Mission Trip 2021 Fresno

11/07/2024

Day 1 of Convention went great. Please keep me and the other fellow Shrine Directors attending the event.

11/05/2024

We kicked off our First Claretian Youth meeting at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish last night. Our Youth Center is still in the works so we met at the parish hall. Also, thanks to the Claretian Bible Institute, we offered Scripture reflection classes to their parents. Instituto Bíblico Claretiano de las Américas - IBICLA Claretian Biblical Institute of the Americas - Ibicla Claretian Vocation Claret Way Global

11/03/2024

Some highlights from our Saint Jude Celebration last Monday. Thanks to Victor H. Camarena and his team for such an amaIng job!

Photos by Saldivar

10/30/2024

Our Youth Center is coming along. I'm learning about remodeling, painting, taking cats out and above all, faith and hope. Thank you for making this possible. Our list jas new items of you'd like to help. May God reward you for your generosity!

10/25/2024

Come join us this Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and the National Shrine of St. Jude to celebrate 100 Years of Claretian Ministry in Chicago! Claretian Vocation Vocation Cmf Canada Claretian Vocations USA-Canada Province Claretian Formation USA-Canada

10/24/2024

Feliz Dia de San Antonio Claret. Esta es una de sus oraciones que me abrasa el alma con el Fuego de amor a Dios y la mision. Que Dios Les bendiga a todos ustedes por Medio de la intercesion de San Antonio Claret

10/24/2024

Happy Feast Day of Saint Anthony Claret. May all of you, through his intersession, be blessed!

10/22/2024

Saint Anthony Mary Claret’s Story

"The “spiritual father of Cuba” was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris, and to the First Vatican Council.

In his spare time as weaver and designer in the textile mills of Barcelona, Anthony learned Latin and printing: The future priest and publisher was preparing. Ordained at 28, he was prevented by ill health from entering religious life as a Carthusian or as a Jesuit, but went on to become one of Spain’s most popular preachers.

Anthony spent 10 years giving popular missions and retreats, always placing great emphasis on the Eucharist and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was said that his rosary was never out of his hand. At age 42, he founded a religious institute of missionaries beginning with five young priests, known today as the Claretians.

Anthony was appointed to head the much-neglected archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba. He began its reform by almost ceaseless preaching and hearing of confessions, and suffered bitter opposition mainly for opposing concubinage and giving instruction to black slaves. A hired assassin—whose release from prison Anthony had obtained—slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony succeeded in getting the would-be assassin’s death sentence commuted to a prison term. His solution for the misery of Cubans was family-owned farms producing a variety of foods for the family’s own needs and for the market. This invited the enmity of the vested interests who wanted everyone to work on a single cash crop—sugar. Besides all his religious writings are two books he wrote in Cuba: Reflections on Agriculture and Country Delights.

He was recalled to Spain for a job he did not relish—being chaplain for the queen. Anthony went on three conditions: He would reside away from the palace; he would come only to hear the queen’s confession and instruct the children; and he would be exempt from court functions. In the revolution of 1868, he fled to Paris with the queen’s party, where he preached to the Spanish colony.

All his life Anthony was interested in the Catholic press. He founded the Religious Publishing House, a major Catholic publishing venture in Spain, and wrote or published 200 books and pamphlets.

At Vatican I, where he was a staunch defender of the doctrine of infallibility, Anthony won the admiration of his fellow bishops. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore remarked of him, “There goes a true saint.” At the age of 63, he died in exile near the border of Spain.

Reflection

Jesus foretold that those who are truly his representatives would suffer the same persecution as he did. Besides 14 attempts on his life, Anthony had to undergo such a barrage of the ugliest slander that the very name Claret became a byword for humiliation and misfortune. The powers of evil do not easily give up their prey. No one needs to go looking for persecution. All we need to do is be sure we suffer because of our genuine faith in Christ, not for our own whims and lack of prudence."

10/16/2024

Novena a San Antonio Claret. Dia 2

Dia 2: Octubre 17Oracion Para Todos Los Dias Dios de Bondad que camina con su gente, que te conozca y te haga conocer,que te ame y te haga amar, que te sirv...

10/13/2024

Grateful to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno for their invitation to their beautiful Religious Congress!

09/29/2024

After finishing my second Claretian Mission Appeal at Saint Joseph Church, Indiana, I ran into two of the guys who just attended Mass. A kitten got stuck in their pickup tire and it took us about an hour to get her out. This happened at a gas station. I went inside the station looking for cat food to entice kitty and one of the clerks says she is looking for a car to adopt. Lo and behold, we got the kitty out and she was immediately adopted. Her name is Eve.

09/29/2024

Thankful for the opportunity to make a mission appeal on behalf of our Claretian Missionaries at Sacred Heart Parish in Clinton, Indiana.