In the month of June several priestly anniversaries have been celebrated. Here they are:
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF PRIESTHOOD OF FRS. AGUSTÍN BERNAL AND ESTEBAN BOLÍVAR
March 19 marked the 50th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Frs. Agustín Bernal and Esteban Bolívar in Colmenar Viejo.
Fr. Agustín celebrated the anniversary in his community of Córdoba-San Pablo and it took place in a family atmosphere, both in terms of the participation in the Eucharist and in the fraternal meal proper to the occasion. The Claretian brothers of Miralbaida joined in the celebration.
In his homily, Fr. Agustín made a very moving journey through his vocational itinerary, which began at the age of ten in San Martín de Trevejo and which, after a long service in the missionary sector of Christian education, has brought him to this Community of Córdoba-San Pablo. Finally, Fr. Agustín Bernal expressed his deep gratitude to God, to the Heart of Mary and to all those who have accompanied him during these 50 years and ended his homily by asking all those present to pray for him. All in all, the celebration was a truly endearing event, full of family flavour. Congratulations!
For his part, Fr. Esteban celebrated his anniversary in the parish of El Pilar in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It was an event full of meaning. The parish newsletter echoed the celebration in which the whole parish participated, expressing gratitude and recognition of a life given over 50 years of priestly ministry. We thank the Lord, once again, for all that allows us to live with simplicity the greatness of priestly life. It has been an event for all of us in this parish. We bless the Lord for the gift of his life and for his faithfulness, and we give thanks for his presence among us.
CELEBRATION OF THE SILVER JUBILEE OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF FATHER JAMES CASTRO
In the framework of the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Brígida (Gran Canaria) the Claretian Community of Rabadán celebrated last Saturday, May 28, with a fraternal day, the silver jubilee of priesthood of our brother James Castro cmf (which took place on May 31). Congratulations James!
SILVER JUBILEE OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF FR. JUAN ANTONIO LAMARCA
On May 31, Fr. Juan Antonio Lamarca celebrated his silver jubilee of priesthood in the Parish of St. Anthony Mary Claret in Seville (which will be celebrated on June 29). In the framework of a heartfelt celebration, Fr. Juan Antonio was accompanied by the Claretian missionaries of Seville, some diocesan priests and a large group of parishioners of the parish who almost filled the church.
Fr. Juan Antonio thanked God for the vocation to the ministry he received and in a heartfelt homily he recounted some milestones of his vocational history and his ministerial itinerary in the Congregation. A few days before, he celebrated the same event in the framework of a meeting of the Archbishop, Mons. José Ángel Sainz Meneses, with the priests who this year celebrate their 25th or 50th anniversary of ordination, to whom he gave a cross as a gift. We congratulate Juan Antonio and wish him many years of fruitful missionary service.
25 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD OF FR. VÍCTOR PORTUGAL
The Parish Community of Tondela celebrated with immense gratitude and joy the 25 years of priesthood of its parish priest, Fr. Victor Portugal, on 15 June.
We join in the words of affection of his parishioners, “we hope that the Holy Spirit will always continue to make your priestly heart a burning heart of love similar to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary”.
A few days earlier, on 9 June, the bishop emeritus of Humahuaca, Pedro Olmedo, celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest. And shortly afterwards, on 15 June, Fathers Abilio Ramos, Carlos Ângelo Ferreira and Remualdo Almeida also celebrated their silver jubilee as priests. Congratulations to all of them!
