Online. More than 60 Claretian missionaries, religious sisters, laypeople, and members of the Claretian family from across the world participated online on June 6, 2026, in the second webinar of the Claretian formation series on discernment. Entitled “Discernment in Apostolic Life,” the session explored how missionaries can recognise and follow God’s will amid the demands and complexities of daily ministry.
Organised by the General Prefecture of Spirituality and Community Life, the webinar was opened by Fr. Carlos, CMF, General Prefect. He described discernment as essential for remaining centred on Jesus and living the missionary vocation in the spirit of Saint Anthony Mary Claret. Fr. Anthony Igbokwe, CMF, of the Province of Santiago, Madrid, moderated the session. Fr. Antonio Sánchez Orantos, CMF, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the Pontifical University of Comillas in Madrid and lecturer in spiritual theology, served as the principal speaker.
Drawing on the spirituality of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Fr. Antonio Sánchez Orantos, CMF, presented discernment not as an occasional exercise reserved for major decisions, but as a daily way of life guided by the Holy Spirit. He highlighted humility, meekness, and poverty as three interconnected apostolic virtues that help missionaries resist messianism, rigidity, envy, and excessive activism.
The panellists enriched the discussion through questions rooted in apostolic and community life. Br. Fernando Kuhn, CMF, a panellist from San José del Sur (Argentina) with extensive experience in formation, asked how genuine discernment can be sustained amid the interruptions and complexities of contemporary life. In response, Fr. Antonio Sánchez Orantos, CMF, emphasised the daily examination of life as a practical means of recognising God’s presence and calls.
Fr. Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF, a panellist from Northeast India Province, raised questions concerning evangelical humour, certainty in faith, and openness to the mystery of God. The dialogue distinguished evangelical humour, which fosters hope and communion, from cynicism, which weakens trust and human dignity.
The webinar concluded by encouraging participants to make discernment part of ordinary apostolic life. Future sessions will address psychology and spiritual accompaniment, Claretian approaches to the rules of discernment, and spiritual combat in daily and pastoral life.
