A unique Claretian Weekend in the United Kingdom.
Saturday, 25th of August: Fr. Josep Abella gathered with Frs. Paul Smith, Joseba Kamiruaga and Stefan Wolf in our community of Hayes (London) to prepare the meeting that European Major Superior will celebrate in Fatima (Portugal) at the end of October.
Sunday, 26th of August: During the 12 noon Mass in our parish of Hayes, Fr. General blessed the statute of St. Anthony Mary Claret that Santiago Province has donated to the UK-Ireland Delegation. The statute had landed at Heathrow airport on July 6; since then it has become sign of communion among our European Provinces and a renewed mission call for Claretians in the UK and Europe in general.
Monday, Bank Holiday, 27th of August: Fr. General presided over the Eucharist in Buckden where Claretian missionaries and people from the different areas where they work in England gathered to celebrate the Centenary of the arrival of the first Claretians to the United Kingdom. Before the mass he was the keynote speaker during the official Book Launch of “The Future as Promise”; a book that contains all conferences pronounced at the First Religious Life Week held in England during the last week of May in our parish of Hayes.
Three truly Claretian days: Gratitude for our past on hundred years; joy for our very alive Claretian spirit in the present, and plenty of hope for the years to come. From Great Britain springs up the call to be United while helping His Kingdom come.
