Rome, Italy. On March 19, 2025, the Claretian community in Rome gathered at the General Curia to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph, Copatron of the Congregation, Patron of the General Curia, and Patron of the Claretian Brothers. The event was marked by moments of prayer, reflections, and discussions on key themes relevant to the mission and governance of the Congregation.
The celebration began with an opening prayer led by Fr. Joseph Mbungu-Mutu, CMF, General Prefect of Formation, setting a solemn tone for the gathering. Fr. Rosendo Urrabazo, CMF, Local Superior, then extended warm words of welcome to all participants. This was followed by an intervention from Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, Father General, who shared his reflections on the significance of the feast, the role of St. Joseph in the life of the Congregation, and the major focuses of the Congregation’s leadership.
A series of presentations enriched the gathering, focusing on essential themes. Fr. Carlos Sánchez, CMF, General Prefect of Spirituality and Community Life, spoke about the Spiritual Congress on the 175th Jubilee and Its Legacy, offering insights into the ongoing spiritual renewal within the Congregation. Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF, General Prefect of Bible and Communication, highlighted the latest innovations in the field of communication. He detailed the new resources available on the Congregation’s website (claret.org), including videos and notes from the Spiritual Congress, the digitalization of NUNC, the iClaret News Broadcast, and the dedicated reserve page for safeguarding and reporting cases related to the protection of minors. Fr. Pedro Belderrain, CMF, General Prefect of Apostolate, provided an interpretation full of hope regarding the Congregation’s statistics. Br. Carlos Verga, CMF, shared the rich experience of the recent meeting of all major superiors of ACLA and their respective councils, emphasizing the dynamic and evolving mission in Africa. Fr. Manuel Tamargo, CMF, General Econome, presented with optimism and faith the current financial situation of the Congregation, underlining how the economy serves the mission.
Following the presentations, an open forum allowed participants to engage in discussions, raise questions, and share contributions. The celebration ended with the evening prayer and a shared dinner, fostering fraternity and communion.
