The convent of Marcilla (Navarra, Spain) hosted the 2024 Assembly of religious of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine in Spain between November 12 and 14, with 16 religious from the ten communities in the country plus the six members of the provincial government.
The Assembly of religious of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Order of Augustinian Recollects in Spain began with the singing of the prayer Veni Creator to ask for the assistance of the Holy Spirit and the invitation of the provincial prior, Carlos Gonzalez, to listen to others and have the continuous attitude of adding, growing and improving.
During the Assembly, the members of the communities in Spain presented the initiatives and challenges of their local communities, there was collective reflection and work in groups to facilitate dialogue and the detail of each issue.
The reflection was based on specific data presented by the provincial prior on the main topics of debate: initial and ongoing formation, vocational pastoral care with the conclusions of the last meeting of promoters and care for elderly and/or sick religious who require care and assistance, with the presentation of a new Protocol for action in these cases.
The Augustinian Recollect Luis Diego Ramírez, coordinator of the area of Initial Formation and provincial councilor, presented the new Redi ad Cor Formation Plan of the Augustinian Recollects in its part dedicated to initial formation, focused on the acquisition of three “wisdoms” in a theoretical and experiential way: interiority, community and ecclesiality. “The source of the life of the Augustinian Recollect is love, its food is the Word and its home is the Church,” summarized the speaker.
A point of special interest throughout the Assembly was the shared mission with the laity and the progress, challenges and proposals for the integration of the laity in the communities and in the ministries to be coherent, effective and enriching for all, the religious and the laity themselves.
The stated objective is to live and expand the spirituality and the Augustinian Recollect charism in society, given that it can be lived, shared, implemented and offer a path of happiness to people of all ages and conditions.
Also highlighted as a point of special interest for next year’s Assembly (2025) was the restructuring of ministries in Spain and the discussion on the criteria of prioritization applicable to the presence and activities of the communities of the Province in the country.
The Assembly concluded with the closing Eucharist presided by the prior provincial. He asked those present to live the Gospel “in the here and now” and thanked them for the openness and sincere dialogue shown during the Assembly.
After the liturgy and the fraternal meal, everyone returned to their local communities with the commitment to strengthen their relationship with the laity and renew their consecrated vocation in communion of brothers.
