Vic, Spain. From November 3 to 12, 2025, the Claretian House of Spirituality (CESC) hosted the Meeting of Formation Prefects of the Claretian Missionaries, led by Fr. Joseph Mbungu-Mutu, CMF. For ten days, the participants engaged in synodal accompaniment applied to formation processes, shared experiences, and discerned ways to revitalize the Congregation’s formative life.
The encounter began with a greeting from the Superior General, Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF. Fr. Juan Carlos Martos, CMF, then led a retreat focusing on the formator as a spiritual guide in the vocational journey. Sr. Jolanda Kafka, RMI, offered a reflection on synodality, emphasizing listening and shared responsibility as essential elements of formation.
Fr. Juan Martín Askaiturrieta, CMF, Provincial of Sanctus Paulus, also addressed the participants, welcoming them on behalf of the hosting Province and encouraging them to live the encounter with openness, depth, and creative fidelity to the Claretian tradition.
A central focus was the General Formation Plan (GPF) and its Manual (currently in its early drafting stage), presented respectively by Frs. Gonzalo Fernández and Antony Bhyju, CMFF. Group discussions evaluated the implementation of the GPF and proposed common strategies to strengthen the formation of formators and address contemporary challenges, including interculturality and holistic human development.
Ongoing formation received particular emphasis in the presentation by Fr. Lucas Emanuel Smiriglia, CMF, who underlined that continuous renewal “is not optional but essential for sustaining a fruitful missionary life.” Cardinal Aquilino Bocos, CMF, further enriched the meeting with insights on specific vocations and the identity of the Claretian missionary in today’s Church.
Among the most significant moments were the pilgrimage to Sallent, the birthplace of the Founder, and the visit to the Barbastro Martyrs Museum, where the prefects renewed their missionary commitment inspired by the testimony of the 51 young Claretian martyrs.
In the final days, participants met by conferences to review and refine the Draft Letter to the Congregation, which was approved on November 12 as the fruit of shared discernment. During the concluding evaluation, the prefects highlighted the atmosphere of communion, attentive listening, and collaboration that marked the encounter.
The closing Eucharist, presided over by Fr. Joseph Mbungu-Mutu, CMF, became a moment of missionary commissioning. In his homily, he encouraged the prefects to strengthen formative life in their respective units as true missionary-disciples, reminding them that “formation is a permanent journey of conversion and mission.”
