The Claretians

A community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers were founded by Saint Anthony Claret in 1849. Their ministries are highly diverse and vary depending on the needs of the area. They focus on seeing life through the eyes of the poor and respond to the biggest need at the time. They have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their formal title is the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but they are popularly known as "the Claretians". The aim of the Congregation is to seek in all things the glory of God, the sanctification of our members, and the salvation of people throughout the world, in keeping with our missionary charism in the Church. Today Claretians are working in a variety of our ministries like parish work, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, preaching retreats, Prison ministry, Taking care of the HIV/AIDS patients, Family Apostolate, spiritual direction, Counselling youth programs, and religious publications.

St. Antony Mary Claret

(1807-1870), Founder of Claretian Congregation

St. Claret School is named after its Heavenly Patron, St. Antony Mary Claret, a 19th Century Catholic Archbishop of Cuba and founder of the Congregation of Claretian Missionaries. In its foundation, St. Claret School was influenced by the societal vision of St. Antony Mary Claret who tried all possible means to impart positive values into the lives of people to effect holistic transformation within them. Antony Claret (1807-1870) was a native of Sallent in Spain and a young successful businessman. However, riches and success did not satisfy him and he left his worldly pursuits in response to God’s call. Burning with love of God and fellow human beings, he became a priest and then founded a Congregation for priests and brothers to spread the message of God’s love for humanity and the need for human beings to love God and neighbour. He sought to serve God and people using “all means possible’’. He was a profound teacher, a social reformer and a visionary. He was a prophet, who with genuine spiritual courage, denounced the unhealthy and oppressive structures and practices of the times and called for a return to spiritual and moral values. Above all, he was a caring spiritual father and a symbol of God’s love for the people.