HISTORY
The beginning

Ring…  Ring…  Ring…  - Hello!...  -“May I speak with Fr.Gabriel Calvo?  I am Bishop Patrick Flores from San from San Antonio, Texas."

 “Bishop Flores?”

 “Yes, that’s me, Fr. Calvo!”  “I call because I would like you to come to the United States for a couple of months to assist me in the marriage and family   ministry among the Hispanic communities we have all over the country. This is  a commitment I have to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the   united Sates.  I would like you to help me. I am writing you a letter explaining more details about this call and invitation.”

“Yes, Bishop Flores, you can count on me with only one condition: that you write a letter to my General Superior, so he grants me his permission and blessing”

“O.K., Fr. Calvo, that will not be a problem.  I will do that this week…” 

That happened in February 1974.  At this time I was living in Rome , Italy , as Spiritual Director of the Pontificium Spanish College .

In April, 1974, I flew to San Antonio , to start my new commitment. In 1976, when my commitment was fulfilled, I received lots of tremendous calls from  the leadership of the different flourishing expressions of M.E. (National M.E., Worldwide M.E. , Jewish M.E., Interfaith and United M.E…) inviting me to participate in their , National and International Conventions. We did it, and throughout living, awesome and unforgettable experiences, we strongly realized that the Marvelous and Merciful GOD’S PLAN of Salvation, from the beginning of the Creation, was that the whole Humankind become ONE FAMILY, where we all feel and act like CHILDREN of GOD , and consequently, we relate to each other as BROTHERS and SISTERS.

From that very moment, I was shouting in the Conventions and Conferences:

“WHERE ARE YOUR SONS & DAUGHTERS.?"

After that anxious call, I made my Spiritual Retreat with the group of priest of my Priestly Fraternity. At the end, I was appointed and blessed by my superiors to live and work in our Residence in Washington DC., to spend my live, time, energies and enthusiasm to reach out more and more MARRIED COUPLES and their SONS & DAUGHTERS, meaning FAMILIES. I felt like flying with the Wind of the Holy Spirit. And then … F.I.R.E.S was born.