Los Negrales, Madrid (Spain). On December 20th “The Forge” course no.18, held at the community of Los Negrales, ended with a few days of retreat at the at the community of Colmenar Viejo.

After a visit to the retirement community of Colmenar Viejo the participants made an evaluation of the experience and drew-up a personal plan of life from the perspective of the proposals and plan of life of our holy Father Founder.

The final stage (Spiritus Domini) was developed according to the dynamic centered on the presence of the Spirit who anoints us to be missionaries of the Father, following His Son in the spirit of Claret for the Church. To enter into the spirit of this step, the participants allowed themselves to be “touched” by the “little ones” of “Basida” (a community of welcome primarily for AIDS patients and other marginalized people), where they became present: 4 in the community of Aranjuez, 3 in Manzanares, and 3 in Navahondilla.

Following, they made a personal and community reflection on our mission in the Church and the world, with a call to progress in our missionary life according to Chapter 8 of our Constitutions.

The presence of Fr. General helped in sharing his circular letter “Missionaries” which was previously read and contemplated, as well as his experience at the Synod. The group took this opportunity to celebrate the profession of Fr. Jesús Carrero, CMF: the first religious profession ever taken place during the Forge experience.

Thanks to the animation of the coordinators, Frs. Juan Carlos Martos (of the General Secretariat for Vocation Ministry) and Ángel Esteban, of the Province of Santiago, this journey of the Forge, with its own dynamic, has made possible the renewal of missionary life for the immediate future. With Mary and like Mary.