The Movement of Lay Claretian of Venezuela realized its XIX Assembly in the city of Barquisimeto, the days 7th, 8th and 9th of September of 2018, in the Missionary House of Consolata.
Three groups from Barquisimeto: Oeste, Anclistas and Barquisimeto, and two rural communities: Bobare and Usera, assisted to this Assembly.
Because of transport problems, the groups of Mérida and Barinas could not assist. In Venezuela, our country, there is barely no collective transport. The Lay people of the rural environment also have difficulties with the transport. In the case of Barinas and Mérida, they are states located at 7 hours from Barquisimeto. Some Lay people could not assist either due to illness or home accident.
Despite the difficulties, thank God the assembly took place, with a lot of sacrifice; but with a lot of love for the Movement of Lay Claretian.
The topics given were Claretian Spirituality, Self-esteem, without forgetting Identity, Vocation and Mission… very rich and motivating topics. We imagined the way Claret lived this spirituality in his time and the way we lay claretian live it today. There are many challenges: How are we testimony? How do we share those charisms with others in a country with so many problems?
F. Elvy Marcella (CMF) accompanied us supporting and making important the role of the Lay people today in church. There was also a Eucharistic celebration, Happiness Hour, birthday party… A way of strengthen our brotherhood, as the true family we are.
Four Lay Claretian from Bobare, in judgement, asked for being included in the Movement of Lay Claretian. This admission was left for 24 October, day we celebrate Our Saint’s day and we Lay Claretian that day renewed our compromise to the Christian community.
The new Regional Council was chosen for the next three years. Coordinator: Yalmar Linárez (Anclista); of Formation: Anibal Sánchez (Usera); of Economy: Nyhobe de Martínez (Barquisimeto); Secretary: Xiomara Gonzàlez (Oeste); and for Communication: Danilo Rodríguez (Barquisimeto).
The assembly served for sharing a lot and for getting closer, as the great Family we are. We thank the Global Council for looking after the assembly and also for their prayers; and Lay Claretian brothers that also looked after the Lay Claretian from Venezuela. Please, keep praying for our country. We request the Holy Spirit and S. Antonio Maria Claret and Virgin of Coromoto, Patron Saint of Venezuela (being today her day), to keep blessing as their intercession so that the situation of our country can change.
María Ledezma, Lay Claretian from Venezuela.
Por cuarto año consecutivo, las entidades de inspiración católica que promueven la iniciativa Iglesia por el Trabajo Decente (ITD) se sumaron a la Jornada Mundial por el Trabajo Decente del 7 de octubre, convocando durante este mes de octubre gestos, actos públicos, vigilias y eucaristías.
Esta jornada es una de las citas claves para ITD, que desarrolla una amplia actividad para sensibilizar y visibilizar la importancia de extender en la sociedad y en la Iglesia la defensa del trabajo decente. ITD favorece estas dinámicas sobre una cuestión central en la sociedad y esencial para la vida de millones de personas: el trabajo humano decente.
Una Jornada Mundial por el Trabajo Decente que es también compartida por la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), el movimiento sindical mundial y el Movimiento Mundial de Trabajadores Cristianos. ITD extenderá esta convocatoria a las más de 200 entidades adheridas a la iniciativa.
Os dejamos aquí un par de documentos que, en torno a este tema, nos hacen llegar desde nuestra Delegación de Justicia, Paz e Integridad de la Creación. Como Seglares Claretianos no podemos estar ajenos a estas reivindicaciones tan propias del mundo laical y que afecta a la vida digna de millones de personas y familias:
- Díptico por un Trabajo Decente
- Díptico: el Trabajo un bien de la sociedad y de la persona al servicio de la vida.
After some attempts of knowing in situ the reality of the lay claretian groups existing in the different countries of Africa, we finally reached Cameroon!
From June 29th to July 2nd, F. Manolo Tamargo and I have participated in the third National Assembly of Lay Claretian of Cameroon celebrated in Akono, close to Yaounde. The visit was prepared in coordination with its assessor, F. Octave Soh, to learn about its reality and see how to make possible for them to integrate in the movement.
Around 120 people from 10 different groups participated in the Assembly. Some of these groups have spent many years going deep in S. Antonio Mª Claret charisma and the identity of the lay claretian, although without being linked to the movement. Other groups are in the movement for less time, but they show a great enthusiasm for learning in depth this charisma.
In a particular moment of the meeting we had the chance of making a presentation of the current reality of the movement, so they could know better who Lay Claretian are and how we live our belonging to the movement, with the aim of helping them deciding about their joining to it. According to the dialogue which came next, it can be said that it exists interest for belonging to the movement and there are groups that in a short time will ask for their joining.
Another task programmed was the election of a new National Committee, what we call Regional Council. We explained them the way the movement works and is organized for choosing every position, but they compromised to study and consider it.
But without any doubt, the Eucharistic celebrations have marked those three days, exciting, full of life, joy, with an important prominence of the word, but also of the music, the singing and dancing. A beautiful way to make God present and give him thanks for the life given to us. A contagious joy, lived from the simplicity but stating the evidence of the importance of what is being celebrated in every moment, every part of the Eucharist with its specific ritual full of symbolism. Tied to it, the external appearance, the clothing, demonstrating also with this aspect, that to put yourself in the presence of God, we have to take care of everything and give the best of every person in all their aspects.
For me, it was the first time visiting an African country and the experience has been very rich and motivating, not only because we could fulfil our objective of get the movement closer to countries where due to the cultural differences and language we are not so present, but for being witnesses of their way of living the faith, the joy they transmit and their illusion for living and taking care of the charism from the Lay Claretian, as they say. All of that accompanied by a warm welcome and an elegant care for us to be comfortable, lavish us in all they could, even dressing up us with the typical clothes of the country, which had offered us as gift. These photos show a little of all the lived those days.
I finish requesting God to take care of them, and preserve their happiness and dynamism to keep giving it to every person who visit them and who wants to share with the Lay from Cameroon their life in the deepest sense.
A friendly greeting.
Bernardeta Arbaiza (General Secretary MSC)
