Young people from the ARY of Mexico “build” a secluded route through Spain

The young visitors, led by Héber Hermosillo, member of the ARY International Team were: Luisa Fernanda Rubio, Andrea Arredondo, Diana Mendoza, Mariana Sanchez, Nancy Cervantes and Carlos Estrada. These last two, singer-songwriters of the Hymn of the V JMJAR, “Those who love, walk”.

The idea of the “ Recollect Route” arose from the interest of young people to know some of the places that are very significant for the Augustinian Recollects, and thus further increase the love for the charism that they have received through the Augustinian Recollect Youth, from those who have been part of it for several years.

Saint Rita of Madrid

The route began in Madrid, with a brief but interesting visit to the Parish of Saint Rita, where Fray Marciano Santervás, a member of the community, offered a guided tour of this artistic parish, demonstrating that each space has been artistically and spiritually planned. Likewise, this first stop served as a station of protection so that the travelers were light of baggage.

Valladolid

The second stop was the Saint Augustine School and the Saint Ezekiel Moreno of Valladolid; places that reflect the integrality of the apostolate of the accompaniment of the Augustinian Recollects, since they are cared for here from infants to a few months of birth to friars of very advanced age and in need of medical assistance.

The young people expressed the joy of being able to join some acts of the community, such as morning prayer and Eucharist, as well as being able to visit and talk with some of the assisted friars, especially with some who had met through their time at the Vicariate of Mexico and Costa Rica.

It is worth saying that lunch and after-dinner were extremely pleasant for the knowledge and anecdotes of the religious Rafael Mediavilla, José Manuel Bengoa, Miguel Ángel Tejada, Fernando Martín, José El Busto and Antonio Eraso, the oldest in the community. Likewise, “the youth” of the community, Fernando, was a guide through the most important sites in the center of Valladolid.

San Millan de la Cogolla

The next stop was the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja), which left speechless to young people, both for the natural beauty that surrounds it and for the historical relevance it has for all Spanish speakers. Here they were received by Brother José Ramón Pérez and Brother Mario Arévalo, prior and parish priest respectively, who were also in charge of showing all the corners of the centenary monastery and to make them enter into a climate of recollection and prayer proper to of the place.

Marcilla

The next destination was the convent of Marcilla, in the province of Navarra. A site that it also generated a lot of interest among young people due to the anecdotes that many friars they had told them about their days as theology students.

The reception was no less happy in this place, nor by the prior of the community Fray Pablo Panedas, who was already “warned” of the adventures of these members of the ARY, nor by the rest of the religious of the community, especially some who had met these young people in their time in the parishes of origin of the same, such as Fray José Luis Jiménez and Fray Rafael Gutierrez.

In this place they also coincided with the religious of simple vows of the provinces of Saint Thomas of Villanova, Our Lady of the Candelaria and Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, who were there participating in their own training sessions prior to the start of the new academic cycle. Something that also marked the stay of the young people here was the guided tour of the missionary museum and the historical archive of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, accompanied by the prior and by fray Javier Lizarraga; both with eminent knowledge of the history of the Order.

Monteagudo

The next stop, and one of the ones that moved the pilgrims the most, was the convent novitiate of Monteagudo, Navarra. Some of them commented on the sensation of feeling the Augustinian Recollect charism with all its senses, since there was not a single place or a single person where joy, interiority, service and community.

Here they were received by Fray Santiago García, vice-prior of the community and by Friar Carlito Gomes, master of novices, who were in charge of showing the parts most representative of the convent such as the church of Our Ladyof the Way, the museum, the room and the chapel where the remains of Saint Ezekiel Moreno rest.

A special mention deserves the culinary hosts Amelia Martínez, cook at the convent for more than 20 years, and the incomparable and beloved brother Paco, a whole institution with its almost 60 years of faithful service in this convent. It is worth saying that Fray Paco pampered the visitors by preparing his famous “heavenly soup”. The youth also expressed the joy of living with the novices and of being “novices” with them for a day”.

Saragossa

The sixth stop, going down a little more towards the southeast of Spain was the Colegio Romareda in the city of Zaragoza, where they were received by Fray Héctor Molina, responsible for the ARY of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, and whom they already knew well having lived with him the previous weeks at JMJAR and WYD and fray Jesús Rada, a member from the community and a teacher at this school since its inception in the late 1970s.

Here, In addition to knowing another perspective of the educational ministry of the Augustinian Recollects, the youngsters were also able to visit the historic center of the two-thousand-year-old city, and Of course, the majestic Basilica of Our Lady del Pilar on the banks of the Ebro River.

Finally, the young people made a brief visit to the Parish of Saint Monica, also administered by the Augustinian Recollects.

Barcelona

The penultimate stop, which was “mandatory” due to its cultural and tourist relevance, although without the presence of Augustinian Recollect communities, it was the city of Barcelona, and more specifically, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. The desire of the young was not only “take a photo” in this place to share it on social networks, but above all to be able to participate in the Eucharistic celebration in the imposing temple designed by Gaudí.

By stealing hours of sleep, the young people were able to visit the places and fulfill their wish by participate in the only Sunday mass that is celebrated in the main enclosure of the Temple.

The Rubs

The last stop, and after a 6-hour drive, was the House of Formation Saint Augustine in the Madrid municipality of Las Rozas (Madrid). Although the former still found by Marcilla, the young people were received by the rest of the community made up of the prior fray Juan Ramírez Sixtos, and the religious Alberto Eraña, Javier Legarra, Agustín Martínez, Julio César Hernández, Pablo Meng Yu Cheng and Bernardo Contreras.

The unbeatable hospitality of this community was an energizing for the youngsters, who were already beginning to feel tired from the kilometers traveled. Already with a more serene rhythm, but with the intention of making it easier for young people to take advantage of until the last moments of their stay in Spain, the community of religious organized a couple of tours through the cities of Segovia and Toledo and through the colossal Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial.

Undoubtedly, a high end, for a few days that will be unforgettable and of great growth for young people, as told by four of them in these brief testimonies with which we conclude this chronicle.

“I am grateful to all the friars; for love, patience, hospitality and the great charisma they have. Thanks to them I can say that this trip will be unforgettable and full of lessons that I will be able to share with the community” – Andrea Arredondo

“It was an experience full of love, fraternity, answers, knowledge and delivery. I appreciate the support and hospitality of the friars; we always feel like home.” – Luisa Fernanda Rubio

“The Recoleta route has undoubtedly been one of the most welcoming and sisters that I have had. Being in a place where there are Augustinian Recollects is like having a loving family that gladly awaits your arrival; It feels like home. The hospitality of the friars and cooks of each place we visit is the faithful portrait of our community pillar.

I can only feel grateful and very blessed to have this second family, to be able to share the joy, the testimonies and the table, because, by the way, that you eat well, hey! I think we even gained weight. It inspires me and fills my heart that shared with us with so much love and enthusiasm the wealth that our Order has. Thank you for always being on mission.” – Mariana Isabel Sanchez

“I am amazed. It was a unique experience that allowed me to get to know more detail the history of our Order. One of the things that struck me the most was being in the place where Saint Ezekiel Moreno lived, served and died; I felt a peace that until that time had not experienced. Being in such significant places for the Augustinians recollects, and feeling part of them filled my soul.” –Carlos Estrada

“I feel very grateful, chosen and lucky for the opportunity to do this route, first with brothers of the Order, because it was unique to share each moment, the good and the difficulties, with the people that God put on the road. I don’t think I’ve had any similar experience, the way they made us feel received, even expected was truly special, I could feel like never before, a member of the Augustinian Recollect family. I discovered that I was in the place where should be.

All this apart from how wonderful it was to know each place, each story, each person, because each one got to know him not as a visitor, but as a member, as part of everything, in depth”. –Diana Mendoza

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