Our Father Founder, St Anthony Mary Claret, experienced the urgency of preaching, the hunger of the people for the Word of God and for reconciliation far beyond his ability to respond, however much he endured the dangers of sea and land, or tirelessly laboured from the pulpit to the confessional and back again, to the extent of sacrificing his rest (Our Project of Missionary Life, Vol III, § III, 2). With this experience he admitted that we have much to do, and therefore, must find more people. This search for people and prayers for more labourers (cf. Mt 9:38) which is the first stage of formation called vocation promotion must “proceed with care” so that “young men after being instructed in their house and ordained” should not leave. (cf. Jesús Alvarez Gómez, Return to Origins, 409). With “come and see” program (cf. Jn 1:38), “the journey of discipleship” (cf. Congregation for the Clergy, Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis, §3) begins. Since this journey of discipleship aims at having missionary disciples who are in love with the Master, shepherds with the smell of the sheep, who live in their midst to bring the mercy of God, those recruited undergo stages of configuration to Jesus Christ the Supreme Master. They undergo Aspirancy, then begin Postulancy so that in life they “should move and beat the wings of study and prayer,” (Autobiography Revised Edition, §665) before any ministry. The postulants move on to Novitiate where “the laying of the groundwork for the virtues in regard to apostolic ministry” (Claretian Missionaries, Initiation into the Missionary Life, Historical Notes, §1, 3.2) takes place. After the novitiate experience, one makes his religious profession and undergoes the experience the formation of missionary students’ program which entails doing theological studies and pastoral experience. For the formation of a religious brother, at the discretion of the Major Superior and his Council, other kinds of specialization may be requested of him depending on the need of the Congregation. This “formation must last for a lifetime.” (Ángel Pardilla, The Christ of Formation, 16). After six years of temporary profession, a member “may be definitively incorporated into the Congregation by perpetual vows. In order to be able to make perpetual vows, a member should have reached a level of personal maturity such that he can see this divine calling as good for his whole person and as a life he can actually live.” (CMF Constitutions, § 77). A period determined by the Major Superior will elapse and one may be ordained to diaconate and priesthood respecting the norms of the Church as indicated in Canon Law. Later a Claretian is sent for ministry in a particular community.
