In tune with the visits of the prior provincial to the communities of Spain, Mexico and Costa Rica, Fray Juan Carlos Avitia, vicar of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, accompanied by the vicar of the United States Marlon Beof , made a visit to the communities of the North American Vicariate from November 1st to 15th.
The Prior Provincial Carlos González entrusted this mission to Juan Carlos Avitia, having not been able to obtain the Visa required to enter the United States at the moment.
The objective of the visit was to encourage the communities to live the priorities derived from the last Provincial Chapter and to accompany the path of fraternity and apostolate carried out by the religious in this demarcation of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine.
There were days of a lot of movement due to the displacements to know and discover the work that the religious carry out, especially in the parish apostolate. On most of the visits he was accompanied by Fr. Marlon Beof, Vicar of the United States, who was the one who organized the itinerary through the ministries and the meetings with the religious.
On October 31st, Avitia arrived in the community of Santo Ángel in El Paso, Texas, and the following day the meeting took place in the nearby community of Anthony, New Mexico, where the religious who work in the parishes in this area gathered. of the southern United States. On November 3rd, Avitia and Marlon traveled to the communities on the west coast, in California, beginning their journey in the community of San Benito in Montebello, California.
On November 4, Avitia met with the religious residents of Oxnard, California. There she was able to share life, work and the activities that are carried out in the community of Saint Augustine and in the Parish of Mary Star of the Sea.
On November 5th, he was able to visit the three sick religious who are cared for in the residence of the Servants of Mary in Newberry Park, near Oxnard; he shared with them the Eucharist and her experience in that center where they are well cared for and cared for by the nuns and professional staff.
On November 6th, Avitia and Marlon traveled to Santa Ana, California, to visit the communities that serve the parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Pilar. The following day Juan Carlos Avitia met with the religious of both communities and had the opportunity to learn about and share the community and pastoral life of the religious who provide their service in these two parishes. On November 9th was the meeting with the communities of the parishes of San Benito and Cristo Rey in Montebello, California.
After this stay in California, on November 10th, the two vicars traveled to the east coast of the United States to visit the communities and ministries that are served in Union City, New Jersey and Suffern, New York.
The meeting with all the religious took place on the 14th in the community of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine in Union City. He visited Holy Family and St. Augustine parishes in Union City and Sacred Heart parish in Suffern.
In the community meetings, the fundamental issues of the Life and Mission Project for the four-year period 2022-2026 of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine were discussed, a decalogue that contains those priorities or emphasis that refer to the care of local communities, the accompaniment, ongoing formation, evangelization from our charism with the laity and care for the poor, care for sick and elderly religious, care for minors and vulnerable people, vocation ministry and initial formation. All this contemplated with realism, walking together and with hope.
In all the meetings there was space for reflection, for sharing, suggesting, proposing, etc. and it is necessary to hope that these purposes can flourish in order to achieve the priority objective of the Provincial Chapter.
There was also an opportunity to learn about the pastoral realities that energize the life of the parish communities, the groups close to the Augustinian Recollect charism –Augustinian -Recollect Secular Fraternities and Augustinian-Recollect Youth already existing or emerging–, the possibilities of creating some CEAR (Center for Augustinian Recollect Spirituality) and the revitalization of vocation ministry.
First of all, the fraternal coexistence and the desire to facilitate more frequent meetings between the communities of this demarcation of the Province were highlighted. Walking together through the means we have to be informed, to share materials, so that there is greater communion among all areas of the Province was positively valued.
All the communities of the Vicariate gave the Vicar of the Province a cordial welcome and exquisite attention, for which he is grateful.