California, USA. The USA province was born on February 2, 2011 at the celebration of the Eucharist during an assembly of 80 Claretian Missionaries serving in the United States.
Rosendo Urrabazo, CMF, the new provincial, along with council members Eddie De Leon, CMF, Jose Sanchez, CMF, Mark Brummel, CMF, and Richard DeTore, CMF, concelebrated the liturgy after the reading of a greeting to the new province by superior general Josep Abella, CMF, read by vicar general Paul Smyth, CMF.
The new province is the fruit of the efforts of Claretian Missionaries who arrived in the United States from Spain and Mexico in 1902, from humble beginnings serving newly arrived Mexican immigrants in San Antonio, TX, Los Angeles, CA, and Chicago, IL. Our missionaries now serve in seven states faithfully continuing to minister to recent immigrants. They also serve in Campus Ministry, youth evangelization, preaching ministries, publications, and other ministries.
The reorganization process was facilitated by four joint gatherings for all members, a joint province plenary committee and the use of professional facilitators. The first assembly of the new province highlighted our missionaries concern for the international congregation, revitalizing our present ministries and looking to the future with openness, creativity and faith as men on fire with God’s love.
