Under the motto, “OAR Volunteer, a committed role,” the participants were gathered at the Parish of Saint Rita (Madrid) with the purpose of sharing experiences, knowing other realities and, most especially, getting to know each other. The social work with the sick and their families in the CARDI of Mexico, the work with the minors in the Ciudad de los Niños of Costa Rica, the accompaniment of girls at risk of trafficking and prostitution of Hogar Santa Mónica in Fortaleza, Brazil and the African mission of Kamabai in Sierra Leone, have focused the dynamics on the solidarity role of OAR volunteers throughout the day.
The annual gatherings are open to all persons who are interested in volunteering for the projects and missions of the Augustinian Recollects far and wide. Moreover, these meetings are also an essential requirement for anyone who desires to take part in whatever solidarity projects of the Order. And these are also open to those volunteers who have already lived this experience in some social work of the Order since 1998.
Participants in the Gathering
The gathering is also an occasion for the volunteers and collaborators to receive the latest materials of the missions and social projects as well as the OAR Volunteer Guide, elaborated in 2009 and updated this year 2011. This document includes, among others, the general description of the Order of Augustinian Recollects; Spanish legislations on volunteerism of 15 January 2011; the profile of the OAR volunteer as well as a summary of their area of jurisdiction; the code of ethics of the organizations, the management cycle of OAR volunteerism; some important tips and various supplementary documents.