Between 28 February and 2 March, the city of Málaga hosted the Claretian Students’ Meeting of Europe, bringing together 16 students from five European Claretian provinces. The participants included six students from the Province of Fátima, one from Germany, one from Poland, one from Sanctus Paulus, and seven from Santiago. They were accompanied by Fr. Félix J. Martínez CMF and Fr. Maxim Muñoz CMF, formation prefects of Fátima and Sanctus Paulus, respectively, as well as Fr. Álvaro Rodríguez CMF, a member of the Fátima formation team.
Under the theme “Missionaries in Intercultural and Intergenerational Communities,” participants explored a reality that is increasingly shaping Claretian communities. Interculturality and evangelical fidelity were the core themes of the meeting, which was guided by Fr. Antonio Sánchez Orantos CMF. He shared insights into the challenges of intercultural dialogue, explaining that this issue concerns not only the Church but is also an urgent demand for all of humanity. He emphasised that true evangelical life requires a genuine commitment to building communities where diversity is seen as an enrichment rather than an obstacle.
The gathering was also a space for fraternity and fellowship, allowing participants to get to know one another better and share their experiences. Additionally, they learned about the Claretian mission in Málaga by visiting Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in the Perchel district and participating in the Eucharist.
One of the key conclusions of the meeting was that interculturality does not mean renouncing one’s identity but rather placing it at the service of God’s mission. The missionary vocation should not be a means of personal self-affirmation but rather a call to communal dedication and service to the most vulnerable. Only in this way can the evangelising mission move forward—embracing cultural diversity with generosity and commitment as a gift for communion. The missionary call must be deeply engraved in the heart, reminding us that we are here to serve and to make God known, loved, served, and praised, as St. Anthony Mary Claret taught. Participants also prayed to the Heart of Mary for guidance in fostering life within their communities and in their missionary efforts.
With this commitment, the Claretian students returned to their respective provinces with the desire to continue growing in their vocation and to strengthen interculturality in their communities, convinced that the Claretian mission can only be fully realised through encounter with others and service to those most in need.
