) persecution and martyrdom as costs of the options; and an open conclusion through questions that helped the participants to continue reflecting on the missionary legacy and commitment that as Claretians must continue to be built.
The last lecture was given by Monsignor Juan Carlos Barreto, bishop of the Diocese of Soacha, who expressed his gratitude for the contribution that the Claretians have been making in Bosa, recalling that the community is alive, that it contributes to the country and to evangelisation. The Monsignor’s contribution focused on the synodal journey and the magisterium of Pope Francis.
In the intermission of the presentations, a special moment was experienced, called the rite of light, where a group of students with lighted candles presented the names of the Claretians who, throughout these one hundred years, have made history. This moment was accompanied by a song and a video. Finally, the Congress ended with the synthesis of the day presented by Fr. Enrique Aponte, CMF.
They are grateful to God, the Congregation and the Province for the testimony of life and mission in these one hundred years of Claretian journey in this part of the Church.
