Medellín, Colombia. Monday the 5th of December, at the Villa Claret Encounter House, marked the beginning of the first Chapter of the new Province of Colombia-Venezuela. Presiding was Fr. Domingo A. Grillía, CMF General Prefect of the Economy.
The capitular community is composed of 45 priests and 3 brothers. From their countries of origin they are: 32 Colombians, 6 Venezuelans, 6 Spaniards, 1 Argentinean, 1 Filipino, and 1 Indonesian, with a wide range of ages from 30 to 80 years.
This Chapter is a historic event as it marks the consolidation of the process of integration between the old Province of Colombia-West and the Delegation of Venezuela. The Chapter will seek to define the profile and conditions of this new missionary reality.
With the Chapter already begun, the first appointments have been made. Among those chosen are the Secretary, Fr. Libardo Restrepo, and Moderators, Fathers Omar Velásquez y José F. Tobón.
The atmosphere is one of great fraternity, realistic optimism, and consciousness of a transcendent moment for the Claretian Mission in Colombia and Venezuela.
For more information, the communications team for the Chapter is made-up of Fathers: Elvy Marcella, Juan B. Flórez, and Alejandro Gobrin, available at the following link: www.elvymarcella.blogspot.com
