PAST ISSUES

PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP
Vocation Message of Pope John Paul II for 2005
Young people need Christ, but they also know that Christ chose to be in need of them."

"Dear young men and women! Trust Christ; listen attentively to His teachings, fix your eyes on His face, persevere in listening to His Word.

NEW MISSIONARY TO INDONESIA.
Fr. Juan Ángel Artiles, CMF He spent the first seven years of his life in Equatorial Guinea, where he already knew the Claretian Missionaries. Back in Spain he studied in Claret High School of Madrid from 1968 to 1989. Since his ordination he has been always working in Youth Ministry and Health Ministry.

OUTING & EVALUATION

DAY OF PRAYER FOR
VOCATIONS
- May 2- The Day of Prayer for Consecrated Vocations called on us to intensify our prayer to the Lord to send workers into his harvest

GOD´S FIDELITY.
Fr. Maximino Rodriguez, CMF will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of his religious profession on July 16, 2004. He left for Spain on June 11, to join twenty-five batch mates from different Claretian communities in the preparation of their 50 anniversary of their religious profession. (more)

ORDINATION TO DIACONATE
Rev.Benedict Sunio Dilag, CMF, was ordained as deacon by Most Rev. Pedro R. Dean, Jr. D.D. in San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish, Simangan, Ormoc City at 3:00 pm last May 5, 2004.

Fr.RHOEL REMEMBERED
As every 3th of May, we paid tribute to Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, CMF, martyr of faith and peace, brutally killed in Basilan in 2000.

15 NEW SEMINARIANS
Fifteen new seminarians arrived in Claret on May 1, 2004. Frs. Angel Ochagavia and Bernado Blanco, welcomed them. Bros. Anthony Carreon and Roberto Bartolay gave them their first orientation.

CLARET SEMINARY GRADUATION
Philosophy Students 2004
A Thanksgiving Mass and the 17th Commencement Excercises were held in St. Anthony Mary Claret College Seminary on March 12.

THEOLOGY GRADUATE IN ATENEO
Mauricio T. Ulep, CMF, a Claretian scholastic from Ilocos, joined other graduates at Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University on March 17, 2004 for the graduation rites.

THEOLOGY GRADUATE IN MARYHILL
Anthony Carreon, CMF, finished his theology studies and reaped the fruits of his four year studies in a thanksgiving mass held last March 12 at the Maryhill School of Theology.

THESIS DEFENCE
Benedict S. Dilag, CMF, a perpetually professed Claretian Missionary defended his Masteral thesis in Theology on March 6, 2004. His thesis entitled "Claretian Popular Evangelization and Renewed Integral Evangelization in the Local Church of Eastern Visayas" was given excellent marks.

PARENTS AND FRIENDS VISITED OUR CLARET VOCATION OFFICE ON MARCH 11, 2004.

VISIT TO MANILA OF FR. GENERAL
Frs. Josep Abella, CMF, General Superior, and Vicente Sanz, CMF, General Prefect of Apostolate were in the Philippines from Feb. 9 to 29.

I MUST GO to INDONESIA
In June 2003 I left Bunguiao, a village 30 kilometers from Zamboanga City, where I had spent the last 22 years of my life as novice master. No farewells, silently without being noticed, I packed the few belongings and transferred to ... (Full Story)

Provincial Newsletter March 2004 (In PDF form-1.4 MB)

DIACONAL ORDINATION
Rev. Dennis Tamayo, CMF was ordained as deacon on Dec.6, 2003 in Zamboanga.

NEW SCHOOL BLESSING

WITH THE BAJAU in Basilan
Claretian Bro. Arnel Alcober, who has been working with the Bajau of Basilan, shares his experience and the challenges he encounters as a missionary. Bro. Arnel Alcober is now in charge of the Claretian Justice and Peace commission.

FIRST VISIT TO VIETNAM
Fr. Rene Manubag visited our brothers in Vietnam during the third week of December.

October 2003 in pdf

MAY BUKAS PA.
Sa panahong ito, ang lahat ay dapat magpakatatag, at huwag magpadaig sa buyo ng kasamaan. Mahalagang mulat tayo na ang Diyos ang tumawag sa atin.

WRAPPED
In the midst of crises, the gift of hope must be continuously unwrapped. Christ is the gift of hope. He came as the Father’s gift, born of the Virgin Mary and wrapped in swaddling clothes “to bring good news to the poor,..” (Lk 4:18-19)

RHOEL GALLARDO, CMF MEMORIAL HALL
Fr. Rene Manubag, CMF, blessed the new hall dedicated to Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, CMF, on Oct. 24, 2003 during a gathering of Claretian missionaries, Claret School teachers and friends on the occasion of St. Anthony Mary Claret Feast.

NEW GENERAL SUPERIOR
Fr. Josep Abella, CMF

AUDIENCE WITH THE HOLY FATHER
Castelgandolfo; On 8 September, at noon, John Paul II received the Chapter delegates who had come from Rome at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo.

In this new section, we present a series of articles on vocation to accompany those of you who are engaged in a serious vocation discernment. We will be adding more and more issues. The Claretian Vocation Directory, together with the Scripture Meditations on Vocation of Sr. Judette Gallares, RC and Vocation Challanges of Fr. Rafael P. Gonzalez, MCCI, are the main source of this new saction.

PERPETUAL PROFESSION

July 16,2003 More&Pictures

VI General Assembly of the
Lay Claretian Movement

Mrs. Cristina Martinez, LC
Secretary General of the Lay
Claretians.

New Claretian Bishop
MOST REV. ÓSCAR JOSÉ VÉLEZ CMF BISHOP OF VALLEDUPAR
Colombia; On 10 June 2003, L'Osservatore Romano published the official notice of the appointment by Holy Father John Paul II of Fr. Óscar José Vélez Isaza, CMF, provincial of the Claretian

Claretian Missionaries Share Their Vocation Stories

LETTER OF THE PROVINCIAL
Rev. Fr. Rene Manubag CMF, sends his first letter to the Philippine Province and makes new community assignments.Letter in PDF format

VIETNAM SPECIAL REPORT
Fr.Francis X. Clark, S.J in his book "ASIAN SAINTS" tells us about the 486 Catholic Canonized Saints and Blessed of Asia. The Vietnamese have a total of ninety-six canonized martyrs and one blessed. They died between 1644 and 1883.
.Ordinations in Ho Chi Minh
19 Priests and 18 Deacons were ordained in Saigon on June 28, 2003, Feast of the Heart of Mary. Long Live Vietnam Church! See Pictures

Golden Missionaries in the Philippines.
The claretian community and the parishioners of the Imm. Heart of Mary Parish paid tribute to Frs. Bernardo Blanco, CMF and Emilio Pablo, CMF in their 50th Anniversary as a Missionary Priest and 50th Year of religious profession respectively. The Solemn Eucharist and Celebration took place on June 15.Previously Fr. Bernardo Blanco, CMF had celebrated his 50 years as a priest in the company of the seminarians and members of the Claretian Family on May 3, 2003.
Fr. Emilio Pablo will join his batchmates in Vic, Spain, on July 16, 2003. Congratulations!

NEW FILIPINO CLARETIAN PRIEST. Fr. Angelito Salig Ancla, CMF , was ordained priest by Most Rev. Fernando Capalla, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, in San Antonio de Padua Parish church in Agdao, Davao City on June 7, 2003. Fr. "Lito" is the first Claretian Missionary Priest from Davao. He celebrated his first mass for his mother Mrs. Primitiva, who had died just four days before Lito´s Ordination. Gallery of Pictures

New Claretian Bishop
Rome March 8, 2003
His Holiness Pope Paul II has appointed Fr. Alfredo María Oburu, C.M.F. Bishop of Ebebeyin, Equatorial Guinea Fr. Oburu was born on 13 April, 1947 in Evinayong, Equatorial Guinea. He made his first profession on 8 December, 1976 and was ordained priest on 22 December, 1981. From this moment, we wish Fr. Alfredo Oburu a fruitful apostolic ministry and congratulate the Church of Equatorial Guinea for a new shepherd.

Congratulations 2003 GRADUATES

ARRIVAL OF 2003 CLARETIAN CANDIDATES
April 30. Orientation Month starts on May 1, 8:30 AM WELCOME TO CLARET.
See Vicinity Map

Fr. Aquilino Bocos, CMF, CMF General Superior of the Claretians sent a letter reflecting the stand of the Congregation on the issue of the Irag War.

New Claretian Priest
Fr. Arnold M. Abelardo, C.M.F. was ordained to the Priesthood as a Claretian Missionary on February 22, 2003. in Quezon City

New Servant-Leader Team in the Philippines
Bro. Arnel Alcober and Frs. Leo Dalmao, Carlos Rivas and Manuel Suñaz were elected Consultors on Jan. 9, 2002. They will assist Fr. Rene to lead the Claretians in the Philippines in their missionary endeavours.

New Provincial Superior
Fr. Renato Manubag,CMF
New Provincial Superior for the period of 2003-2006. He hails from Salvador, Lanao del Norte, Philippines.His first religious profession was on June 7, 1981; he became a missionary priest on March 26, 1986. After his studies in Manila, Rome and Madrid where he earned his Licentiate in Religious Life, he volunteered to the East Timor mission where he spent six years before pioneering the newly opened Claretian mission in Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines.

Three-Day Seach-In
I was so curious of what is in store for me via the Claretians, so I decided to go to the Search-In. The next morning, I jammed my clothes into my bag and marched myself to Culiat area where the

New Mission: Visayas
The new mission in Ormoc is definitely a new chapter in the history of the Claretians in the Philippines. The missionaries insertion in the local church of Eastern Visayas is a significant initial step in journeying with the people of God in this part of the country.

Friendship and Fidelity
Frs. Cyrus Banque, CMF (missionary in Timor), Paulino Manila, CMF (formator) and Samuel Canilang, CMF (Religious Life professor) gathered to celebrate their 10th Anniversary of ordination. The three participated actively in the Provincial Chapter.

Mission In Jamaica
Bro. Thomas Haerle CMF writes: "Since becoming a Claretian Missionary Brother in 1985, I have never regretted serving wherever I have been sent. While in Jamaica, various people have asked me why I am not a priest."

Volunteers To France
Fr. Percy Redoña, CMF
"Maybe, you can help me make publicity for a volunteer to come to France...to come and replace me with regards to the Filipinos or to help me with regards to them! Since the Filipinos are more in number who frequents our church in Marseille!"

Vocation Testimonies Fr. Josep Sureda, CMF
I had a great admiration for the Claretians because they were the best preachers and they were always in touch with people. They immediately showed interest in me. This encouraged me very much and helped me in my choice of vocation.

A Touch of Interculturality
By Efren Limpo, CMF
I recall my life and look deeply with new eyes to what has become of me while following the Great Voice -- the same voice that lingers deep inside me ever since my heart heeds to its promptings.

Sing With Us (To be updated constantly with new Claretian Songs)
We present three new Marian songs in English and Spanish: the sound and the musical score of the recently published Claretian Songs CD. We share with you our missionary and marian spirituality.

First Religious Profession
Lorna Cañete, Ancy John Thaikkaden, Sheeja Edassery, Mini Parethazhathu and Rodelyn Enriquz, Missionary Sisters of St. Anthony M. Claret at Edsa Shrine, Manila, on Dec. 6.

Year of the Rosary
Pope Jonh Paul II has added the Mysteries of Light, that focus on Jesus' public ministry, to be prayed on Thursdays and he proclaimed this year the Year of the Rosary to pray for peace and the stability of the family...

Rosario Hubileo
Fr. Manuel Sunaz, CMF, Director of Claret School of Zamboanga, has published in Chabacano a biblical rosary on the occasion of Feast of Our Lady of Pilar, patroness of Zamboanga City.

Ready for mission
Fr. Vincent Lee, CMF from Korea tells us: "I´ve never been happier, especially now that I am a bonafide missionary".

Spiritual Directory
The English version of the Claretian Spiritual Directory has been published in Quezon City, Philippines. Its distribution started on Oct. 11, 2002. on time for the feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret. Triduum - November

In a New Mission Post
"The excitement and potential of this new mission is so great that it is hard to put in to words the feeling." writes Br. Richard Suttle, CMF

Mother of Viet Nam
Our Lady of La Vang, star of Viet Nam, the Claretian
missionaries proclaim you Blessed.

My Pastoral Year
Anthony Carreron, CMF
Being a missionary, I humbly accepted the assignment which I started to love later on. I went out of my shell and started to really get engaged with people in the campus. Eventually, being with the school boys and sharing their pains and joys, became a source of meaning and strength for me.

Praying For Vocations
The Claretian sites in Vic, Spain, were a most appropriate setting for gathering on these days of intense petition to the Master of the harvest that he might send laborers into his harvest.

Anointed to be Sent
Rev. Angelito Ancla, CMF, who was ordained deacon last May 11 and received his missionary sending on July 16, went to Vietnam on July 20, 2002. His enthusiasm and missionary availability will bear abundant fruits.

Perpetual Profession
Bro.Dennis Tamayo, CMF, from Midsayad, Cotabato, made his perpetual profession on July 16.We rejoice with his courage and full dedication of his life for the Cause of Jesus.

New Ordinations
Three Claretians were ordained on May 11, Saturday, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

Vietnamese Friends
Third visit to Vietnam. Angel invites others to know the beautiful Vietnam.

Magna Cum Laude
Two Claretians finish STB magna cum laude at Loyola School of Theology.

Missionary Vocations for the Third Millennium
Fr. Aquilino Bocos, CMF, General Superior, wrote: "Let us be thankful for the vocations that we are receiving, let us keep on inviting others to share the same gift, and let us be faithful, wherever we may be, in the missionary service of the Word, so that God the Father may be known, loved and served by all creatures."

Valedictory Address. Ian Shelley P. Alabanza, CMF
These are the commencement exercises of a theo-logical school; thus today is only the beginning of an even greater involvement in theology. As we give thanks today, we are well aware that God also sends us from this school of theology to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19).

Seminarians Graduation
14 seminarians received their AB Philosophy Degree from Saint Anthony Mary Claret College on March 21, 2002 at the college chapel.

Claretian Songs CD
The Community Launching of the Claretian Songs CD was held at the IHMP Church-UP Village, Quezon City, Philippines on February 23, 2002. The CD features 27 inspirational songs which showcase Claretian missionary spirituality.
Claretians on Stage
Seminarians stage "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"
on February 21, 2002.

Fr. Larry Miranda, cmf
His encounter with the poor, the native East Timorese, who share their lives with him deepens his availability and service.

Bro. Mauricio Ulep, cmf Vocation Testimony
"Never forget that the foundation of vocation is God - He is the one calling. Therefore, pray to him and ask him for the inspiration, guidance and wisdom to discern properly."

Daily Prayer: Comments and Feedback-
Antonio Pana and his wife Evelyn share the Daily Prayer of our website with many other friends. They are true missionaries.

New Retreat House in Manila
A new Claretian Retreat House was inaugurated and blessed on December 26, 2002. It has 35 rooms with capacity for 70 persons, and a big conference hall for 200 persons. See inside pictures

The Badjao Mission It is a known fact that in the Claretian mission of Maluso, Basilan, there are more Muslims than Christians. They have also endeavored to uplift the lives of a tiny and marginalized group of indigenous people found in the area - the Samal-Badjao.

Latest News : Seminary on Fire / First Claretian Priest in Congo

Vocation Seminar :As announced some weeks ago, a Search-In took place both in Quezon City and Zamboanga City for High School and College students who are considering the Claretian missionary way of life. From Dec. 27 (9 AM) to 30 (12 noon), the participants experienced the life of our young missionaries in formation. Write to the vocation director: ao@claret.org ,find out about other Seminars, CLICK HERE.

New Claretian Priests and Deacons :Four Indonesians, two Filipinos and one from South Korea were ordained priests and deacons on October 10 and 18 respectively. The church and Congregation in Asia rejoice.

Claretian Spirituality International Congress :"We want our Congregation to be ever more and more a school of authentic missionary spirituality.

Sr. Lynlyn Solitario RMICM
Sr. Lynlyn made her Perpetual Profession on May 31. Finding her happiness and loving and serving the Lord.

News from the Claretians. (August 2001)
Ateneo Award to Fr. Rhoel
Claret School in Progress
Book Launching: Into the Mountains.
artist@claret.com of the seminarians

Pope prays for peace
"With all my heart I beg God to keep the world in peace"

Reflection: First Anniversary of Fr. Rhoel's Martyrdom
By Benedict Dilag, CMF
A year after the seed was sowed, what became of that seed? Did it sprout? Or wither? Is the soil on which it was cast fertile? These are just some of the questions we Claretians, one of the many recipients of our brother Rhoel's martyrdom, have to ask ourselves.

Young Seminarians' Opinion
"His kidnapping and death may be a brutal end for a man of faith, but it became a call for unity and a symbol of what it means to become a Claretian, a son of Christ, a son of Mary, a son of Claret."
-Kjell Aboy, CMA

Portrait of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo
It was one year ago. On the morning of March 20, 2000, the Abu Sayyaf herded Fr. Rhoel along with several teachers and students of Claret School and the neighboring elementary school in Zamboanga cruelly to their camp in Mt. Punoh Mahadji. The story of their ordeal is already well known. His martyrdom took place on May 3, 2000.

Living in the Squatters' Area
Living in the Squatters' Area is living a life away from the seminary structure. I feel I am allowed to grow in my witnessing aspect as a Claretian, I am challenged to purify my intentions in living this kind of life, I am urged to straighten inimical characters, habits, and ways of coping the demands of a religious life.

Claretians in the Street Parliament

Provincial Newsletter June-2001

Filipino Claretian Seminarians
During the month of May 21 High School Graduates and 4 Young Professionals entered Claret.They have started their missionary formation. Seminarians this year:
61 College Level; 7 Postulants, 7 Novices, 30 Theology Students and 8 in Pastoral Year. We are still blessed with many and good vocations. Send them a message

Bro. Choi Sung Chang Bartholomew, CMF
Bro. "Bart" has started his service to God and his people as Lector and Acolyte. Choi Sung Chang, a Korean Claretian, has been studying theology in Manila since1996.

Award Conferred on the Claretian Missionaries
Fr. Carlos Rivas, Provincial Superior received, on behalf of the congregation, the Archbishop Luis V. del Rosario, SJ Award, on 24th of March, 2001 at the Ateneo de Zamboanga, in recognition of the fifty years of generous service to the people of Zamboanga and Basilan, Christians and Muslims alike.

"We will not abandon Basilan, just pray for us" In spite of constant threats from the Abu Sayyaf rebels we will stay with the people working for peace. This is the stand of our missionaries: Fr. Danny Deloso, Fr. Edgar Zamundio, Fr. Noel Daduya and Bros. Arnel Alcober and Nomer Esmero. They work in Maluso, Tumahubong and Isabela. In the midst of terrorism and violence our missionaries sow peace and mutual understanding.