From March 11 to 16, the Augustinian Recollect nuns of the Federation of Mexico had the week of formation for prioresses, formators, and trainees. It took place in the House of Spirituality of the “Recollection” of Ahuatepec, Mor., of the Augustinian Recollects.
This training week was attended by the Mexican monasteries of Ahuacatlán, Cuautinchán, Cuernavaca, Jalpan de Serra, Mexico City, Macuxtepetla, Morelia, Papalotla, Tecamachalco, Tlaxcala and Xalapa, and it was a blessing, on this occasion, the participation of the monastery of Bogotá, Colombia. In the initial training course, the sisters from Macuxtepetla, Tula, and Guaraciaba do Norte (Ceará, Brazil) participated via Zoom.
Course for prioresses and formators
The training for prioresses and formators was directed by Frater Sergio Sánchez Moreno, in charge of the Formation Secretariat of the Augustinian-Recollect Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine. Sergio started with the importance of the systematic cultivation of permanent formation, approached from the personal and community situation. It was based on the document of Fraternal life in community. Thus, it was about the various levels of communication, relationship, and listening in the community, highlighting the need to do so in every moment from the heart.
He reminded the attendees about the importance of being accompanied and shared his tools for accompaniment and living with more coherence and joy, loving one’s vocation. “Support is necessary for human and spiritual growth since we are in a relationship, so we are in community”.
Fraternal life, as a school of learning in which gifts are shared, positive qualities and moments, it is a manifestation of the choice and love of Jesus. Giving and surrendering from what each one is with his own story, and making a path together praising the Lord for his wonders.
One of the most emotional and intense moments was the experience of lectio divina, in which the presence of Jesus was experienced among the participants. Sergio concluded by explaining the three Augustinian aspects of the “confessio”: the profession of faith, praise to God, and the confession of one’s sin; This is how the attendees closed the week of formation.
Course for training
The group in training was accompanied by Frater Jorge Quirós Oviedo, formator of the Saint Augustine postulancy of Mexico City, which taught the training course annually, complementing last year, but on this occasion focusing on the theme of “Theology of Vocation”. In his presentations, he took as references some of the several different vocations that appear in the Holy Scriptures: Abraham, Judith, Esther, Samson, Mateo, Pedro, Andrés, Juan, and Santiago, to specify the view on the call of each of the formations to the contemplative life.
He began the meeting with a profound phrase: “Do everything with all your soul”, the phrase that accompanied them throughout the days of the week in prayers, Eucharists, recreations, talks, and meals as a decisive theme in their vocational process. Jorge was directing the contemplation of the various biblical vocations to the contemplation of his vocation to follow Jesus and go deeper into the mystery of the cross.
The Augustinian Recollect nuns feel deep gratitude to Sergio Sánchez and Jorge Quirós, who have given them these days of permanent training, the same as his assistant Gerardo Ruiz, who ensures the good formation of the monasteries of the Federation. In the same way, they appreciate the generosity of the Augustinian Recollects, who every year allows them to use the facilities of the House of Recollection for these training meetings.
