New York, USA. The Claretian Team at the United Nations organized two parallel events during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2024: 1) Building a Better Future: Claretian Ministries in the Implementation of the SDGs; and 2) Spotlight on SDG Implementation: Conversation with Religious NGOs at the HLPF 2024.
The first was an online side event that occurred on July 11, 2024. It featured Claretian representatives from countries presenting their Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2024. They demonstrated how they integrate SDGs and Catholic Social Teachings through their ministries, programs, projects, and initiatives in Claretian Missions. It was an opportunity to exchange ideas on implementing the SDGs through the Claretian apostolates.
Fr. Lord Winer CMF, General Mission Procurator of the Claretian Missionaries, moderated the event. Claudia Valentini spoke about the activities of the Claretian General Mission Procure in achieving the SDGs. Claretian representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe shared their experiences and efforts in implementing the SDGs through their various social and pastoral efforts.
The sharing was organized into two rounds: 1) Showcasing Claretian Projects/Programs/Initiatives and Social Transformation; 2) Future Plans for SDG Awareness and Integration. The participants shared examples of integrating the SDGs into evangelizing actions, strategies for social transformation in their ministries through SDGs, initiatives to ensure no one is left behind, plans for SDG awareness raising and sustainability of projects and programs, and opportunities for collaboration with others for more significant impact. Teresa Blumenstein, the New York Coordinator of JCoR, responded to the discussions and commended the Claretians for their efforts in transforming the world.
The Society of the Sacred Heart, the Dominican Leadership Conference, the Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-Onlus, and the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary during the High-Level Political Forum jointly organized the second event. It was held on July 15, 2024, on the 11th floor of the Church Center for the United Nations in a hybrid format—online and face-to-face. Sr. Durstyne Farnan, OP of the Dominican Leadership Conference, moderated the event. Sr. Margaret Mwarili RSCJ welcomed everyone and gave the opening words. Henry Ramirez CMF thanked all and gave the closing remarks.
Fr. César Espinoza, CMF, of Centroamérica Province, and Fr. Norbey Tapiero, CMF, of the Claretian Province of Colombia Oriental-Ecuador were among the seven panelists who shared their experiences on SDG implementation. The speakers discussed their countries’ situation regarding the implementation of the SDGs and how this was reflected in their country’s VNR report. They responded to the question: What are the contributions of their congregations to the promotion and implementation of the SDGs and their targets? They also shared their hopes that their actions in favor of the SDGs and other networks would lead to the transformation and change they hope for in their countries.
Both parallel events created opportunities for the Claretian Major Organisms in the VNR countries to reflect on the SDGs, the importance of integrating them into their ministries, and to seek more collaborative efforts.
