The archbishop presided in the Holy Mass that concluded the meeting of superiors in San Agustin, the house administered by the province of Santo Tomas located in Rio de Janeiro. In his homily he urged the 31 Augustinian Recollects to pave ways for the community “to be attentive to the voice of the Lord in his Word, to live it in their communities and bring it to the brothers, thus constituting them into missionary disciples.” Work was intense during the five-day gathering, with an average of four position papers everyday, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Two Augustinian Recollect bishops, Jose Luis Azcona and Jesus Maria Cizaurre, were among the lecturers. Others included the major superior of the province of Santo Tomas, Miguel Angel Hernandez, and the Augustinian Recollect religious Hugo J. Sanchez. There were speakers from other congregations, the Augustinian Pelayo Moreno and the Franciscan Juan Mari Illarduia.
Reflection
The “Service of Authority and Obedience” was treated by various speakers and from distinct points of view. Also discussed were the teachings of St. Augustine, the official documents of the Order (Rule, Constitutions, and related literature), and St. Paul. And more significant was the interaction among the 31 priors. They exchange views, shared experiences, most especially on how to animate the community, how to communicate, and how to mediate when there are problems and conflicts.