During the capitular sessions, after having approved the order of the chapter, the prior provincial and the vicars make reports about the status of the province in each of the proposed themes, and an elucidation of the theme is made based on Biblical, Augustinian and magisterial texts. The Chapter is designed to be an opportunity of renewal for the whole province. The themes to be addressed are the following: consecrated life, spirituality, renewal and charismatic identity, common life and community life, pastoral care for vocations and formation, apostolate, other services of the province, the Augustinian Recollect family, implementation of the ordinances.
Commissions
For the study of the themes and preparation of the guidelines for the next triennium, the following commissions have been formed: spirituality, initial and continuous formation, pastoral care for the youth and vocation, education apostolate, ministerial, missionary and social apostolate, governance and economy.
Following the approved order of the chapter, after the approval of the guidelines for the next period, the election of the prior provincial and council follows.
On July 6, thirty religious participants had a recollection directed by Jose Ramon Perez, prior provincial of the Province of Saint Joseph, who highlighted the importance of the chapter being celebrated within the celebration of the Centenary of the Restoration of the Province, and he invited to live this event from the paschal perspective, commenting on the words of Cardinal Pironio: “A chapter is always a paschal celebration. For this reason, it must be situated within the essential context of the Paschal mystery; with everything that the Paschal mystery has of the cross and hope, of death and resurrection. A chapter is not a simple gathering with the purpose of studying, a superficial encounter or a transitory revision of life. It has a great dimension of paschal- novelty, of new creation in the Spirit, and of firm and committed hope. The whole chapter has to impart a new sense of freshness in the Church, a good dose of paschal optimism. If the chapter has been celebrated well, in the spirit of poverty, prayer, fraternal charity, it is always a recreation of the Institute what allows its spiritual wealth overflow into the Church and the world.”