Guwahati – First Asian superior general of the Claretian Missionaries and major superior for Claretian Bible Apostolate and Publications made their maiden visit to northeast India at St Claret Borjhar near Guwahati airport, 6 May.
The 13th Superior General of the Congregation of the Claretian Missionaries (CMF) Fr. Mathew Vattamattam visited northeast India, for the first time after his election last September.
He was accompanied by major superior Nigerian Fr Henry.
Gathered at the Claretian community for a fellowship meal were priests and religious from Borjhar parish community including Claretians, Salesians, Divine Word Fathers, and Fransalians along with Sisters from five religious communities working in the parish.
Addressing the gathering of some 40 people Fr Vattamattam encouraged the religious saying“ the fellowship and the witness of fraternal spirit in working for the local church is the best witness we can give.
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Speaking in the same vein Fr Henry said, “the paradigm of parish apostolate has already shifted, as it is witnessed here, where men and women religious work harmoniously to further God’s Kingdom.”
Also present was Fr Thuruthiyil, founder-director of Borjhar mission and newly elected Claretian Major Superior in northeast India.
Fr. Mathew Vattamattam CMF, 57, was born at Kalathoor, Kerala.
After his priestly ordination in 1986 he served in Kerala and Karnataka before completing Licentiates in Systematic Theology and Psychology at the Gregorian University in Rome 1989-1994.
For the period of 1994-96 he was appointed as Director of Claret Nivas Retreat House in Bangalore and as assistant Novice Master. In 1996-2003 he became the Novice Master of the Province of Bangalore.
In 2003 he as was elected as General Consultor and Prefect of Formation and reelected in 2009 for the same office and continued in it till his election as Superior General in 2015.
Today the Claretians minister to some 43,000 Catholics, who live in 344 rural villages in nine parishes throughout north-eastern region educating over 10,000 students by running 56 schools mainly to impart primary education for the rural children.
The Claretian Missionaries arrived in Northeast India in 1984, but it was not until 1995 that they were established as the Delegation of Northeast India.
By 2007 the Claretians in the region were raised to an Independent Delegation in the Congregation, signifying the need for and growth of the Claretians in the region.
There are some 3,000 Claretians working in 65 countries worldwide.