Deepening the vocation

Our journey as juniors towards perpetual profession is being a transformative experience, deeply rooted in our personal vocation, in the vocation of our Founders, in evangelical poverty and in pilgrimage. The intercultural experience is strengthening our faith and deepening our mission, inspired by our Founders, Maria Antonia Paris and Antonio Maria Claret.

As we pray our vocation, we remember the moment we felt the Lord’s call, “our initial vision,” a grace-filled invitation to dedicate our lives to Him. It has been very beautiful to share, in a Conversation in the Spirit, the work of the Spirit in each one’s life.

The week concluded with a profound reflection on evangelical poverty, the cornerstone of our charism. Inspired by our Foundress, we realized that Evangelical Poverty is a way of life centered on trust in God: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Living simply, detached from all things and living with humility, allows us to be witnesses of Christ’s love. This understanding has renewed our commitment to embody this spirit in daily living in community for mission.

The stage of personal vocation culminated on February 18-19, with a pilgrimage in which we strengthened our charismatic bonds. We traveled to Barcelona, where our sisters welcomed us, in the House of Spirituality of Teresita Albarracín. The warmth and devotion of the community encouraged us as well as the prayer next to her remains, the visit to her room and the celebration of the Eucharist.

In the afternoon we went to the Church of Saints Just and Pastor, the place of Fr. Claret’s conversion. There we felt invited to renew our journey of conversion. We continue to the Church of Our Lady of the Sea, the place where Claret preached so many times.

We had the opportunity to appreciate the Church of the Holy Family from outside, we marveled at the faith expressed through art and architecture.

Our route took us to another important place for Claret, the sanctuary of Our Lady of Fusimaña. On the way we prayed the rosary for peace in the world and when we arrived at the shrine, we had a space for community prayer for the mission of the Congregation.

We continue with the visit to the birthplace of Fr. Claret in Sallent, the museum and the tomb in Vic.

This experience, sealed with the Eucharist at the tomb of Claret in Vic, has renewed our zeal for the mission, our trust in Mary and the call to live our vocation with availability to God’s will. Special thanks to the community of Claretian Sisters of Barcelona and to the Claretian missionaries of Sallent and Vic who have welcomed us with a family spirit.