Marking the 176th anniversary of the Claretian Congregation, Superior General Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, delivered a message, aligning the celebration with the Church’s Jubilee Year. Reflecting on the founding moment in 1849, he recalled how St. Anthony Mary Claret and five young priests lit a flame of missionary hope amid adversity. That same flame, Fr. Mathew said, continues to burn today, calling Claretians to re-enter the “charismatic room” where the Spirit revives mission, joy, and hope. He emphasized that the Claretian journey is not one of nostalgia or comfort, but of prophetic witness shaped by hardship, spiritual passion, and a global, Gospel-centered mission.
The Superior General introduced nine key traits of a Claretian pilgrim, including embracing the struggles of the road, radical detachment, and walking in the Spirit’s rhythm. He challenged members to become a “missionary body on the move,” free from attachments to ideology, possessions, or permanence. Stressing community, inner transformation, and attentiveness to present realities, Fr. Vattamattam called for a renewed witness of joy and solidarity.
