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On December 15, 2012 the Chilean Vicariate celebrated the priesthood ordination of Claudio Varas, CPPS. The ordination Mass took place at Saint Sebastian Church in Purranque, Chile, with the bishop of Osorno, Mons. René Rebolledo, presiding. The Missionaries of the Precious Blood founded the parish in 1949 and Claudio became its first vocation to our community. In order to attend the ceremonies we had to travel 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Santiago down to the southernmost CPPS parish in the world!
Claudio is currently ministering at Our Lady of the Precious Blood Church in Santiago. A fulll busload of parishioners journeyed back and forth to celebrate with our Missionaries. Needless to say, the church building was packed with parishioners from all over, besides Fr. Claudio’s relatives and many friends.
Fr. Claudio got acquainted with the CPPS as he joined the parish formation team in preparing children for their First Communion. The late Fr. Abelardo Ibaceta, CPPS invited him to participate. While Claudio was a bit hesitant at beginning, he committed himself to the program. After finishing high school and a few years of work as an accountant, followed by a proper time of vocation discernment, he joined the CPPS Formation Program in 2004.
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Currently the Chilean Vicariate has eleven priests: seven Chileans, one Italian, one Guatemalan and two Mexicans (one is on loan at our mission in Colombia). Additionally, we have one seminarian beginning his third year of Theology.
At last but not least, in 2012 we witnessed the departure of Fr. Donald Thieman, CPPS after 54 years of faithful ministry in Chile. Father Donald was the last remaining North American who was part of our Vicariate and during his farewell time he had a thoughtful and wonderful gift for Claudio, presenting him with his own ordination chalice from 1953. The chalice of a veteran missionary was given to a new one as a reminder of the continuous presence of the Blood of Christ on this land.
Text and Photos courtesy of : Antonio Baus CPPS[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]