The Augustinian Recollects arrived at Coro, in the Venezuelan state of Falcon, on the 17th of July 1899, but they had to leave on the first days of October 1906, returning definitively on the 15th of February 1912. Among the last religious who arrived was Blessed Julian Moreno. The religious have worked much before and now, in this beautiful colonial city and first Venezuelan diocese.
The afternoon mass on June 13 gained a special importance with the presence of the Archbishop of Coro and ten Augustinian Recollects presiding the solemn celebration. The superior of the Province of Saint Joseph, Jose Ramon Perez, delivered a homily full of memories, sentiment of gratitude and recognition towards the faithful of Coro. He ended his homily by reading an official letter coming from the Provincial administration, through which the parishes of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony, the chapels of Sierra Coriana, the residences annexed to the parishes, the liturgical vessels and other equipments are handed over to the Archdiocese. The friars who have worked on these areas were remembered. The same thing happened some years ago with the ministries of Puerto Cabello.
Sadness and Gratitude
The act of thanksgiving started on June 5 in the celebration of the Eucharist presided by Msgr. Roberto Lückert. Twenty priests, three deacons and a good number of acolytes accompanied the Archbishop in the entrance procession. Two sentiments prevailed in the spirit of Archbishop Lückert: sadness and gratitude. The Augustinian Recollects were leaving Coro, a reason to be sad. The same Augustinian Recollects had generously and untiringly worked over a hundred and ten years for the Church of this city and region, and it merits gratitude.
The act of thanksgiving started on June 5 in the celebration of the Eucharist presided by Msgr. Roberto Lückert. More goodbyes
On June 11, feast of the Heart of Jesus, the Augustinian Recollect Sisters founded by Blessed Mary of Saint Joseph, present in the Casa Hogar Nuestra Señora de Coromot, rendered a heartfelt tribute to the Augustinian Recollects, with songs, speeches, gifts and fraternal meal. In the afternoon, Msgr. Lückert, with the Augustinian Recollects, a good number of diocesan priests and some religious of the neighboring Salesian community, presided the Eucharist in the Parish of Saint Francis with the end of turning over the parish to the diocesan clergy.
In the morning of Saturday, the communities belonging to the Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua rendered a tribute of thanksgiving and farewell to the Augustinian Recollects. They organized a solemn celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Augustinian Recollect vicar, Ricardo Riaño. The last two parish priests, Manuel Lerena and Jairo Servitá were also present. At the end of the celebration, a plaque was given, similar to that of the Parish of Saint Francis, which expressed the gratitude of the faithful toward the Augustinian Recollects for their centennial presence in this city.