Palabras de presentacion

Quiero empezar la presentación de nuestro boletín con unas palabras de agradecimiento a Dios por todos los dones recibidos desde la publicación del número anterior, y expresando de nuevo nuestro agradecimiento a todas las personas que nos han acompañado en nuestro caminar como Delegación. En especial pienso en el don tan grande que es para nosotros el hecho de la profesión y ordenación de algunos de nuestros hermanos coreanos y la primera profesión del novicio de China Continental John Xueruijun.En estas páginas vais a encontrar expuestos algunos de los acontecimientos de mayor realce en el caminar de nuestra Delegación durante estos últimos meses.

Por mi parte quiero evocar brevemente tres de los acontecimientos que he vivido personalmente pero que tienen también una gran importancia para toda la Delegación.
En primer lugar quiero mencionar la visita canónica que efectué durante el mes de septiembre pasado para dejar constancia del buen espíritu misionero que encontré en todas las comunidades. Creo que es remarcable la dedicación de parte de todos para llevar con responsabilidad y entrega los trabajos apostólicos que les han sido confiados. Que el Señor y Nuestra Madre continúen acompañándonos para que podamos llevar a cabo según el espíritu de Claret la misión que nos ha sido confiada como comunidad misionera.

El segundo acontecimiento extraordinario al que pude asistir personalmente junto con el P. Takenobu Shinji fue la apertura del Año Bicentenario del nacimiento de P. Claret que se celebró solemnemente en Sallent y Vic los días 20 y 21 de Octubre. Fue una gracia poder sentir en el lugar que vio nacer al P. Claret hace 200 años la universalidad de la Congregación actual. Espero que este Año Bicentenario sea para todos nosotros un Año de Gracia, y que sea también un tiempo de renovación para nuestra Delegación.

El tercer acontecimiento es el que acabamos de celebrar aquí en Brasil en donde estoy escribiendo estas líneas. Se trata del encuentro de todos los Superiores Mayores de la Congregación para preparar el próximo Capítulo General que tendrá lugar en verano del 2009. Aquí en Sao Paulo hemos podido experimentar la belleza del rostro cada vez más pluricultural de la Congregación. Esta multiculturalidad en la que nos encontramos sumergidos en el mundo de hoy, además de ser una gran riqueza humana y espiritual, comporta también grandes desafíos para cada uno de nosotros como misioneros claretianos y para el conjunto de la Congregación si queremos el llevar a cabo la misión universal que nos ha sido confiada. Durante estos días de encuentro congregacional hemos sentido la necesidad de profundizar en la comprensión y vivencia de nuestra identidad claretiana para poder responder a estos grandes desafíos.

Que nuestro Padre Fundador, de manera especial durante este Año Bicentenario nos ayude en este proceso de renovación y revitalización que intentaremos llevar a cabo como preparación para el próximo Capítulo General.
El lema del Año Bicentenario es “Nacido para evangelizar”. Que este lema se convierta para cada uno de los miembros de nuestra Delegación en una llamada a tomar conciencia más profunda de nuestra vocación misionera claretiana. A todos os deseo, pues, ¡qué sea un Año lleno del espíritu de San Antonio María Claret!

Que las celebraciones que podamos ir haciendo durante este año en cada uno de los países de nuestra Delegación ayuden no sólo a dar a conocer mejor el P. Claret sino también a vivir más profundamente su espíritu misionero hoy. 

Words of Introduction

I want to start our weblog with words of thanks to God for all the gifts we have received since the publication of the last issue, and once again our thanks to all those who have accompanied us in our journey as a Delegation. I especially remember such a great gift given us with the profession and ordination of some of our Korean brothers and the first profession of our novice from Mainland China, John Xueruijin.

In the following articles you will find some of the recent events that have marked our journey as a Delegation in these past months. I would like to briefly recall three of these events that I had personally been part of, and are also very important for the whole Delegation.
First, let me refer to the canonical visitation I did in September 2007, which left me with the impression of the strong missionary zeal all our communities have. It is wonderful to see everyone’s wholehearted dedication in responsibly carrying out the apostolic work entrusted to us. May the Lord and our Mother always accompany us that we may bring to completion according to the spirit of Claret the mission entrusted to us as a missionary community.

The second extraordinary event I want to mention is the solemn opening celebration of the bicentennial of Claret’s birth in Sallent and Vic on October 20 and 21. I was there with Fr. Shinji Takenobu. It was a real blessing to be able to witness in the very place Claret was born 200 years ago the universality of our Congregation today. I hope that this Bicentennial Year will be a year of grace for all of us, and also a time of renewal for our Delegation.

The third event is the one we have just celebrated here in Brazil, where I am writing these words to you: the Major Superiors Meeting in preparation of the next General Chapter of the Congregation in 2009. Here, in Sao Paolo, we experience the beauty of the multicultural face of our Congregation. Such multiculturality in which we find ourselves in our present world, besides its human and spiritual richness, also brings with it great challenges for each of us as Claretian missionaries and for the whole Congregation if we want to bring to completion the universal mission entrusted to us. During these days when we gather as a Congregation, we realized that we need to deepen our understanding of and to live our Claretian identity in order to respond to these great challenges.

May our Father Founder, especially during this bicentennial year, help us in this process of renewal and revitalization as we prepare for the coming General Chapter.

“Born to Evangelize” – this is the motto of the bicentenary. May this become for every member of our Delegation a call for greater realization of our Claretian missionary vocation. Therefore, I wish all of you a year full of the spirit of St. Anthony M. Claret!

As our Delegation celebrates this year in every country where we are, may our celebration help us not only to know Father Claret better but also to live more intensely his missionary spirit today.

Bicentenario della Nascita del Claret

Fin dal princio del nostro servizio apostolico in questa parrocchia di Keelung (Taiwan) “Sacro Cuore di Gesú”, si ha sempre curato di mettere in risalto le notre feste claretttiane col fine di una presentazione del Claret e della Sua Amata Congregazione ad un pubblico praticamente senza alcuna conoscenza al riguardo: Novene al Cuore Immacolato di Maria, Claret, Martiri di Barbastro, Pubblicazione di una traduzione di un opuscoletto sul Claret, Martiri di Barbastro, Immaginette con Preghiere…I Fedeli poco a poco durante questa decina d’anni si sono andati facendo almeno una idea, se non qualcosa di piú.Quest’ultima celebrazione ci é capitata “ad hoc” per chiarificare ed approfondire l’esistenza e lo spirito del Claret trasmessoci nella e attraverso la Sua Congregazione ed altri Gruppi Clarettiani.Un piano concreto e semplice in poche linee scritte… ma piú che impegnative per la nostra piccola Comunitá Cristiana:

1) Una settimana di preghiera centrata nel Claret, con culmine nel 21 di ottobre: “Giornata Missionaria Mondiale” transfomata in “2007-Universal Claretian Misionary Day-2008″ (pur con la Participazione naturalmente di Caritas Taipei.)

2) Pubblicazione della II Edizione –traduzione in Cinese- dell’Opuscoletto “San Antonio Maria Claret Archivescovo” sotto il Nuovo Titolo: “San Antonio Maria Claret Missionario Apostolico” in mille copie da distribuire non solo ai nostri fedeli ma pure alle sette parrocchie limitrofi di Keelung nonché al Clero e Religiosi di Taipei in occasione di Retiro Mensile o Coferenze.

Quest’ultima celebrazione ci é capitata “ad hoc” per chiarificare ed approfondire l’esistenza e lo spirito del Claret trasmessoci nella e attraverso la Sua Congregazione ed altri Gruppi Clarettiani.

Un piano concreto e semplice in poche linee scritte… ma piú che impegnative per la nostra piccola Comunitá Cristiana:

1) Una settimana di preghiera centrata nel Claret, con culmine nel 21 di ottobre: “Giornata Missionaria Mondiale” transfomata in “2007-Universal Claretian Misionary Day-2008″ (pur con la Participazione naturalmente di Caritas Taipei.)

2) Pubblicazione della II Edizione –traduzione in Cinese- dell’Opuscoletto “San Antonio Maria Claret Archivescovo” sotto il Nuovo Titolo: “San Antonio Maria Claret Missionario Apostolico” in mille copie da distribuire non solo ai nostri fedeli ma pure alle sette parrocchie limitrofi di Keelung nonché al Clero e Religiosi di Taipei in occasione di Retiro Mensile o Coferenze.

3) Preparare “una giornata attrente” (Colorful and Joyful Day) con invito aperto a tutti, vicini e lontani, cinesi o emigranti: Pesca di Benificenza e Bazar.
La Benedizione del Signore con una bella giornata e la presenza di tanti amici coronarono “il tutto” con un giorno gioioso di famiglia, in un ambiente di spirito Claret: condividere beni spirituali e frutti di collaborazione fraterna da transmettre a Fratelli e Sorelle piú bisognosi in altri luoghi nel mondo: (3000 US$).
In una lettera aperta indirizzata al P.Generale nonche al Procuratore Generale, i Rappresentanti della Comunitá, espressavano il desiderio di usare la piccola somma per la costruzione del progetto Clarettiano in Africa di un noviziato, augurandosi cosi di collaborare in qualche maniera alla formazione di nuovi misionari, allo stile del Claret: Propagazione della Fede in tutto il Mondo.

- Fr. Mario Bonfaini

Claret’s Bicentenary

Since the beginning of our apostolic service in the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Keelung (Taiwan), we have always tried to emphasize the Claretian feasts throughout the liturgical year. Those days, like the novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Founder’s day, and Barbastro Martyrs’, were cherished springboards to present Claret and his beloved Congregation to a public that mostly were unfamiliar with the life and charism of Claret and the Claretians. We also promoted the publication of a small booklet about St. Anthony Mary Claret and the Martyrs of Barbastro, and some Claretian prayers for personal devotion. As a matter of fact the “Apostolic Prayer” of our Founder has become a “sought-after prayer” in Taiwan parishes.Throughout these ten years the faithful have gained a comprehensive understanding of Claret’s life and charism, and that’s something we should rejoice about. This year’s celebration aimed for a better understanding of Claret’s apostolic mission, both through his life and the life of the Congregation and other groups that today form the Claretian Family
In a few and simple words, this is what our small Christian community has been doing during the year to commemorate his anniversary:1) A week of prayer centered in Claret, which ended on October 21, World Mission Day that was celebrated under the theme 2007–Universal Claretian Missionary Day–2008 (with the involvement of Caritas Taipei).2) Publication of the 2nd edition in Chinese of the booklet St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and Apostolic Missionary. One thousand copies were distributed not only among the parishioners, but also in Keelung’s nearby parishes and among the priests who were present in the Taipei Diocese monthly retreat.3) Celebration of a parish festival, “Colorful and Joyful Day,” open to all, close and afar, Taiwanese or foreigner, highlights of which were the charity sale and the open market. The parish festival was blessed by the Lord with a wonderful sunny day (something not so common in Keelung) and with the presence of many friends, which was a perfect and joyful family day imbued with Claret’s spirit. Pooling our resources and spiritual blessings in fraternal cooperation, and sharing our living faith with those around us and to the ends of the world, we collected USD 3,000 in total. In an open letter to our General Superior, the President of the Parish Council conveyed our common desire: that this amount of money be used to sponsor the construction of a novitiate in Africa, helping in this way in the formation of new missionaries in the style of Claret.Let’s bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
- Mario Bonfaini

2007–Claretian Mission Day–2008: Claretian Parish in Keelung Opens Its Heart and Hands to the World and Hands to the World

To celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the founder of the Claretians, a series of activities had been planned for this year. Upon the suggestion and encouragement of our pastor, Fr. Mario Bonfaini, our Christian community held the first charity bazaar at Sacred Heart Church in Keelung, Taiwan, since the church was founded, with the proceeds for the people most in need.

Without any experience in holding a bazaar, every member of the parish shared in planning and setting up the bazaar by offering one’s money, time or talent. Teachers and students of Sacred Heart Elementary School donated generously, even as our non-Christian friends also contributed enthusiastically for this cause of helping the poor in other parts of the world. Special mention goes to our dear Fr. Yao, who founded the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish, for his financial assistance and the many religious items he gave to the bazaar, besides his encouragement and prayers.

“2007–Claretian Mission Day–2008″ helped us to understand better the meaning of Jesus’ words, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers (sisters) of mine, you did for me.” We were really impressed by all who generously contributed in this fund-raising, Christians and non-Christians alike, united in helping those in need and sharing with them what they have. We believe that this was also what made Claret’s heart burn with zeal for the mission, which he expressed beautifully in these words, “My mission is to evangelize and let all peoples know that you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

聖心堂2007年柯樂仁普世傳教日義賣活動紀事

今年是「聖母聖心愛子會」會祖聖安道柯樂仁200年誕辰紀念,修會計劃實施一系列活動以茲紀念, 臺灣基隆聖心天主堂在麥利歐神父鼓勵下,由傳協會策劃辦理自創堂以來第一次的義賣活動, 主旨為幫忙世界貧苦人們的募款活動。 因從未有辦理類似活動的經驗, 在麥神父指導下,動員傳協會全體委員及全體教友並達成共識－大家有錢出錢、有力出力,募集資金交由羅馬總會以幫助貧苦世人；特別的是包括聖心小學的小朋友、老師們及部份外教的朋友, 聽聞本次活動的消息, 瞭解是為幫助世界貧苦人們的募款活動, 紛紛共襄勝舉, 贊助本次活動; 尤其是本堂創堂姚蒙席, 不僅提供金錢上的資助, 亦提供多項聖物捐做義賣物品, 為活動增色不少。  從本次活動獲得極大迴響, 應驗聖經中天主的訓示:「為最小兄弟做的即是為天主做的」；值得一提的是, 眾多外教朋友知道本活動是為幫助世界貧苦人們的募款活動, 亦毫不吝嗇的慷慨解囊, 雖然信仰不同, 亦不分彼此奉獻大愛,為幫忙需要幫助的世人共同努力, 希望在2008 年能秉持本次活動初衷, 持續為宣揚耶穌基督大愛而奉獻。

效法柯乐仁的使徒精神，努力宣讲福音

今年我们的修会在庆祝圣安道柯乐仁(St Anthony M. Claret)诞辰200周年。在这样一个恩宠的时期，我想回顾一下我在中国的福传工作。1994年，我第一次来到中国。从那时起，我们的团体就派我去那里，让我访问那些小的村镇（黑龙江省教区），帮助当地的教友，培育他们的信仰，发展本地的教会。我非常高兴地接受了这个任务。有时3个月，有时20天，无论如何，这段在中国东北的教会访问的时间，我体会到了圣人的宣教热情。柯乐仁传福音的时候，不论环境好不好，或是有多么危险，他为了福传工作一直四处奔波。圣柯乐仁最重要的使命就是传播福音。柯乐仁的精神终于在这块土地出现了。今年我们圣母圣心爱子会为了见证天主对中国人的爱，已经在北京、澳门和哈尔滨开始服务。我和另一位韩国兄弟一起住在哈尔滨。目前，我们在黑龙江教区主教座堂为朝鲜族教友和韩国人主持主日弥撒。同时，我们也去访问哈尔滨周围，方圆300公里内的一些乡村的教会，在那里为教友服务。

今年庆祝柯乐仁诞辰200周年，我为了效仿圣人的宣教精神，再一次访问了我第一次来中国时所去过的地方，总共用了2周的时间。牡丹江、东宁与和平都去了。牡丹江离哈尔滨400公里左右。在那里有一座教堂，是当地朝鲜族教会使用的，大约有200名教友，人数最近14年没有改变。原因是有许多教友为了挣钱到韩国去了。

当地也有汉族教友的团体，大概有200位左右。我在牡丹江逗留了2-3天，辅导教理并带领避静。

3天后，坐了11个小时的火车，到了东宁县。当天上午，我首先去了绥芬河市。17年前，绥芬河市的教友只有17名。不过，现在超过140名了。这是本堂神父今年第一次去看望教友。他除了绥芬河(Suifenhe)以外，还要负责东宁(Dongning)、和平(Heping)和稻花(Daohua)等4个教堂；此外还有16个小村镇。

这些堂口之间的距离，需要40分钟到3个小时的车程。我在绥芬河辅导教理；弥撒的时候，本堂神父给我提供了讲道的机会。第二天, 与本堂神父一起去了东宁堂口。来参加弥撒的教友很多，大概有550名。这座教堂12年前刚建成，可是今年跟那年情况差不多一样：很多教友参加弥撒时没有座位，而且不少教友只能在教堂外面参与弥撒，因为教堂太小，不能容纳这么多教友。虽然教友人数比以前更多，但是因为大部分教友比较贫穷，而没有办法修建新的教堂。

离开东宁后，我与本堂神父到了和平堂区，那里的教友有130名左右。这个堂口教友的信德很坚固，圣召也不少；这小个堂区培育了1位神父和2位修女。离开和平后，我们前往稻花。这里是一个对我有特殊意义的地方。1995年，我就访问了这里，当时有130位教友。一年后，他们用韩国教友的奉献建立了一座新的教堂。

10年后，2006年，在这座教堂，我们与教区神父一起奉献了10周年庆典弥撒。这个堂区特奉我们的修会的会祖圣安道柯乐仁(St Anthony M Claret)为主保圣人。目前，教友人数为390名。在这里的圣召(vocation)越来越多，目前为止有2位神父，13位修女，2位修士，还有3个人准备进入修院。教友人数也在增加。我感到天主的祝福与恩宠在特别地眷顾着中国的教会。

通过这次的福传行程，我得到了一个很重要的体会。那就是福传使徒的工作算不了什么，一切都是天主的恩赐。传福音的人要为天主的光荣，好好做他的仆人，成为他的工具，努力在我们的在世界实现天主的国。这应该就是柯乐仁本人的想法吧。

- Br. Joo Paul cmf.

In the footsteps of Claret

This year our Congregation is celebrating the 200th anniversary of St. Anthony Mary Claret’s birthday. In such a time of grace I want to remember the apostolic work I’ve being carrying out from the time when I first went to China in 1994. Since then I have been appointed many times by my community to come to China and visit some Christian communities, mainly in Heilongjiang province and diocese. Sometimes I was there for three months, sometimes just 20 days, but always experiencing the missionary zeal and impetus that moved Claret to go into the world and preach the Gospel. No fear or danger could put Claret off in his missionary trips even as he accepted all hardships for the sake of announcing the Gospel, which was foremost in his work as a missionary. Finally, his apostolic spirit is now present in this vast Chinese land. Our Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate of Mary with the aim of giving a living witness to God’s love in China is already present in Beijing, Harbin and Macau. Luis, a Korean Claretian priest, and I, Paolo, live in Harbin. Actually, our most noticeable ministry, apart from studying the language, is to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist with the large Korean-speaking community (China’s Chaoxian minority group and Korean nationals) in Harbin Cathedral. We also visit and support many Christian communities scattered over a 300-km radius around Harbin in different small villages and rural communities.
As a way of celebrating the 200th anniversary of our Founder I decided to pay him homage by imitating his apostolic mission. I again visited those places I had visited the first time I came to China. It was a two-week missionary trip. I went to Dudanjiang, Dongning, and Heping. Dudanjiang is located 400 km away from Harbin. There is a church there used by the local Chaoxian minority to celebrate the Eucharist. They are about 200 Catholics; in the last 14 years there has not been any increase in their number since many have migrated to South Korea for better economic opportunity. There is also a Han Chinese community in that parish composed of about 200 people. I was in Dudanjiang for 2 to 3 days proclaiming the Word, instructing in the faith and guiding a retreat.
After 11 hours on the train we arrived at Dongning. That morning we went to Suifenhe. Seventeen years ago Suifenhe had only 17 Catholics; today there are 140. This is the first time the parish priest is visiting this parish this year. Apart from Suifenhe he also takes care of Dongning, Heping, and Daohua parishes and other 16 villages without a church.
The distance between these parishes and communities is from 40 minutes to more than three hours by car. I also had a special opportunity in Suifenhe to instruct the community when the priest asked me to say the homily during the Mass. The next day the parish priest and I went to Dongning parish. Many people, about 550, came to celebrate the Eucharist. The church there was built just 12 years ago; many people came for the Mass and a lot of them had to stand outside the church, which was too small to accommodate so many people. Even though the number of Christians had grown over the years, most of them are very poor and do not have the means to build a new church.
From Dongning we went to Heping parish, a Christian community of about130 people.
The parishioners there have strong faith with a number of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. Such a small parish has already a priest and two religious sisters. After Heping we moved to Daohua. This place has special significance for me. There were only 130 Christians the first time I came here in 1995. The next year a new church was built with donations from Catholics in Korea.
After ten years, we celebrated the 10th anniversary Mass in this parish in 2006. The patron of this church is our Founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret. Today there are about 390 Catholics and vocations are flourishing with two priests, 13 sisters and 2 seminarians of the diocese from this parish, and there are 3 candidates preparing to start their formation for the priesthood. The number of Christians has also steadily increased during the years. I experienced, first hand, God’s blessing and providential care for the Chinese Church.

Through this entire apostolic trip I was able to realize something very important, that is, the toil of the apostolic missionary amounts to nothing – everything is God’s grace. The apostolic missionary announces the Gospel for the greater glory of God, that’s all: he, as a good servant and useful tool in the hands of God, tries his best to make the Kingdom of God present in the midst of our world. I think Claret will also agree with this thinking. – Br. Joo Paul cmf.

永恒传教的心 （纪念柯乐仁诞辰200周年）

2007年10月24日是一个光荣而引人瞩目时刻，今天“圣母圣心爱子会”隆重庆祝会祖安多尼柯乐仁诞生二百周年纪念。他一生的光荣圣绩是所有会士的焦点和动力，大家必须将会祖圣人的生平事迹作为奉献生活的标准加以反省和实践“主的爱在不断鞭策我们去传福音”(The love of Christ urges us on)所以对每一位会士来讲是重温会祖圣传的时机。  安多尼柯乐仁在自传中曾写道，“我的天父，我的父亲我想知道你也想让众人认识你，我爱慕你也愿意众人去爱慕你，我想全心侍奉你，也愿意让众人侍奉你，我全心赞美你也想让所有的创造物赞美你。”Auto 233)   会祖的一生以一颗热忱为主作见证的心传播主的福音。他在幼小的时候就感受到主的召唤并以一颗喜悦的心情去回应并以不同的方式去作主的见证。在他懂事的时候他通常和他的父亲去参礼弥撒， 他总是怀着一颗虔诚的心去敬拜圣体和阅读圣经及一些圣人传记。圣母玛利亚是他最钟爱的母亲和榜样。 最值得回忆的是在1826年当他在巴塞罗纳的时候他掉进河里圣人呼求圣母的援助之后他奇迹般的脱险。玫瑰经是他最钟爱的祈祷经，不论在家在外他总是祈祷玫瑰经 就在这样的一个环境下一颗纯真的心逐渐成长和熏陶在主的怀抱里。  时光流逝，圣人克服种种的困难挫折他成为主的仆人。在1835年他终于在圣伸的感动下祝圣为神父。他以一颗喜悦的心情在主的葡萄园里耕种。在这期间他感觉主在不断的催促他去完成一个更大的使命“庄稼多工人少.求主派遣他的工人收割他的庄稼”( 玛窦9:37－38)1849年圣母圣心爱子会诞生，同年他被祝圣主教为在Santiago de Cuba作总主教。他多次遭受迫害还有天然的灾难，尤其当他被派往古巴作福传工作当时那种恶劣的环境下，奴隶等级制度还有大批的穷人他开始艰难的工作，建立学校，诊所，孤儿院等等。  日历万机的他辛勤的为主工作着，会祖怀着一个虔诚敬拜的心去福传把主的爱带给所有渴求耶稣的人。神贫，服从，听命，谦虚，谨慎，节制和良善…这真正体现了一名传教士的精神。在他的心中耶稣和玛利亚是他的护盾和灵修泉源。今天是辉煌而又隆重的日子，我们每一位“爱子”在今天欢聚庆贺会祖诞辰二百周年纪念。作为主的爱子我们应以一颗感恩的心去重温会祖柯乐仁的生平事迹。

到目前为止“圣母圣心爱子会”成员约3000多名，他们遍布世界各地不断的回应主的召唤，把会祖的精神和天主的爱传遍每个角落，修会总会长Fr. Josep Maria Abella, cmf 在他的信“From Remembrance to Commitment”提倡每一位会员继续不断的认识和理解会祖柯乐仁的神恩和传教精神。追求，福传， 奉献，刻苦对圣柯乐仁是永恒的信念，这些精神就像一棵棵根深蒂固大树深深扎根在主的爱里，当面对狂风暴雨般的袭击时虽然摇摇欲坠，却从不会倒下。闪烁的烛光是如此的微弱， 弹指的泼动足以将其熄灭， 但火烛般的蜡油仍让它继续燃烧因为理想中的追求是自己不变的诺言。靠着精神的支撑，那双坚强的腿让它顶天立地。圣人不朽的传教精神和他那颗永恒传教的心不断鼓舞着我们，最终成为今天修会前进的方向和福传的动力。
- Brother John CMF

Born to Evangelize

It is a milestone in our history as missionary sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary as we celebrate the Bicentenary Birth of our founder Saint Anthony Mary Claret on September 24, 2007. It is a solemn moment for all of the members to reflect and to look at the great deeds and the beautiful memories that our founder St. Anthony Claret had shared to us. The celebration of his Bicentenary brings us close to the life of our founder and especially it will revitalize all member of the Claretian Family so that we may follow his example faithfully to evangelize widespread as he said “The Love of Christ urges Us On.” We are invited to re-read the life of our founder with intensive attention.
“My God and my Father, may I know you and make you known; love you and make you loved; serve you and make you served; praise you and make all creatures praise you.” (Auto. N 233). How deep this word inspires us to continually carry out our mission.Our founder Anthony Claret proclaims the Good News with faithfulness established a good example for us. As a child he felt the call to be the witness of God. He used to go to Church to attend the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist with his father and keep reading some stories of Saint. Mary is his beloved Mother to be his best example to emulate in his life. In 1826, Saint was in Barcelona accidentally fall down in sea. He cried out Mother Mary’s name, and then he was miraculously saved from the danger of death. Saint kept the warmth of piety and devotion reciting the Rosary wherever he goes with the intention peace, justice, and with the solidarity in ecumenical church. A spiritual heart was enkindled in the light of the Holy Spirit.

Time past, on June 8, 1885, our founder St. Anthony Mary Claret overcome all the difficulties eventually he was ordained a priest as well as a servant of God delightedly and passionately works inside of the garden of the Lord. Oftentimes he felt the impetus of fulfilling the mission the Lord has entrusted to him, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Mt 9:37-38)

In 1848, it was a remarkable day that “the Congregation Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” was born through the prayer and providence of God, the same year our founder was inaugurated as an archbishop in Vich. He endured a lot of trails and hardships to work in Cuba especially due to the state of slavery, people suffer discrimination, injustice and poverty etc. Saint tried to build schools, hospitals and orphanages in order to response the need of people in Cuba.

The virtue of obedience, poverty, humility, prudence, self-control, and kindness embody our founder Claret as a real missionary to continually carry out the mission in order to fulfill his apostolic vocation. Timely, urgently and effectively would be always the motto of our Founder.

Today it is a special day for all of our members to celebrate the 2nd Bicentennial. As a son of Immaculate Heart of Mary, our founder’s words and act will be our reminder and example for us to follow and emulate that we ought to be good as well as our founder working inside of the garden of the Lord to reap the fruit.

Up to now, over the world our members are around 3000 plus spreading in different continents. “The Congregation Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” is called to follow footstep of our founder Saint Anthony Mary Claret to evangelize and bring the love of God widespread. Just as our General Superior Fr. Josep Maria Abella, CMF in his Circular Letter “From Remembrance to commitment” addresses that the world has changed, and so has the Church. We are invited to re-read our Founder’s life with the hope, love and inspiration to be able live today with the same spiritual density and missionary dynamism that he lived.

Today the message to us just as Fr. Josep Maria Abella said “your Word of life, were at the service of the Word of life, because you realized that what people need were not words but the Word of life, which opens hearts to experience the Father’s love and strengthen their commitment to Christ and the values, implied in following him.

The passion of Christ of our Founder encourages us to go beyond our missionary territory, trace the goal of building the kingdom of God.

Procura Misionera de China: un Paso Adelante

Durante la reunión Claretiana sobre China que se celebró en Macao en Abril 2007 uno de los temas que discernimos fue la necesidad de conseguir el adecuado apoyo económico para el desarrollo de nuestra misión en China. La misión claretiana en China es, ya en su estructura, muy peculiar. Está bajo la animación de dos Organismos mayores, la Provincia de Filipinas (Macao – Zhuhai) y la Delegación de Asia Oriental (Beijing) de la que depende la Delegación de Corea que es la responsable inmediata de la animación de la tercera posición (Harbin); además está la zona de Huangshan (nuestra antigua misión en China) de la que cuida especialmente la comunidad de Taiwán (Asia Oriental) desde hace ya más de 13 años. Ante tanta complejidad vimos la necesidad de unificar esfuerzos para tratar que el apoyo a nuestra misión en China sea lo más coordinado posible. Se decidió, pues, establecer el centro de la Procura de China en Macao por su conveniencia geográfica –estar en China sin “ser” China. Desde Macao se coordinarían las diferentes líneas de acción de nuestro esfuerzo misionero, especialmente lo referente a la promoción de proyectos de desarrollo y apoyo a la Iglesia Local.

El otro aspecto peculiar de nuestra misión en China es que nosotros como Claretianos no podemos realizar directamente actividades evangelizadoras en China debido a las limitaciones establecidas por el gobierno:

Articulo 4: Todas las religiones deben mantener el principio de independencia y autonomía. Los grupos religiosos, lugares de actividad religiosa y los asuntos religiosos no deben estar bajo el control de un poder extranjero. (Ley del Consejo de Estado de la República Popular China (Nº 426). Fue aprobada el 7 de Julio de 2004 en la Sesion 57ª del Consejo de Estado. Efectiva desde el 1 de Marzo de 2005.)

De este modo, nuestra labor de animación eclesial se realiza siempre (o casi siempre) a través de terceros, lo que no deja de ser un matiz muy claretiano: no somos evangelizadores sin más, sino promotores de evangelizadores, misión compartida; el quid no es tanto el que seamos nosotros los que anunciemos, sino que la Palabra, la Buena Nueva de Jesús sea anunciada… y en esa cadena anunciadora nosotros somos eslabón.

Los meses pasaron y la necesidad de concretar lo que en Macao fue simplemente una idea general se hacía cada vez más acuciante; algunos proyectos necesitaban urgentemente ser evaluados y apoyados económicamente para llevarse a cabo… y aunque la idea de una nueva configuración para la Procura estaba clara, aún no nos habíamos puesto a ejecutarla en sus pormenores.

Para ello –y con la vehemencia de un Tifón que pasó por el país dos días antes de empezar la reunión- decidimos tener una reunión en Taiwán de unos dos o tres días para poner en claro lo que es una procura misionera y como animarla. Fue de innegable valor la asistencia prestada por Santiago González, que puso a nuestra disposición su tiempo y experiencia para aclararnos qué es una Procura Misionera Claretiana, cómo se organiza, cómo se solicitan ayudas, qué problemas podemos encontrar, cómo hacer proyectos y su posterior seguimiento… En la reunión descubrimos que aunque todos hablábamos de Procura Misionera, este término tenía un significado bien distinto para cada uno de los presentes. Compartir las ideas preconcebidas que traíamos fue una buena forma de aclarar términos, establecer objetivos y encaminar la futura coordinación en la elaboración, desarrollo y seguimiento de proyectos.

Como resultado tangible de esta reunión ya están en marcha la asistencia a varias Iglesias Locales de China que nos solicitaron ayuda. De momento piden ayuda para reconstruir templos derruidos o en estado casi ruinoso: esperemos que en un futuro próximo seamos capaces de animarles a emprender proyectos de promoción social y desarrollo; de momento a la Iglesia China, cual iglesia que sale de las catacumbas cegada por la luz del día, le cuesta ver más allá de sí misma, de entender el alcance social y liberador del mensaje que, aunque sea en vasijas de barro, ha sido encomendada a anunciar: Dios está aquí, ha plantado su tienda entre nosotros y no tiene intención de levantarla… es más, esa tienda es amplia y acoge a todos los que quieran entrar en ella.

Esperemos que seamos capaces como comunidad misionera Claretiana de llevar a cabo con sabiduría y diligencia este renovado camino de la Procura Claretiana de China.

2008 EAST ASIA DELEGATION ASSIGNMENTS

Japan:
Tokyo Community
Marcel.lí Fonts
Br. Yoon, Sang Ho Johan Leonardo (DDK)Imaichi Community
- Imaichi Parish-Kindergarten:
Félix Martinez
Josep Llamas
Nobuo Masakawa
Shinji Takenobu

- Kamagasaki:
Fujio Masakawa

Hirakata Community
- Hirakata Parish:
Jordi Guitart
Julio César Torres

- Hirakata Residence
Jordi Franquesa
Takaichi Umezaki-

Nagoya Parish
Andoni María Fradera

Taiwan:
- Taishan Residence:
Arturo Morales: Superior – Econome

- Keelung Sacred Heart Parish: 
Mario Bonfaini

China-Beijing:
Francisco Carín García: Superior
Desiderio Ching (Phil.Pr. Temp. prof.) Econome

Outside the Delegation:
Peter Chao: Macao (Philippine Province)
John Xue: Manila (Theol., Temp. prof.) 
Jaime Cisneros: Mexico (From Easter, Exp.Year)
Josep Abella (General Government)

Dependent Delegation of Korea
Seoul Community 
Fr. Choi Sung Chang Bartolomeo: Superior
Br. Ju Nak Gil Paolo: Econome
Fr. Ezhaparampil Manuel: residence
Fr. Kim In Hwan Vianney: DDK Sec., CMC dir. 
Fr. Kim Young Hun FranciscoPuchon Residence
Fr. Rhee Soun Seong Peter: moderator

Nampyong Community 
Fr. Kim, Sung Woong Pedro: Superior, formator 
Fr. Kim, Hee Jun Andrea: voc. prom. 
Fr. Jose Peediyaparampil 
Fr. Lee Moon Soo Gabriel
Br. Choi Ji Hoon StephanoWantong Residence 
Fr. Kim Byeong Jin Gabriel: Superior
Fr. Lee Hwe Jin Vincent

China-Harbin Residence
Fr. Bang Kee Tae Luis: moderator
Fr. Yeo Kyeng Soo Fco. Javier: Ec. & DDK Ec.
Abroad assignment or other 
Br. Yoon, Sang Ho Johan Leonardo (Tokyo) 
Fr. Angulo Díaz Francisco Javier

Brief News

ORDINATION. (Korea)

On January 15, 2008 our Korean brother Munsu Gabriel Lee re-ceived the ordina-tion to the priest-hood in Myoung Dong Cathedral of Seoul Archdio-cese through the hands of Bishop Luca Kim. Born in Seoul in  he first professed in the congregation in 00 and per-petually in 00.
FRANCISCO CARIN TEACHING IN ICLA. (Beijing-Philippines)

Francisco Carin, currently assigned in Beijing, taught a course on Eco-Theology at the Institute of Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA) from November to December 2007. This is the second time he teaches there. This is a great opportunity to get in touch with stu-dents of many nationalities who study there; specially interesting is the contact with the many Chi-nese priests and sisters from all over China who converge in ICLA for spe-cialized stud-ies.
NOT COLD IF THE HEART IS WARM ENOUGH. (Beijing)

During the month of November Mr. Ian Da-cayanan who works at Claretian Publications, Macao, fulfilled the invi-tation long ago offered by the Beijing commu-nity to visit them. Even though it was quite cold for a Pinoy, Ian managed quite well the below zero average December tem-peratures in Beijing. During his stay at the National Semi-nary he helped the seminarians to develop a website for the National Seminary and taughtweb deign.
VISITS. (Beijing)

Frs. John and Johannes Chen, respectively the Rector and the Dean of the Chinese National Seminary (where Sid and Francisco are working), received an invitation from Alberto Rossa to visit the Philippines in February dur-ing the winter vacation. Let’s hope they enjoy the warmer weather and beautiful people down south and get a closer knowledge of our congregation’s work and charism.
KEIKO GAKUEN. (Japan)

In October 00 after celebrating the 0th anniversary of the school, the Claretian Keiko Gakuen merged with a local university. The school changed its name to Josho Keiko, keeping the original name it had (“Keiko” Light of Knowl-edge) while under Claretian management. After so many years, it has been a heartbreaking separation, neverthe-less, it had become very difficult for the East Asia Delega-tion to provide Claretian personnel to manage the school. We wish the best to our former school in this new phase.