From yesterday...to today
On February 11, 1956, three Claretian Sisters arrive at New York. They
come as every immigrant, with a dream. Their dream is to share the
Gospel of love and compassion in the same way as St. Anthony M. Claret
and Servant of God Maria Antonia Paris.
After a few months of becoming acquainted with American culture, they
open the fifth community in Momence, Illinois on July 31, 1956. They
cooperate in the house of formation of the Claretian Fathers. Two years
later, a second community is formed in Washington, D.C. on September 3,
1958. Here also the sisters cooperate with the Claretian house of
formation, and at the same time operate a small boarding house for
female foreign students.
From 1962-65, the Church celebrates the Second Vatican Council, new
Pentecost, which will transform the Church and initiate a process of
change and conversion. The Claretian Missionary Sisters, as part of the
Church, experience the effects of the powerful wind of the Spirit of
God. Both communities in the north are closed, and the sisters respond
to the urgent need to minister to migrant farm workers in South
Florida. On November 9, 1971, a community is established to work at Our
Lady Queen of Peace Mission in Delray Beach.
Four years later, on February 25, 1975 a new community opens in Miami.
The sisters take up diocesan and parochial tasks in catechesis,
liturgy, music, and evangelization.
On August 15, 1990, another community is established in Miami to work
with young people, and later becomes the house of formation for
candidates to the Claretian Missionary Sisters in the United States. In
1996, after 40 years in the United States, our three communities become
a Independent Delegation or small province in the Congregation.
Our Delray community, having fulfilled its mission, closes in 2002 and
we establish two new communities, one in West Palm Beach in the Diocese
of Palm Beach and another one in Mayo, Diocese of St. Augustine.
MINISTRY
Our ministry is always evangelization as a way to renew the Church and
build the Kingdom of God. Each sister carries out this mission of
evangelization according to the needs of a particular area and her
talents. In South Florida we work in seminaries, parishes,
universities, and diocesan ministries.
- Christian formation of children, young people,
and adults
- social services
- migrant ministry
- liturgical ministry
- formation of candidates to the priesthood and
deaconate
- retreat ministry
- Youth and Vocational Ministry
