The first event on the program of the 50th anniversary festivities was the consecration of the Church of Our Lady of Consolation of the institution. Consecrating bishop was the Augustinian Recollect Joaquín Pertíñez, bishop of Río Branco, Brazil. Also present were the Augustinian Recollect prior general, Javier Guerra, and the prior provincial of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Province, Rafael Mediavilla.
The solemn consecration of the altar and the church took place during the Sunday Eucharist of 9 November. After the homily came the singing of the litany invoking the saints’ protection, followed by the anointing of the altar and the four crosses of the temple. The temple’s naves crosses and walls were incensed. Finally, the altar was clothed for the Eucharist and lights and flowers were placed around it.
During the consecration itself, before the final blessing, the prior general gave to Gerardo Martí, author of the sculptures in the church, a document recognizing him as Brother General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects.
Congress on Ciudad de los Niños
On November 11 and 12, a preparatory congress was held. There were lectures and round-table discussions for the students as well as the workers and personnel of the institution. A historical conference, which was graced by the presence of major superiors and other religious, also reviewed the institution’s past.
A new group sculpture made by Gerardo Martí was unveiled. It consists of four pieces mounted on a fountain of different levels and represents the work of the Augustinian Recollects with the children, adolescents and youth of Costa Rica.
After the hoisting of the flags, a youth orchestra gave a concert at the gym. There were also fireworks.
Activities for the historic feast included the blessing and inauguration of the institution’s church, a congress, the unveiling of a group sculpture and a solemn Eucharist participated in by civil and religious authorities. Celebration of the 50th anniversary
On November 13, at 8:30 in the morning, the siren sounded announcing the feast. At 9, the civic rites took place with the presence of the Tom Kennedy, UK Ambassador to Costa Rica, and authorities coming from Cartago, such as Representative Francisco Marín, municipal president Adrián Leandro and mayor Rolando Rodríguez.
Almost the entire Costa Rica bishops’ conference was present: José Francisco Ulloa, bishop of Cartago; Hugo Barrantes, archbishop of San Jose, and president of the conference; José Rafael Quirós, bishop of Limón; Oswaldo Brenes, bishop of Ciudad Quesada; Oscar Guillén, bishop of Puntarenas and Ángel San Casimiro, Augustinian Recollect bishop of Alajuela, who preached the homily. Also present were the Apostolic Nuncio in Costa Rica Pierre Nguyen; the Augustinian Recollect bishop of Río Branco Joaquín Pertíñez and the bishop emeritus of San Isidro de El General, Ignacio Trejos.
The prior general de la Order, prior provincial and vicar of Mexico and Costa Rica were joined by other Augustinian Recollects coming from Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain, as well as other religious and priests from the area.
The solemn Eucharist started at 11 in honor of All the Saints of the Order and in thanksgiving for the 50 years of Ciudad de los Niños. The faithful filled the church to overflowing: volunteers, collaborators, former employees, secular fraternities of Costa Rica and friends of Ciudad de los Niños. Afterward, the prior general of the Order and the Apostolic Nuncio handed over the blessing of Pope Benedict XVI to the director of Ciudad de los Niños. The prior provincial also sincerely thanked those present.
After the celebration, the gym accommodated some 800 persons for breakfast. Providing the musical background were the marimba of the institution’s students and a mariachi. The students gave their youthful mark by dancing pasa-pasa and other numbers.