Vocations : Discernment Community
Our Discernment Community
La Comunidad Claretiana del Tepeyac Discernment Community
La Comunidad Claretiana del Tepeyac Discernment Community in Los Angeles, California, offers young men an opportunity to discern dynamically their call to religious life as Claretian Missionaries. The six-month to one-year commitment to living in community, personal and communal prayer, work, study, spiritual direction, and ministry provides young men with an experience of our Claretian spirituality and mission while growing in faith as followers of Christ in the spirit of our Founder, Saint Anthony Mary Claret.
WHY La Comunidad Claretiana del Tepeyac Discernment Community?
In 1531, Tepeyac was a sacred place of encounter with God for Saint Juan Diego and the people of Mexico. Through the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Tepeyac, the voice of God was intimately experienced. The tenderness and love of Mary, Mother of the poor and oppressed, spoke to the heart of Juan Diego and empowered him to respond to the Word of God in his life. This very sacred encounter with the Holy One began a moment of transformation, healing, and hope not only for Juan Diego, but also for the indigenous people of the Americas. We, too, recognize Tepeyac as a holy place where the voice of the Sacred calls us into deeper communion with Christ and all our sisters and brothers.
Today our world is in urgent need of servants of the Word like San Juan Diego-prophetic messengers of hope, love, and healing. As Claretian Missionaries, we hope that La Comunidad Claretiana del Tepeyac Discernment Community will provide young men with a special place and time to hear the voice of God speaking to them. As was true for a new generation of Christians almost 500 years ago, La Comunidad Claretiana del Tepeyac Discernment Community offers community members an opportunity to encounter the love of Christ and Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is this love that empowered our Founder's missionary call and vocation as a courageous and passionate disciple of Jesus, Missionary and Evangelizer.
WHAT would it mean to be a member of the Discernment Community?
Members of La Comunidad Claretiana del Tepeyac Discernment Community share a life in community centered on the Word and Eucharist. In a bilingual environment, an ongoing process of vocational discernment is nourished and strengthened by daily Eucharist and diverse experiences of personal and communal prayer, fraternal sharing, friendships, common meals, spiritual direction, a simple lifestyle, solidarity with the poor and marginalized, and leadership development.
WHAT do I need to do to be part of the Discernment Community?
If you are at least 18 years of age and familiar with the Claretian Missionaries, we invite you to make a commitment to a unique time of discernment for six months to one year. During this time, you will be asked to participate dynamically in the gifts and responsibilities of community life while growing in faith and love as a follower of Christ.
For an application form and more details about the application requirements, or if you have any questions, please speak with one of our Vocation Directors:
Father Arnold M. Abelardo, C.M.F., in Los Angeles, at 213-595-4535,
or Father Jose Sanchez, C.M.F., in Fresno, at 559-375-4484.
Father Dennis Gallo, C.M.F., Director of the Discernment Community, can also be contacted at 323-254-5790.
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