Harold La Cruz, after participating in a vocational discernment with the Augustinian Recollects in Venezuela, found his way in digital communication, an area in which he has collaborated with ARCORES and the Province of Saint Thomas of Vilanova.
Coinciding with the Jubilee of Communication, the Order has held a Meeting of Communicators in which you have participated. What fruits have you obtained?
The path is not always clear and depends on the action of the Spirit; but, without being too mystical, we can expect a transformation in the way of walking, a turn to understand that, as an Augustinian Recollect Family, we are all necessary and we are called to walk together, with a common purpose.
The Communication Plan offers the opportunity to unify criteria and establish a clear direction. It is not only about doing more, but doing it better, with effectiveness and efficiency. Its potential lies in collaboration and the integration of forces to bring the message in a more impactful, coherent and broad way.
Through unity and commitment, each communicative effort is a more authentic reflection of the Gospel. The first obstacle is put by ourselves: feeling that what we do ‘does not make sense’. It is the first temptation to spend so much time behind a screen designing posts, editing videos or generating content.
This lack of physicality sometimes leads to thinking that it is an empty job. However, I am encouraged by the words of Isaiah: just as water and snow do not return to heaven without wetting the earth, in the same way, this work, although it may not seem to wet anything, soaks the digital space. Working in digital is an exercise of faith: trusting that the Word fulfills its purpose, even if the ground it irrigates cannot be seen.
Another factor is the natural resistance of many religious friars to be present in digital media. It is understandable, but more than an insurmountable barrier, it is an opportunity for dialogue, not to impose a ‘digital mentality’, but to accompany and show that digital does not replace community life or tradition, but amplifies them and makes them accessible to those who, otherwise, would not approach that message. The key is to inhabit these spaces without losing either identity or depth.
We all have something to contribute. I am not talking about technical skills or creativity, but about authenticity and truth in what we communicate. As Pope Francis recalled in the Jubilee, it is not enough to transmit information; we must be credible witnesses of the Truth. Just as baptism confers on us the prophetic, priestly and royal mission of Christ, our digital presence must be also understood in a missionary way.
Although there is no sacramental rite to be a ‘digital missionary’, the very fact of knowing the Good News and being in this space gives us a responsibility: to communicate the Gospel message with fidelity, creativity and passion. Each post, video or word that we share can be a seed of hope, an opportunity for encounter and a lit lamp in this vast digital continent.
It seems that we are in an environment with too many dilemmas: Form or substance? Brand or message? Institution or Gospel?
It is like asking whether the light is more important or the lamp that diffuses it. Without the lamp, the light is not projected; without the light, the lamp lacks purpose. The Augustinian Recollect Family, as an institution, is the lamp that holds and projects the light of the Gospel. Its reason is not self-promotion, but to ensure that the Light shines for the world.
An institution that only looks at itself is like an unlit lamp; but a message without structure would be like a light without direction, which is scattered and lost. The challenge is not to choose between dilemmas, but to ensure that the message is never obscured, that it is strengthened and that it is delivered with clarity to where it is most needed.
God, in his infinite creativity, has communicated in many ways: Creation, the sending of his Son, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Today he asks us to communicate his Gospel through all the means that he himself has allowed to exist.
New communication technologies are not neutral; they are a fertile field in which to sow the seed of the Gospel. We communicate by evangelizing and we evangelize by communicating; it is intrinsic to the nature of this work; they are inseparable actions. Beyond communicating a message, we do so with the intention of evangelizing. And, at the same time, by evangelizing, we are communicating.
To be authentic and faithful to the Gospel, it is not enough to spread words, but we must live those words, let them be part of our testimony. In the digital field we are called to be missionaries not only through what we say or how we say it, but also by how we live it and bear witness. Words are only the vehicle; what really transforms is the Truth that is communicated.
We are called to evangelize with the tools we have at hand, witnessing to the hope, peace, and love that the Gospel offers.
What is the relationship between the Augustinian Recollect charism and public communication?
Every era demands a different attitude, and communication plays a crucial role in the experience of any spirituality or charism in an interconnected world, where digital is a natural extension of life.
Communicating is not just transmitting information, it is creating a bridge between the witnessed spiritual experience and those who seek meaning in their lives. This gives communication a transformative power: it inspires people to follow a charism, it goes beyond sharing ideas, it is sharing an authentic experience, a testimony of what God does in each life.
In the environment of the Augustinian Recollect Family, this means communicating its history, the charism that defines it, the spirituality that moves it. People want authenticity and purpose, and communication is the vehicle that transmits that authenticity in an attractive and accessible way.
Communication has an immense power to move hearts and generate commitment. It informs, but it also provokes an inner response, it allows access to the deepest part of the person when it is not based only on words, but on a living testimony that revives the capacity to listen, share and connect.
The true impact of communication lies in the invitation to live in a different way, in the call to be part of a common mission, to commit to something that goes beyond the personal: not only to inform, but also to mobilize and generate community.
In the face of spiritual emptiness or nihilism, speeches of hate, selfishness or pure competitiveness, the society of materialistic consumption or simplistic and populist discourses, do we know how to talk about God?
The great challenge is not to know how to talk about God, but to do so in a way that is understandable and relevant in a society that experiences spiritual emptiness. Despite being more connected than ever, we feel spiritually disconnected.
The challenge is to translate the Gospel into a language and a way of life that touches the hearts of those who are looking for something more, and there are many. It is not so much about preaching as about creating bridges that make God’s presence palpable in people’s daily lives. Instead of abstract speeches, let us reflect God’s love, mercy and hope witnessed in concrete actions, with simple but profound words that speak directly to the heart.
The key is to be authentic, to live what is communicated and to be witnesses of the transformation that the Gospel brings. A good example, in my opinion, is Pope Francis. Not only does he speak of God with clarity and humility, but he has managed to connect the Christian message with reality, especially for the most vulnerable.
He communicates in a close, simple and compassionate way, showing that faith is not just about doctrine, but about loving one’s neighbor and living a “tangible spirituality.” I think that is the most effective way to talk about God in today’s world.
The ecclesial proposal for the Jubilee 2025 “Sowers of Hope” – what has it meant for you and in the world of communication?
The Church has an urgent mission: to sow hope in the midst of polarization, misinformation and hopelessness, which mark deeply divided societies, where ideologies, prejudices and fake news create walls of separation and encourage confrontation.
The Church is called to be a bridge, a space for dialogue and reconciliation. We cannot remain on the sidelines, but be the first to denounce lies and promote the truth, which is not a question of facts, but leads to encounter and understanding, builds unity and not division.
In this context, the Church sows by distinguishing between optimism and hope. Optimism, superficial, is based on a desire for things to improve; but Christian hope is an unshakeable trust in God, in his love and in his plan for humanity, even when circumstances are difficult and confusing.
Hope is not blind expectation, but the certainty that, although evil and darkness exist, the light of Christ is stronger. It is a call to be realistic in the face of the challenges we face, with confidence that, with God, everything is possible.
Polarization generates a profound crisis of trust, both social and interpersonal. The Church must be a place of reconstruction, reconciliation and forgiveness, an authentic testimony of unity and communion. The custody of the truth, this role of the Church in the face of misinformation, becomes even more important: we must communicate, do so with integrity, reflect with words and actions the truth of the Gospel.
The sowing of hope must be present in the face of great social crises and in hearts trapped by existential despair, without a vision of the purpose of their lives. The Church offers a horizon beyond the immediacy of conflict, a vision of the future, of plenitude in God, of conversion, peace and commitment to the common good.
I believe that one of the greatest fruits of this Jubilee is the creation of new challenges and opportunities; for example, that the Jubilee invites us to look beyond our own ‘islands’ or provincial borders and encourages us to understand the need to work together in the Order’s communication project.
As a community we share an evangelizing mission, but we must also share a coherent and effective communication strategy. The Jubilee is an excellent opportunity for each person, from their place, to contribute what they have to strengthen communication and take the message of the Gospel further than has been done so far.
Creativity, innovation and collaboration are fundamental so that we can reach more people in an authentic and effective way, without losing our charismatic spirit.
For this reason, this Jubilee of Communication with the Augustinian Recollects, surrounded by brothers and sisters with the same mission, has been a transformative experience, an unparalleled opportunity to connect more deeply with that charism. It has allowed me to look closely at our mission as pilgrims, as people who, guided by the Spirit, walk in hope.
Announcing that hope is a challenge and a responsibility to give the best of ourselves. Fraternity and a sense of belonging have helped me to rekindle that inner fire for the Church, service and mission, to reaffirm my vocation, to continue announcing the good news with renewed impetus.
As a pilgrim of hope, I rediscover how God surprises me in the challenges overcome, in the gifts I can share and in the strength I never imagined I would have. And the Augustinian Recollection is a “plus that takes you to more”, an intensity on the path towards the good for which we have been created, shared in a community of brothers, a reload promoted by the Holy Spirit that inflames restless hearts with love.
