On March 16, the Saint Ezekiel Moreno Postulancy of Pozos of Santa Ana welcomed, for the first time since 2020, the annual edition of Bingo of the Secular Augustinian-Recollect Fraternity. The first and second prizes were donated to the Children’s City by those who won them.
The Augustinian-Recollect Family in Costa Rica wanted to recover in this year 2024 the full presence of their usual activities. The one that brings together the most people annually is the Bingo organized by the Secular Fraternity at the facilities of the Saint Ezekiel Moreno Postulancy of Pozos, Santa Ana (San José).
From 2020 to 2023, this Bingo was suspended or held differently, virtual to preserve the health of the participants. However, the importance of personal meetings and once the coronavirus pandemic has been overcome, by 2024 all wanted to once again truly share the game, the excitement, and, most importantly, the coexistence.
For two months the organizers prepared everything again in person. As usual, they made an effort to ensure that everything was ready and prepared down to the smallest details, with a last week of preparation full of work and enthusiasm.
The sports center of the Augustinian Recollects complex in Pozos de Santa Ana was completely made up of chairs, tables, and, most importantly, people, specifically more than half a thousand.
This number was not able to drown out the spirit of family and closeness, the warmth of hugs and reunions. That was full of people, but no one felt like a “crowd”.
The participants, very punctual, arrived at the meeting. Some early risers intentionally had lunch at the place taking advantage of the typical dishes prepared and offered by the members of the Secular Fraternity.
The dessert also came from the Family: the pastry was entrusted to the Augustinian Recollects contemplatives from the nearby Lindora monastery, who showed off their stall with a very special name: “Holy Craving”.
In addition to bringing Mexican cuisine closer to Central America, it was a nice opportunity for everyone to collaborate and help the cloistered nuns in obtaining the resources they needed to develop their lives and vocation.
At 1 p.m., the Augustinian Recollect Ángel San Casimiro, bishop emeritus of Alajuela and resident in the community of Pozos of Santa Ana, welcomed those present and opened the event with some emotional words and with his blessing. Also present was the Augustinian Recollect Víctor González, advisor to the fraternity and prior of the local community, which offered all its support and provided the necessary logistics for the event.
It was a great party worthy of the Augustinian-Recollect Family. The vitality of everyone was very visible when participating: religious, contemplative nuns, postulants, and the true architects of everything, the members of the Secular Fraternity.
Those who won the most important prizes (first and second) decided at that moment to return them to the Children’s City so that they could proceed to their commercial sale and would thus obtain resources for their social work. Pieces made in their Workshops of this socio-educational center of the Augustinian Recollects in Cartago, Costa Rica.
Additionally, many local and regional businesses donated to this event.The best summary of bingo: there were many souls and one heart in a space conducive to encounter, coexistence, fun, and the practice of the value of the Augustinian and Recollect fraternity.
