The event coincided with the feast of St. Ezekiel Moreno whose remains are in the same convent of Monteagudo. The nine from Mexico, Brazil, China, Peru and Venezuela publicly promised, during the solemn and joyful liturgical celebration and in the presence of a big community, to live as Augustinian Recollects and observe the vows of religious life: poverty, chastity and obedience in community of brothers following the example of St. Augustine.
Efraín, Pedro, Francisco, Marcos and Carlito of the Province of San Nicolas de Tolentino; and Marino, Marlon, Reynaldo and Jeremías from the Province of San Jose, marched, following the Cross, toward the altar at exactly 17:30. They were followed by more than fifty Augustinian Recollect priests many of whom come from far places like, Costa Rica, United States of America, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela … At the end of the procession were the prior provincials of San Nicolas and San Jose, Javier Jiménez García-Villoslada and José Ramon Pérez.
After the homily the nine novices individually made their first profession of vows as Augustinian Recollects. Songs and Embraces
After the homily the nine novices individually made their first profession of vows as Augustinian Recollects. And as practiced in the Order of Augustinian Recollects, all the religious present in the celebration welcome the newly professed with a warm embrace. The acceptance of the newly professed into the community is always a moment of joy.
The choir of novices, directed by the master, Ricardo Mediavilla, made the moment more solemn and joyous with their songs appropriate chosen for the occasion. Madre mia, que estas en los cielos interpreted by the choir during the offertory and the thanksgiving song in Chinese rendered by Pedro, Francisco and Marcos together with the other Chinese-speaking religious, were emotion-filled and touched the heart of the assembly.
The Hymn to St. Ezekiel was sung to conclude the liturgical celebration and to accompany the participants as they marched out of the church to join the rest of the guests for a tentempié prepared for all.