Saint John Paul II (1988), in his apostolic exhortation on the vocation and mission of the lay faithful in the Church, urges us to live in a continuous relationship with others, in a fraternal way, in equal dignity to make fruitful with others the gifts received as an inheritance, being a way of calling for collaboration in the building of the Kingdom united to Christ as the branches to the vine (Jn 15:5). The above is the mission of every faithful Christian, a calling that Saint Anthony Mary Claret had already envisioned when thinking about the more active participation of the laity in evangelization.
Following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, on January 10, 2026, in a Eucharistic ceremony with the community of the faithful of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Mexico City, five new members were admitted to the Claretian Lay Movement, who for two and a half years studied and lived the stages of discernment marked by the Ideals. This community, in its discernment process, was accompanied and encouraged by Fr. René Pérez, CMF, and the Lay Claretian Begoña Ferráez Calleja. The nascent community chose to call itself “La colmena, Shemá” and is made up of María de Lourdes Almaguer Vega, Katia Gómez Mejía, Luis Gerardo Granados Troncoso, María Eugenia Mejía Aragón y María del Carmen Moctezuma Margain.
The celebration was presided over by Fr. René, who urged everyone not to lose sight of personal and community life centered on Christ and union with the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, making the Son of God known through the testimony of life in every place where they find themselves.
It was an emotional ceremony, attended by other Lay Claretians who joyfully welcomed the new members, sparking excitement among the parishioners present. After the Eucharistic celebration, a gathering was held in the parish hall, where attendees shared time with active members of the parish and some Claretian Missionaries from that community.
Luis Gerardo Granados Troncoso, lc
Zones: United States, Canada/Mexico
