This February is a turning point in our history, when a single new province is inaugurated for the entire USA, and five young Claretians are ordained to the service of God’s people.

After 109 years of ministry in the US, the Claretian Missionaries make a new beginning with a single province for the entire country on February 2nd, 2011, and ordain five new missionaries for service on Thursday, February 3rd, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mission San Gabriel in San Gabriel, California.

Texas-born former Vicar General Father Rosendo Urrabazo, C.M.F. has been appointed transitional superior for the new US province, to be based in Chicago, along with several members of the former governments to his council.

The new priests and deacons to be ordained are Fathers Heherson “Niño” Balabbo of the Philippines, Manny Lopez of Miami, Florida, Peeter Pedroza of Colombia, and Deacons Alex Gaitan and Benjamin Romero of Colombia.

They will join another 105 missionaries of the U.S. Province who are already at work in Georgia, New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, California, Nigeria, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea to help pioneer new undertakings at home and abroad.

CLARETIAN ORDINATIONS

San Gabriel Mission 428 S. Mission Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91776 626-457-3035

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 6:30 p.m.

Priests

Heherson Niño” Balabbo

Peeter Pedroza

Manny Lopez

Deacons

Alex Gaitan

Benjamin Romero