Rome. From March 1st to the 4th the team responsible for the preparation of teaching materials of “The Forge in Daily Life” gathered in the General Curia. The General Prefect of Spirituality, Fr. Gonzalo Fernández, presided at the meeting. Participating on the team were fr. Paul Smyth, Vicar General; Fr. Matthew Vattaman, General Prefect of Formation; Fr. Juan Carlos Martos, in charge of the General Secretariate of Claretian Vocation Ministry; Fr. Jesu Doss S., member of the CESC team in Vic, and Fr. Marcos Garnica, of the communications team of the Congregation.

At the beginning of their meetings, the group enjoyed the participation of Fr. General, Josep M. Abella, who shared his ideas about this project and who encouraged the participants to continue their work of animation.

Thanks for a number of written evaluations sent-in from various Provinces as well as opinions received by the General Government and the participants at the meeting. One can appreciate this path initiated by the Congregation to “revive the experience of the fire and to grow in missionary fervor” (HAC 55,4). Taken into account were certain detected needs in the first three months since it was put in motion, but a favorable opinion prevailed to continue this search of growing in our identity and vocation.

For the preparation of the materials for the second year (“Patris Mei”), we have relied on the cooperation of Claretians who represent the “Congregational universe”, by their origin or place of mission, ages or ministries. The biggest part of the work has centered on revising the prepared texts, and in some cases to produce others and to adjust all to the objectives and method of the project.

Finalizing the revision, we will continue the work of translation (in the first year it was made-up of ten languages) and, finally, the layout, printing, and distribution of the folders to more than 2,000 Claretians who are following the project. It is hoped to have everything ready for next September, in such a way that we can begin the next step on November 27, the first Sunday of Advent.

An important role in the Development of “The Forge” is how it plays out on the web site www.lafraguacmf.org which in its first months of operation has reached 602 users and 42,150 visits.