Madrid, Spain. From the 10th to the 12th of February, for the eighth time, the Claretian provinces of Spain have gathered together a number of people who are very involved in the animation of the parishes entrusted to the Congregation, in what is called ‘an interprovincial encounter of parishes’.

More than eighty people coming from the provinces of Bética, Catalunya, Euskal Herria and Santiago, Missionaries and laity (comprising 50%), came together in Madrid with the intention, as was embodied in the theme, of “renewing family ministry in the parishes: vocation to love and the New Evangelization.”

The participants, who gathered from Friday to Sunday, were enchanted with the presentor, Don Carlos Escribano, Bishop of Teruel-Albarracín, with a long previous experience in family and parish ministry.

Like on other occasions the various provinces were in charge of the liturgical celebrations. Don Carlos outlined various reflections: ‘The family today: the urgency of the renewal of the family apostolate’; ‘Toward a renewed family ministry: the Christian family subject of evangelization’; ‘The preparation for marriage and family life in the parish: remote, proximate and immediate preparation’, and ‘Family Apostolate in the parishes: the Team of Parish Family Ministry ‘. The contents proposed and suggested were later worked on in dialog, group sharing, synthesis… There were moments to share experiences, dreams, and achievements.

The participants left very satisfied from the Encounter and let it be known in their final evaluation. At a break in the afternoon on Saturday Fr. Josep Maria Abella, Superior General of the Congregation, on an unexpected visit to Madrid, greeted the participants.