Managua, Nicaragua, and Tela, Honduras. December 2024 marked significant milestones for the Claretian community with the ordinations of Fabio Antonio Rivas, CMF, in Managua, and David Martínez Gómez, CMF, in Tela, celebrated in ceremonies filled with faith, joy, and gratitude.
The ordination of Fabio Antonio Rivas, CMF took place on December 4, 2024, at Guadalupe Corazón de María Parish in Managua. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes and brought together family, friends, clergy, and parishioners. Father Carlos Salvador Menjívar, CMF, Superior of the Claretian community in Nicaragua, presented Father Rivas for ordination. “God has been great with us, and for this, we are joyful,” echoed throughout the celebration, signifying a renewed pastoral presence in a parish that had experienced a period without a resident priest.
In his homily, Cardinal Brenes expressed gratitude to the Claretian Missionaries for their dedication and encouraged the parishioners to support their new priest. Father Rivas, in his words of gratitude, declared, “Here I am, Lord; send me,” affirming his commitment to serve his community as a Son of the Heart of Mary.
On December 14, 2024, in Puerto de Tela at the Parish of San Antonio de Padua, David Martínez Gómez, CMF, was ordained by Bishop Ángel Garachana Pérez, CMF. The celebration radiated the Claretian charism, bringing together the faithful, Claretian Missionaries, the Fraternity of Mary, and Eudist Fathers in a family-like atmosphere filled with songs of joy and heartfelt gratitude.
“Mysticism and poetry, Saint John of the Cross, fourteenth of December what a great joy,” described the moment when David Martínez Gómez surrendered to God and received the grace of presbyteral consecration. Reflecting on the day, witnesses recalled a poignant moment as rain fell, symbolizing the tears of joy from heaven as his parents watched their son complete his journey to priesthood.
The Claretian Missionaries expressed their gratitude for the vocations of Fathers Rivas and Martínez Gómez and prayed for more workers to be sent into the Lord’s fields. They reaffirmed their mission to proclaim the Good News with open and willing hearts.
Source: E. Onel Antonio Pérez, CMF, and Josué Lemus Cruz, CMF.
