Meeting of the Provincial Prior and his Council with the Provincial Vicariates and Delegations. Mexico City, July 2024.

From July 8 to 10, 2024, the Prior Provincial Carlos González met with representatives of the Provincial Councils, Vicariates and Delegations in the San Agustín postulancy of Mexico City to evaluate compliance with the decisions of the last Provincial Chapter and outline the guidelines for the future.

The meeting was attended by Carlos González, Prior Provincial, and Juan Carlos Avitia, vicar of the Province; Martín Luengo -via telematics- and Jorge Quirós, for the Vicariate of Mexico; Rafael Castillo, representative of the United States Vicariate; Juan Cruz Vicario, from the Brazilian Delegation; Carlos Abajos, representative of the Delegation of England, and Rogelio Morgan as representative of the Delegation of Costa Rica. Benjamín Miguélez serves as secretary.

The Prior Provincial convened, in person, the representatives of all the regions of the Province, to make an evaluation of what was done during the first two years of the current quadrennium (2022-2026) and outline the guidelines for the two years that remain of the quadrennium before celebrating the next Provincial Chapter.

To carry out the evaluation, it started from the conclusions of the Assemblies held during the year 2023 and early 2024 in all the countries in which the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine is present. Thus, the Prior Provincial offered a summary of what was discussed in each area, which became valuable information that illuminated the reflection and dialogue of those present.

Before entering into the study and debate of the different topics, the Prior Provincial organized a dynamic to know the state and feelings of those present about how they felt in the service of authority that, in one way or another, they were carrying out in the different government teams.

The topics addressed at the meeting were the following:

– Elderly and infirmed religious.

– Permanent training and support.

– Youth and vocational ministry.

– Decision 47 of the Life and Mission Project and restructuring of the different areas of the Province.

– Particular matters discussed in the region assemblies.

The issue that took the most time when carrying out the evaluation, study and debate was decision 47 of the Life and Mission Project: the restructuring of the ministries and communities of the Province. Leaving aside many other considerations, it was clear to the participants in the meeting that there are three criteria that must be maintained – regardless of other requirements – when discerning and making decisions about our presences: charisma, vocational ministry and needs of the universal Church.

In addition to the evaluation of the previous points, looking to the future, a section related to possible suggestions for the celebration of the Provincial Chapter of the year 2026 was also discussed. There were several interesting proposals put on the table, although perhaps the most Striking was the celebration of the next Provincial Chapter in the facilities of the House of the Recollection, in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, without prejudice to what the Provincial Council decides, which is the body that has the powers on the matter.