Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. On the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the arrival of St. Anthony Mary Claret to the Canary Islands, the Claretian religious communities of the place have organized various activities in honor of Father Claret, co-patron of the diocese.
Last October 2022, they already installed in the library an information board panel titled “Claret in the Canary Islands, 1848. History of a gift from God”. This panel, made by Miguel Angel Sosa, Lay Claretian, and an alumnus of the school, consists of several pieces of vinyl that show in a visual and didactic way the presence and missions of Father Claret in the Canary Islands.
The official celebration of the 175th anniversary began on the weekend, coinciding with the anniversary of the voyage of Father Claret from the mainland in the company of Bishop Buenaventura Codina Augerolas, C.M., and his disembarkation in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. On Saturday, March 4, 2023, a Lenten retreat was held at the facilities of the Claret School of Tamaraceite for the entire educational community of the school and the members of the Claretian parish communities. It was given by Fr. Juan Carlos Martos, CMF, director of the Claretian Spirituality Center in Vic (CESC).
On Sunday, March 5, 2023, a Thanksgiving Mass took place at the Claretian parish of the Heart of Mary in honor of the coming of Father Claret to the Canary Islands. It was presided by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Cristóbal Déniz Hernández.
In addition, a Recollection with Adoration and Eucharist and a gathering of all the faith groups and communities and parish groups are also scheduled to officially launch the anniversary.
A little more than a year of presence of St. Anthony Mary Claret in the Canary Islands was enough to renew the faith and piety of the people of the Canary Islands, in such a way that it was a turning point in the history of the Church of the Canary Islands. The objective of these celebrations is to recover and spread the memory of Father Claret’s stay in the Canary Islands, and to stimulate the missionary and evangelizing spirit of all those who form the Church of this place. The activities, in reality, have already begun in 2022 and will end in October 2024.
Currently, there are thirteen Claretians in the Canary Islands distributed in three houses, one on the island of Tenerife and two others on the island of Gran Canaria. The Claret School serves more than 2,100 students. There are also four parishes where youth and educational ministries, penitentiary, and immigrant ministries stand out. It is also the headquarters of Proclade Canarias.
Source: Santiago Cerrato, CMF, Parish Priest of Corazón de María Parish in Las Palmas de Gran Canarias.
