Madrid, Spain. The 26th edition of the Forge officially began on Friday, 5 April 2024, at Los Negrales House in Madrid. Claretians from different parts of the world had been arriving since Monday 1st April. Despite the initial tiredness of the participants, a transforming experience has begun for all.

Fr. Adolfo Lamata, CMF, Major Superior of Santiago, presided at the opening Eucharist. In the context of Easter, he encouraged those present “to be surprised by the passage of the Risen Lord during this time of grace”, describing it as a unique Claretian experience of renewal.

This edition has participants from nine different Major Organisms: Central America (3), Antilles, Mexico (2), Brazil (3), Colombia-Venezuela, East Asia, Peru-Bolivia, Poland (2) and Fatima. The experience will be animated by a team of Claretians led by Fathers Felix K. Ketogo, Rodolfo Morales and Juan Carlos Martos.

The aim of the Forge is for the participants to open their hearts to be transformed by the Lord during the 80 days of living together and sharing dreams. The hope is that the fire of divine love will renew each one of them and mold them according to the missionary vision He has for them, so that they can return to their places of origin with a renewed commitment to the mission.

Source: Juan Carlos Martos, CMF.