When shopping for a new home, most buyers avoid the poorer areas. For the Claretian priests who recently moved into the rectory at Sacred Heart Church in Vancouver, it was almost a selling point.
In addition to taking on diverse ministry assignments across Vancouver, the Claretians have assumed pastoral duties at Sacred Heart Church in the Downtown Eastside.
“Our parish is in a poor area, but it has a wealth of ministries serving the homeless,” Sacred Heart’s new pastor, Father Ray Smith, told The B.C. Catholic.
The Claretians have found it a blessing, as they reach out to local ministries to help in any way they can. For example, they celebrate Mass for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity and are working to network between the various groups serving the Downtown Eastside.
This drive to connect people is what Father Smith refers to as the “collaborative” element that Claretians bring with them wherever they go.
His experience with poverty is nothing new—he has served in poor Chicago and Los Angeles communities—but he sees reasons to be hopeful in Vancouver. The wealth of homeless ministries is one, but also the growing Spanish communities.
“We added a Spanish Mass, and it nearly doubled the size of the parish,” he said.
“There is something in our experience here—we’ve gone from zero to two youth groups, one in English, one in Spanish,” he said. “I wasn’t able to get even one started at my last parish.”
First Nations outreach is also a priority. It has been a struggle, but things are improving.
“I know to go slow,” he said. “We are continuing to get some of those folks back, but it needs to be gentle and slow.”
The absence of Father Garry LaBoucane, the Cree Oblate who used to organize much of the indigenous ministry, left a void in the community, but the monthly Indigenous Mass (called a Drumming Mass) has the best attendance, and Father Ray notes that one or two Indigenous community members return every month. It is a sign of hope.
The Claretians have had a presence in other parts of Canada, but this will be the first time they will form a community in B.C.
The provincial superior of the Claretian Province of USA-Canada, Father Paul Keller, was in Vancouver last year to help the other priests settle and spoke with The B.C. Catholic about who the Claretians are.
“A Claretian is one who burns with love and spreads it wherever he goes,” he said.
“Our first call is community life, and from our communal life flows our ministry,” said Father Keller. “Community is the first act of mission—so you’ll come back to us if these guys aren’t getting along,” he laughed, gesturing to the other Claretians at the interview.
The new project comes with a number of assets. Vancouver provided not only a diverse set of ministry opportunities but also a large rectory at Sacred Heart, offering an excellent space for the community to thrive.
“We were looking for a residence where our members could live together and work in a more focused way on ministries that express our evangelization.”
The Claretians’ journey to Vancouver started with Father Keller sending a letter describing their order to various dioceses. Among the responses they received was a video from Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller and Msgr. Gregory Smith.
Simply getting a response was one factor they strongly considered Vancouver, but in addition, “they were certainly the most hospitable, most welcoming, and the most encouraging,” said Father Keller.
“I also say this very sincerely, not just to curry favour,” said Father Keller, “but the hospitality, flexibility, and welcome of this Archdiocese have been almost cartoonish in their extreme! It’s just really an unbelievable warmth, with people reaching out to us, [asking how they can help].”
“I have never experienced anything like this,” said Father Keller.
Six Claretians make the rectory at Sacred Heart their permanent home, with room for the occasional visiting brother.
Father Ray Smith has taken over pastoral duties at Sacred Heart, and the rest of his brothers have been assigned various responsibilities throughout the Archdiocese.
In addition to his responsibilities as the community superior, Father Manuel (Tony) Diaz will be an associate pastor at Holy Rosary Cathedral, where he will help with increasing needs for Spanish-language sacraments and Masses.
Father Frank Hernandez has been assigned to campus ministry for Vancouver College, Father James Raphel will be a hospital chaplain, and Father Olivier Nkwimi will assist with French-speaking ministry in the diocese.
Father Eslin Pereira told The B.C. Catholic that, in addition to retreat ministry and port ministry, he and the other Claretians have been exploring the Lower Mainland to find other places where they could be useful.
He was excited to discover Luke 15 Recovery House in Surrey, where he spent time celebrating Christmas and New Year’s, while the rest of the community has been helping local priests with additional confession times and filling in during times of illness or vacation.
Claretians follow path of urgent need
Considering the multitude of different jobs and responsibilities the Claretian fathers are taking on in Vancouver, it might be challenging to understand what the order is all about.
All Catholic religious orders have a charism that directs their energy and attention, but it is usually specific. For example, the Dominicans emphasize education, while the Franciscans reject worldly wealth.
At 175 years young, the Claretians remain defined by apostolic zeal, emphasizing flexibility in responding to the Church’s needs.
“One of the sayings we have in the congregation is we do whatever is most urgent, timely, and effective,” said Father Keller. “So, we are not to be tied to certain structures.”
The order was founded in Vic, Spain, in 1849 as the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by St. Anthony Claret. The religious congregation of priests, brothers, and seminarians expanded rapidly, and they began their North American mission in Mexico in 1884, bringing Christ’s healing presence to a divided nation.
After establishing themselves there, they expanded northward, ministering to Spanish-speaking Catholics in the United States. In 1902, Bishop John Anthony Forest of San Antonio invited them to take charge of San Fernando Cathedral, marking their official entry into the U.S. From Texas, they expanded throughout the West, and by 1924, they had established a mission in Chicago, serving Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Upper Midwest.
As the order grew, American-born vocations helped broaden their missionary reach. In 1952, they established a mission in Quebec, initially serving French-speaking Catholics but later shifting to Spanish-speaking communities.
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