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Santa Eugenia de Berga.

From 18th to 20th November 2016 a meeting of Claretian missionaries of the “Quinquennium” from various organizations in Europe was held in the House of Spirituality “P. Claret ” in Vic.

It gathered following missionaries: Miguel Alvarez Nieto (Bética), Yohanes Benjitu Bareto (Catalonia), Dion Paskalis Nandut (Catalonia), Joan Bové Duran (Catalonia), Josep Codina Plana (Catalonia), Robert Essougou (France), Louie Guades (Italy) and Paul Peter (United Kingdom).

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Interreligious meeting in the House of Spirituality “P. Claret” in Vic.

It was encouraged by the formation prefect of the province of Catalonia, Fr. Màxim Muñoz Duran, with the collaboration of Ricard Costa-Jussà (Provincial Superior of Catalonia), Joan Soler Felip (President of Casal Claret of Vic) and Lluís Balañà Dubois (translator – Sallent).

The main issue of reflection was “Interreligious Dialogue, especially with Islam”. It counted on the testimony of people of different religions.

 

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Santa Eugenia de Berga.

On Sunday, the festivity of Christ the King and the memorial day of Blessed Andrés Solá, a Claretian martyr during the Mexican Revolution, the group made a pilgrimage to the village in which Fr. Solá was baptized and around the villages where Fr. Claret began his popular missions in 1840.

 

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Viladrau.

We are presenting below some testimonies of  the participants and some pictures of the pilgrimage.

 

Approaching the fountain and drinking from Claret’s spirit

 

Visiting the “Claretian sites” is approaching the fountain and drinking from Fr. Claret’s spirit. This is my experience and I never get tired of repeating it. I’m not lazy to go there again and again. I feel good and it does me good. I refresh my memory and my spirit refills.

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Espinelves.

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Paul Peter in front of the Church of Seva.

On Sunday, November 20, the group of Claretians of the Quinquennium has had the opportunity to visit Santa Eugenia de Berga, Seva, Viladrau and Espinelves, accompanied by Fr. Carlos Sánchez, a Claretian who knows Fr. Claret, cherishes him and makes everybody appreciate him.

Each visit, besides the historical touch and Claretian touch, has its own charm. This time I would emphasize two aspects: first, the warm welcome, kindness, simplicity and good humor of the priests with whom we have been able to share our time for a while; second, the colorful landscape offered to us by the autumn of the Montseny surroundings.

Brother Josep Codina Plana, cmf.

“This visit has helped me a lot to think about FR. Claret’s life when he was a young priest”

 

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Dion Paskalis in front of the sepulchre of Fr. Claret.

Visiting the Claretian sites, within the context of the quinquennium, has helped me a lot to think about Fr. Claret’s life when he was a young priest. The first thing I thought of was his enthusiasm for the physical and spiritual health of the people, how he walked from one place to another to preach and to heal the sick, without fatigue. I was fortunate also to know some significant sites for two important Claretians: the Blessed Martyr Andrés Sola and the first martyr of our Congregation, Fr. Francisco Crusats.

Thanks to Fr. Carlos Sánchez who has shown us very well these Claretian places.

May the missionary spirit of Fr. Claret and the Claretian martyrs help us to remain faithful in our vocation and in the work that each of us is doing where we are.

P. Dion Paskalis Nandut, cmf.

We were able to feel the action of the Spirit who made Claret “go out” to preach

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Santa Eugenia de Berga.

On Sunday, November 20, all the participants of the Quinquennial meeting had the opportunity to enjoy a walk through some of the Claretian sites around Vic: Seva, Viladrau and Espinelvas.

We also visited the parish of Santa Eugenia de Berga, where Fr. Andrés Solá was baptized, and years later, in 1931, the body of the Founder was hidden.

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Fr. Miguel Álvarez is the first on the right.

At all times, we were accompanied by Fr. Carlos Sánchez, Director of CESC.

Thanks to his clear indications we were able to feel how it was the Holy Spirit who encouraged Claret to leave the parish of Villadrau, where he acted as a vicar, and begin to preach.

We prayed for the intercession of our brother, Blessed Fr. Solà, whose festivity we were celebrating that day, November 20. We asked him that we also be willing to give our lives by announcing the Gospel as he was and as St. Anthony M Claret always wanted to be.

Miguel Alvarez Nieto, cmf. (Bética)