26 – 27 MARCH 2025
By the evening of 25 March, all the superiors of the Claretian communities of the Province of Fátima, along with the Provincial Superior and his full council, had already arrived in the city of Fátima (Portugal). From the very beginning, the welcome and atmosphere set the tone for a pleasant, warm, and relaxed meeting, with our gaze already set towards the end of the current six-year term and the remote preparation for our next Provincial Chapter.
The first day began at 8:00 a.m. with Lauds and the celebration of the Eucharist, with Fr Santi Cerrato leading the liturgy. At 10:00 a.m. we gathered in the meeting room, where the Provincial gave a welcoming address, invoking the Holy Spirit.
The first major session was led by the Prefect of Spirituality and Formation, Fr Félix. He reminded us of one of the key objectives of our upcoming Provincial Chapter: WE DREAM OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. He emphasised the importance of physical and spiritual care for personal balance and for the missionary mandate. Drawing on the Gospel passage of the healing of the paralytic (Mark 2), we engaged in a contemplative journey through our personal, community and provincial realities. Along the way, we participated in an exercise of SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION.
The afternoon session was led by the Provincial Econome, Fr Manolo Segura. It began with an invitation to recognise the gifts of each community member in view of the mission—both the gifts of the brothers and the individual talents received. The day concluded with a plenary sharing of the experiences and work carried out. At 7:30 p.m. we had dinner, followed by free time for rest or a visit to Our Lady.
On Friday 27 March, we all celebrated the Eucharist at the Chapel of the Apparitions at 12:30 p.m. Until that time, the Prefect of Apostolate led the morning session, beginning with the question: what makes the mission of my community a living mission? From the PROVINCIAL MISSION COUNCIL, and reflecting on what has been proposed and achieved so far, we evaluated and discussed the best ideas for growth and improvement.
After the Eucharist and lunch—and following a short rest—we began the final working session of the day. In the first part, the Provincial and his council reflected on the most important aspects of governance in each prefecture. Afterwards, the Provincial presented the roadmap leading to the next Chapter. A key moment for all members of the Province will be two online meetings scheduled for 11 May and 1 June, at 4:00 p.m. (island time, Portugal and London).
We concluded the gathering with a prayer of thanksgiving and a fraternal dinner.
