Rome, Italy. The Claretian missionaries in Rome gathered to commemorate the Feast of Saint Joseph, patron of the General Curia and copatron of the Congregation. The event, which took place on 19 March 2024, saw the participation of members from all the communities in Rome: the General Curia, the Iuridicum, the Claretianum, and the communities of Banchi Vecchi and the Sacro Cuore di Maria ai Parioli Parish.
The day began in the afternoon with an opening prayer led by Fr. Joseph Mbungu-Mutu, CMF, followed by welcome remarks from the Local Superior, Fr. Rosendo Urrabazo, CMF. In a fraternal and reflective atmosphere, the Father General, Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, shared his vision on the current state of the congregation and the path forward, emphasising that the Congregation is a family, not a confederation. This approach has many implications for the life and mission of the institute. The work being done to strengthen each Claretian’s vocation, the revitalisation of the joy of living and missioning in community, the support for the Major Organisms, and the promotion of greater collaboration at the continental level of Claretian Conferences were also highlighted.
During the open forum, attendees were given opportunities to express their questions and curiosities, creating an enriching dialogue among those present. The celebration also served as a platform to share the preparations for the 175th jubilee anniversary, with a presentation by Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF, about the communicational coverage of the event, including a series of videos that narrate the history of the congregation and another series that highlights the Claretian missions around the world.
Fr. Carlos Sanchez, CMF, provided insights into the upcoming Claretian Spirituality Congress in Vic, highlighting the preliminary dialogues held by the communities and the survey still open and sent to every Claretian. The results reveal fascinating data on how Claretians live their charism globally. This meeting promises to be a very important moment to deepen the understanding of Claretian spirituality in the current context.
The day concluded with the celebration of Vespers on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, followed by a fraternal dinner. The atmosphere of communion and hope marked the close of this event.
