Ciudad Cuauhtémoc hosted the 2024 lay meeting of the four parishes in which the Augustinian Recollects serve the people of God in northern Mexico. It was a day of celebration in which the concept of “hope” resonated.
The Parish of Christ the High Priest of Chihuahua, the Parish of Saint Juan Diego of Ciudad Delicias, the Parish of the Sacred Heart of La Junta and the Parish of Saint Martin of Porres of Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, all of them located in towns in the State of Chihuahua (Mexico), have in common the presence of the Augustinian Recollects, with religious communities of this Order serving the People of God each one of them.
Since the Recollects have been present for many years (53 in La Junta, 38 in Chihuahua, 29 in Cuauhtémoc and 27 in Delicias), the spirituality and charisma of this Order, centred on values such as community, interiority, knowledge and solidarity, have spread among the faithful, who are already accustomed to hearing the main ideas of Augustinian philosophy.
One of these values is the union between knowledge and affection; what is known more is loved more, and vice versa. For this reason, there is a healthy custom of holding an inter-parish meeting every year that allows the main pastoral agents to meet around a day of formation, celebration and common liturgy.
This year the meeting was held in Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, which is the most accessible community to all the others, located in the geographical centre of the four, given that the most distant from each other are Delicias and La Junta, 240 kilometres away. The meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 16.
Around 220 lay people and ten religious Augustinian Recollect participated. The motto of the day of coexistence was “Sowers of hope,” and the formative conferences and discussion groups focused specifically on hope, one of the three most important Christian virtues.
Thus, the Augustinian Recollect Bernal Guerrero presented the Jubilee 2025 and its central motto, “Pilgrims of hope.” He focused on the meaning of a Jubilee, the reasons why Pope Francis called it under this motto, and the main objectives that the Church has in its celebration.
Next, the Augustinian Recollect Manuel Antonio Flores spoke about the closing of the First Centenary of the Mission of the Augustinian Recollects in Shangqiu (Henan, China). This mission, opened in 1924, represents one of the main missionary milestones of the Augustinian Recollection and its centenary has been celebrated under the motto “Sowers of hope”.
Hope was also the central theme of a discussion for Peace organized by the Social Pastoral of Ciudad Delicias, a topic of great relevance in Mexican society. Divided into groups, the attendees were able to reflect on how to help maintain peace in their immediate circles and in society in general, debates that they then shared in a plenary session.
The celebration of the Eucharist and a fraternal meal offered by the hosts brought the day to a close.
