The five decades of coexistence and mutual support have been celebrated on social networks and with a great procession that replicated the spectacular welcome of Guaraciaba to the Recollects, followed by a Eucharist and a fraternization.
The streets were packed with people, four Recollect religious climbed into an open-air car received in a multitudinous, affectionate, unexpected and festive welcome that left them completely shocked by the kindness and joy of that town.
Thus began 25 years ago, on November 21, 1999, this fruitful, close, evangelizing coexistence full of positive human and faith experiences. Those four religious did not imagine that their Augustinian Recollect Family would grow in the region in almost all its forms and specific vocations.
For this anniversary, the Pastoral of Communication of the Parish of Our Lady of Joys of Guaraciaba do Norte (Ceará, Brazil) broadcast a special program prior to the festive celebration through the streets of the city the following day, Friday, November 22.
The current parish priest and Recollect prior, Santiago Martínez, indicated the opportunity of this anniversary to recognize the work carried out together, rejoice in what has been achieved and apologize for the errors. It will also be an opportunity to “renew commitment and spirit” and “continue forward with the work.”
He recalled the arrival of the Augustinian Recollects to this northwestern region of the State of Ceará once the Augustinian Recollect Francisco Javier Hernández was named bishop of Tianguá. “Without having set foot in this region, and as usually happens when a Recollect is named bishop, the first thing the bishop did was ask his religious province for a community for his Diocese.”
In these 25 years, five Recollect parish priests have passed through Guaraciaba. One of the characteristics of special pride is that 25 years later, in 2024, there are sons of this northeastern land in all stages of Recollect life:
- in the San Ambrosio Aspirancy of Guaraciaba there is one local aspirant and another from Manaus (Amazonas);
- in the Postulancy of Franca (São Paulo) there are three postulants from Ceará and one from Amazonas;
- in the novitiate of Monteagudo there are two novices from Ceará;
- in the Theologate of Las Rozas there is one professed from Guaraciaba;
- in the year of community and pastoral insertion, there are two other professed from Ceará;
- and there are three religious priests from Ceará, one from Guaraciaba and two from Croatá.
Furthermore, four years after the friars’ arrival, the monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe was founded (2003) with six Mexican Augustinian Recollect nuns; today, four Mexican nuns and eleven women from Ceara reside in the monastery, including professed nuns, novices and postulants.
And soon there were lay people interested in the Augustinian Recollect spirituality and charism. Although the meetings lasted for many years, the members of the Secular Fraternity decided to make their membership official in December 2022. And the Augustinian Recollect Youth are also well received.
A different parish
When the Augustinian Recollect bishop Francisco Javier Hernández arrived in Tianguá, he found a diocese with a very elderly clergy who carried out their work throughout their lives in the same parish. For example, between 1936 and 1990 Guaraciaba had the same parish priest who barely served outside the main church in the town, given the distances and communication difficulties.
When the Recollects arrived, there were seven churches in the entire parish. Today there are 53 basic ecclesial communities throughout the municipality, with their churches, organization, pastoral and community services. Many of them have adopted saints from the Augustinian Family as patrons.
The pastoral reorganization, decentralization, and the formation of the laity with initiatives such as the School of Faith (which has already been in existence for 23 years), have profoundly changed the parish reality. Vatican II has been applied with all its consequences regarding the role of the laity, social work and the use of the media.
The silver anniversary
The Parish of Guaraciaba and the Augustinian Recollect Family have mobilized to celebrate these 25 years. First, a few days were dedicated to reflecting on topics such as the community, the apostolate, social works, vocational pastoral care and prayer and contemplative life; a special program was organized on social networks and the great welcome procession on Friday, November 22 was remembered, with the presence of all the communities, pastoral services and ecclesial movements.
A Eucharist and a fraternization in the Pastoral Center closed that day, but the anniversary will continue with the publication of a book and two Eucharists with the bishop of Tiangua and the bishop of Alto Xingú-Tucumã.
Three Augustinian Recollects sent messages of congratulations. Juan Manuel Ramírez Sixtos sent his greeting from the monastery of the Augustinian Recollects of Colmenar de Oreja (Madrid, Spain), where he was giving spiritual exercises: “God has poured out his grace and blessing on everyone.”
He encouraged everyone to welcome the message of the Synod of Synodality by strengthening communion, participation, mission and union, putting particular gifts at the service of all: “We are in the Church to serve and love.”
The Augustinian Recollect bishop Jesús María López Mauleón sent his video message from Tucumã, Pará, Brazil. He recalled his time in that founding community in Guaraciaba and how he even became named parish priest, although he never took possession because he had already been named bishop, although he was still under papal secrecy.
“May the Lord bless Guaraciaba and may he be in every heart and in every family, especially in the children, the young people and the elderly, in all the good people who helped me so much with their generosity,” he concluded before sending a blessing.
And the Augustinian Recollect Refugio González sent his message from Mexico: “I hope that St. Augustine’s dream of being one heart and one soul directed towards God is being realized in this beloved community. Thank you all for the love and affection you always showed me. Congratulations and enjoy the celebration.”
