COVID-19 is awakening the lethargic sensibility and social solidarity in many people and institutions and enlivening it in many other groups. ARCORES México and other Augustinian-recollect entities of the Mexican Republic are one of the many examples that is enhancing the solidarity work that it had been doing for several years.
ARCORES México, the CEAR (Centro de Spiritually Agustino-Recoleta) of Querétaro and the members of the Augustinian Recollect Secular Fraternity “Santa Magdalena de Nagasaki”, who had been developing the apostolic and social project “United by one bread”, have joined their forces with the parish community of the Divine Redeemer, the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries and the Augustinian Recollect Youth (JAR) of this Parish for the elaboration and delivery of pantries to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the city of Querétaro. This solidarity action has been dubbed “United by a Pantry”.
The participants of the social apostolate “United by one bread” decided to turn this mission around and promote the so-called “United by a pantry “ to support families who have been harmed in their economy by the crisis.
To help some in need of this crisis, food, cleaning products, and necessities were delivered to the Augustinian Recollect Parish- of the Divine Redeemer where the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries and the JARs prepare the pantries and distribute them to the families who need it most, through the parishioners involved in the social pastoral care of the Parish.
Donations were also made to the State Government Collection Centre, on behalf of the Augustinian-Recollect Family as a show of solidarity with the brothers and sisters that are most affected.
Some of the people who participated in the social apostolate “United by one bread” every fortnight for more than six years, together with the community of the Aspirantado San Pius X, and have now partly converted their work to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering the consequences of this pandemic.
Another significant action of ARCORES Mexico is the delivery of pantries in a community called “Las Vías”,located north of Mexico City, which are attended by the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries and in which low-income families live. They are families who come to Mexico City in search of a better future and who are living in conditions of low hygiene, water scarcity, in houses mounted with cartons and used construction material that contain asbestos. The Augustinian Recollect Missionaries make an accompaniment to these families by providing them with food and in some cases medicines through CARDI.
It also continues to help forgotten people in Totolapan, Morelos, especially families who have someone with cerebral palsy. From ARCORES Mexico and thanks to the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity of the Postulado San Agustín de CDMX, contact with them is maintained and have been sent pantries. The construction of the two houses has been suspended due to the confinement situation.
