Claretian Formation

A NEW CENTURY FOR THE CONGREGATION (1949-1967)

An Era Ends

The year 1949 marked the end of the mandate of Fr. Nicholas García who, after a period of sickness, died the following year. The XV General Chapter was convoked from May 1 to 28, 1949 in Castel Gandolfo, summer palace of the Pope, which was let to the Congregation in gratitude for its services. Fr. Peter Schweiger, Visitor of Germany, was elected Superior General. His election was a clear exponent of the universality of the Congregation, since he was the only non-Spanish member of the Chapter. During the Chapter Fr. Augustine Lobo, Provincial of Castile and capitular, died in tragic accident.

First Centennial of the Congregation

On July 16, 1949 the Congregation celebrated its first centennial. Optimism filled the hearts of all the Claretians. Celebrations proliferated everywhere, and the General Government published a special work that compiled the circular of Fr. General and diverse articles on the Marian, Claretian and Missionary identity of the Congregation, together with various literary contributions.

Canonisation of Our Fr. Founder

The following year, on May 7, 1950, Pope Pius XII canonised the Founder of the Congregation, St. Anthony Mary Claret. It was a culminating moment in the history of the Congregation. All Claretians could call their Founder a Saint and venerate him on the altars. Claretians from all over the world attended the ceremony of canonisation. On May 8 a papal audience took place, followed by a homage act in the Gregorian University, where the Spanish poet Joseph María Pemán discoursed upon “The historical moment lived by St. Anthony Mary Claret.”

Inauguration of the International Votive Temple

In the year 1952 the Pontifical Votive Temple to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was inaugurated in Rome. The Superiors gave up the construction of the dome that had been designed by Armand Brasini. On the occasion of the consecration, the general quarters were also moved from Via Giulia to Parioli, beside the Votive Temple. Fr. Peter Schweiger took the opportunity to write a Circular commenting on the meaning of this event for the Congregation.

The Congregation in Japan

On 2 January 1952 the Missionaries established themselves for the first time in the parish of Imaichi (Japan), invited by the Bishop of Osaka, Msgr. Paul Sakaguchi. In a short time foundations multiplied in that nation of the Far East.

Universalist Impulse of the Congregation

The concern for vocations and for the quantitative growth of the Congregation throughout the world was one of the main concerns of Fr. General who in 1955 wrote a Circular in which he called the attention to the inadequate growth of the Congregation and the desire for its universalisation.

The Theologates in Rome and Salamanca

In 1959 the “Claretianum” was inaugurated in Rome. It was an interprovincial theology study centre affiliated to the Lateran University, a large building with capacity for 80 students in Via Aurelia. Its objective was to give the students of the Congregation an opportunity to complete their common studies and suitable specialisations in the Roman universities, subject to approval by the General Government. In 1969 this congregational Study Centre that had functioned in different stages since 1034 was closed.

In 1960 the new interprovincial theologate of Salamanca was also opened. After 11 years of successful functioning, it was closed in 1971 for reasons beyond the control of the academic institution itself, leaving behind a generous group of professors and alumni from various provinces, formed in the theological studies and in the shared Claretian charism.

First Cardinal of the Congregation

In 1959 the joyful news of the appointment of Fr. Arcadio Mary Larraona as Cardinal of the Church reached the entire Congregation. He was the first Cardinal of the Congregation

XVI General Chapter

The XVI General Chapter was celebrated in Rome from April 23 to May 16, 1961, with the announcement of the forthcoming Ecumenical Council. This fact put a curb on some aspects of renewal, waiting for the conclusions of the said Council. Fr. Peter Schweiger was re-elected Superior General. In this Chapter, the use of the adjective Claretian was confirmed and the Claretian Secretariat was created. The Claretian Collaborators were born and the Letter of Kinship of the Claretian family was written.

Vatican II Council

The year 1962 was to be a historical year for the entire Church and, therefore, also for the Congregation. The Second Vatican Council started. The Church drafted the lines of renewal of all religious Institutes.

Following the footsteps of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the only canonised saint of the First Vatican Council, nine Claretians attended the Vatican II Council. Here are their names:

Arcadio Mª Larraona, Cardinal and Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites

Abel Antezana, Archbishop of La Paz (Bolivia)

Arturo Tabera, Bishop of Albacete (Spain)

Francis Prada, Bishop of Uruaçú (Brazil)

Geraldo Fernandes, Bishop of Londrina (Brazil)

Peter Grau, Apostolic Vicar of Quibdó (Colombia)

Jesus Serrano, Apostolic Vicar of Darien (Panama)

Francis Gómez, Apostolic Vicar of Fernando Póo (Spanish Guinea)

Peter Schweiger, Superior General of the Congregation.

Four experts also attended, who had been appointed by the Holy Father: Siervo Goyeneche, Anastasius Gutiérrez, Gregory Martínez de Antoñana and Antony Peinador.

The Persecutions Continue

The sign of persecution followed the Institute at close range in various parts of the world. From 1949 to 1952 the Congregation suffered an implacable persecution in China. The Church was doomed to extinction in that country and the few remaining missionaries were expelled.

In 1956 religious persecution emerged in Argentina; there too the Congregation suffered.

A few years later, immediately after the Cuban revolution of 1959, the Claretian missionaries were expelled from Cuba, and their possessions confiscated in that island that held so much significance for the Congregation.

In 1964 the Congo struggled in the midst of revolts and the missionaries were able to leave the place without much loss.

New Vicariates and Prelatures

During this period several Vicariates and Prelatures were entrusted to the Congregation. In 1952 the Prelature of Quibdó (Colombia) was created and Fr. Peter Grau became first Apostolic Vicar. In 1963 the Prelature of Isabela (Philippines) was created and Fr. Joseph Mary Querexeta was appointed first Prelate. And in 1965 the Vicariate of Río Muni (Equatorial Guinea) was constituted and Fr. Raphael Mary Nze was made first Apostolic Vicar.

Intense Consolidation

The foundations continued but, above all, an intense consolidation took place in this period. There were first foundations in Costa Rica and Austria (1951), Japan (1952), Canada (1953), Ecuador and the Netherlands (1955), El Salvador (1956), Switzerland (1958), Nicaragua (1960), India (1961), Zaire and Belgium (1962), Guatemala (1966). Many other foundations were rejected for lack of personnel.

Major Organisms were created: Germany and France (1949), Cantabria (1950), Central America (1952), Central Brazil and the present East Asian Delegation (1954), Portugal, United Kingdom-Ireland and USA East (1956), Antilles (1957), Philippines and Venezuela (1960), Aragon and Bolivia (1962), Occidental Colombia (1964), Canada (1965).

In 1966 the Congregation reached the number of 3,607 missionaries, not counting the postulants: 2,017 priests, 1,026 students and 564 brothers.

History of the Congregation (1967)

In 1967 Fr. Christopher Fernández published the Historia de la Congregación in 2 volumes. Earlier in 1941, he had published he life of “Beato Antonio Mª Claret.” Fr. Nicholas García and the General Chapter of 1949 had suggested this work which the author shunned. Later on, upon the insistence of Fr. Peter Schweiger, he accepted but limited his work from 1849 to 1912.