Rome, Italy. On June 12, 2023, the directors of the six Claretian Institutes of Consecrated Life met to work on three main topics: sharing experiences, reflecting on the commitment of the last General Chapter to coordinate the institutes, and defining a common project to link more closely.
The Claretians participated in the meeting were: Fr. Henry Omonisaye, from the General Government and Chairman of the Board of Directors; Fr. Cristo Rey Paredes, member of the Commission; Fr. George Lanithottam, Executive Secretary; Fr. Maurizio Bevellaqua, from Claretianum; Fr. Antonio Bellella, from ITVR Madrid; Fr. Antonio Santillan, representing ITVCA, Bogotá; Fr. Gusti Supur, from ICLA, Manila; Fr. Peter Okonywo, from InCLA, Abuja, Nigeria; and Fr. M. Arul Jesu Robin, from Sanyasa ( ICLS ), Bangalore.
The first day was dedicated to presentations from each institute, allowing an exchange of experiences and ideas. On the second day, the vision of the XXVI General Chapter and Pope Francis’ reflection on Universities and Pontifical Institutes was addressed. The Claretian mission and the “Third Mission Project” were also discussed, with an intervention in this line from Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, Superior General of the Congregation of Claretian Missionaries.
On the third and last day, a project was presented to link all the Claretian institutes under the leadership of the Claretianum (Institute of Consecrated Life located in Rome). Time was also dedicated to studying the “Corporate Manifesto” that the General Government must approve.
Some significant proposals emerged during the meeting: maintaining the Chapter’s commitment to linking the six institutes in the spirit of Vertatis Gaudium, the publication of a Dictionary of Consecrated Life in English, and continuing with research and publication of books on consecrated life in English.
This meeting of the Claretian Institutes of Consecrated Life continues to contribute to this dream that the Congregation has for 2027, which in its last part collects:
We dream of a Congregation prepared to respond to new challenges through an integral and continuing process of formation, open to universal mission, according to the spirit and charism of our Father Founder.
