Fr Marcelo Vasquez before Fr Claret’s photograph .
In the midst of summer heat I arrived in the town of Vic. After the gate there was the Mother House: the first home of the missionaries, after the founding of our Congregation. They also arrived there in summertime. Then, the emotion became a fraternal welcome thanks to the attentions from the present Claretian community.
These were very few days, but they were intense indeed. Apart from the shared moments of refection and prayer, we shared warm conversation as we walked around the city.
With Fr Carlos Sanchez, CMF, and at the pace of his explanations, we walked the narrow streets of Vic, we saw significant buildings, including surrounding villages like Viladrau, trying to recall the memory of Fr Claret’s missionary adventure. Then, I reviewed the life and work of our founder in the museum of the house under the accurate guidance of Fr Josep P Rovira, CMF.
The warm welcome of all, Fr. Casal, CMF, brother Pere Martínez, CMF, and Fr. Josep Armengol, CMF, local superior, made my stay at the Motherhouse become a live and historic pilgrimage as a missionary to the roots of his family.
When writing the fond memories of my visit, I wish and pray that our communities can be prophetic in the sense that allow their members to dream of a spring fraternal life and help each heart throb with missionary spirit.
Fr. Marcelo Vásquez, CMF.