From January 23 to 30, the Assembly of the Delegation of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine in Brazil was held in Lábrea (Amazonas), with the participation of 19 Augustinian Recollects residing in the country together with the prior provincial, Carlos González.
Augustinian Recollect religious from the communities of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Augustinian Recollects in Brazil (Manaus -three participants-, Lábrea -three-, Pauiní -four-, Tapauá -four- in the Amazon and Guaraciaba do Norte -two- in Ceará), the formator of the Province in the Postulancy of Franca (São Paulo), the two bishops in the Prelature (current and emeritus) and the provincial prior have been the participants in the Assembly of the Delegation that took place in Lábrea from January 23 to 30.
On each day they have held three work sessions to share data, reflect and express ideas and proposals, as well as time for coexistence and celebration of faith with community prayer and with the encounter with the people of God in the Cathedral or in the base communities.
During these days there were several topics of study, evaluation and decision: the Augustinian-Recollect Spirituality Centers (CEAR), the Vocation Pastoral Itinerary and the Initial Formation Itinerary, the proposal for ongoing Formation “Make me remember you” and the accompaniment of the Augustinian-Recollect Secular Fraternities. At this point, the provincial manager, the Augustinian Recollect Sergio Sánchez, joined virtually from Mexico.
A day was also dedicated to the situation of the Prelature of Lábrea regarding consecrated life: the situation of the communities, community coexistence, challenges and issues to improve.
The parish priests of the three parishes served by the Augustinian Recollects took advantage of the situation and met with the bishop to discuss matters regarding economic administration and the functioning of the parish Secretaries.
During the Assembly, information was provided on the celebrations of the centenary of the Prelature, the central moment of which will begin with a triduum from April 24 to 26, a great celebration on April 27 with the presence of ecclesiastical authorities and, on the 28th, the remembrance of the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of Sister Cleusa Carolina Rodhy Coelho, a celebration coordinated by the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries.
In October of this year, the Centenary of the presence of the Augustinian Recollects in the Brazilian Amazon will also begin, which will last until October 2026. A commission formed by the bishop, Santiago Sánchez, and the religious Luis Antonio Fernández and Santiago Martínez will be in charge of seeing what materials and events can help to remember these hundred years of Recollect presence.
The last meetings were dedicated to the economic report of the Delegation of Brazil and to the approval of the minutes and evaluation of the Assembly itself. At this point, it was stressed that it would be a good opportunity for the dialogue to also cover aspects such as the personal situation of each religious or the main challenges of daily life in a community in a region that imposes very special living and working conditions.
During the Assembly, taking advantage of the presence of the religious of the Delegation and the provincial prior, the solemn profession and diaconal ordination of Bernardo Contreras, resident in the community of Pauiní, took place.
In addition, the last day coincided with the birthday of the provincial prior. There was lively coexistence and videos were received from lay people, contemplative nuns and the community of Las Rozas congratulating Carlos González on his 61st birthday.
