Rome, Italy. Bro. Joseph Roy Villarin, CMF, Mission Procurator and the only Brother of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province, represented the province at the World Gathering of Claretian Brothers, held from September 7 to 14, 2025, in Sacrofano, Italy. The event brought together 54 Claretian brothers and nine missionary priests from all five Claretian conferences.
The meeting was a significant moment for the brothers, who gathered to get to know one another, value their cultural diversity, and reflect on their charism as called by Saint Anthony Mary Claret. Throughout the week, they wove together prayer and conversation around key themes, including identity, mission, fraternity, and formation. The participants noted that the preparation for the meeting, which included prayer, reflection, and virtual dialogues, created a “basic harmony” and a sense of shared purpose.
A highlight of the gathering was a jubilee pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica. During this solemn occasion, Bro. Joseph Roy Villarin, CMF, was given the honor of carrying the jubilee cross alongside his fellow brothers as they passed through the Holy Door together. This act confirmed that their vocation is renewed in “ecclesial communion and the synodal spirit”.
The meeting produced a final message from the brothers to the Congregation, which affirmed their commitment to walk together in mission. The message emphasizes the essential role of the brotherhood within the Claretian charism and the prophetic nature of their lay consecration. As the brothers stated, “Being consecrated lay men, in community, is a prophetic witness for the Congregation, the Church and society”.
The brothers also issued three specific calls to the Congregation for the future:
- Vocational Ministry: To celebrate and promote the vocation of the brother with the same naturalness as that of the ordained ministry.
- Formation: To create clear formation plans for brothers that are not based solely on models for priestly ministry.
- Visibility: To increase the presence of the brother’s vocation in the Congregation’s life and public communication, including on the congregational website.
The meeting in Rome is seen not just as an event, but as “an ongoing process that promotes new initiatives and broadens the congregational consciousness”. The final message concludes with an invitation to the entire Claretian family to walk this path together and rediscover the joy of proclaiming the Gospel “with the Heart of a Brother”.
Read the Message to the Congregation:
