Claretians in China welcomes the election of the New Superior General

“Called to evangelise: witnesses and messengers of the joy of the Gospel”, was the theme of the General Chapter of the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Claretians) which was celebrated from the last week of August till the third week of September in Rome. 

The Chapter elected the New Superior General and his Counsellors, who would serve in the Office till the next General Chapter to be held in 2021.

Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF: Superior General

Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, Bangalore - India: Superior General

Fr. Gonzalo Fernández, CMF, Santiago: Vicar General, Prefect of Spirituality

Fr. Manuel Tamargo, CMF, Santiago: Consultor, Econome

Fr. Leo Dalmao, CMF, Philippines: Consultor, Prefect of Formation

Fr. Artur Teixeira, CMF, Portugal: Consultor, Prefect of Apostolate

Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF, West Nigeria: Consultor

Br. Carlos Verga, CMF, San Jose del Sur: Consultor, Prefect of Youth Ministry & Vocation

On Friday, 11 September, Holy Father Pope Francis gave an audience to the Chapter Delegates where he thanked the Congregation for the missionary services rendered by the  in different parts of the world. Meeting with the delagates, Pope Francis had this to say to the Congregation: 

Pope Francis during the audience to the Claretians 

"I should like to say three words that might be useful to you: to adore, to walk and to accompany.

To adore: We, in this world of efficiency, have lost the meaning of adoration, including in prayer. It is true, we pray, we praise the Lord, we ask, we thank.... However, adoration is being before the One God, the One who is above price, who does not barter, who does not exchange.... And everything that is outside of him is a “cardboard imitation”, an idol.... To adore...In this we must make an effort to grow in this way of prayer: adoration. Adore, adore God. This is lacking in the Church at this moment, because it is not taught. This sense of adoration that we see in the Bible in the First Commandment — “Adore the one God. You will have no other God. He is the Only One you must adore...” 

To walk: God cannot adore himself, but God willed to walk. He did not want to stay still. He walked from the first moment with his people. Do you remember that lovely passage about Moses? “Think, what people had God so close that he walked together with you?” Walk. To walk is to open frontiers, to go out, to open doors, to seek paths. Walk... do not stay seated, do not settle down in the negative sense of the word...Walk as God walked, [God] who made himself a companion on the journey.

The third: to accompany: Do not walk alone, because it’s boring.... Accompany the people, because God walked accompanying. It is so beautiful to recall what Jesus did, when he played the fool, he “played dumb” with those who were running away from Jerusalem to Emmaus: he joined them and accompanied them there; he accompanied the whole event....

Accompany moments of joy, accompany the happiness of couples, of families. Accompany them in difficult times, in moments of the Cross, moments of sin.... Jesus wasn’t afraid of sinners, he sought them out. They criticized him: “This one is too forward, this one is imprudent...”. Accompany. Accompany the people; accompany the many desires that the Lord sows in the heart, and leave them to grow well.

This is what I wanted to say to you. Adore, walk and accompany!. 

We wish our General Government the 

Heaven's choicest blessings!