The actual name is “Saint Augustine”, yet for a long time, it was known by the Spanish form of its name, “San Agustín”. As the first city established in the United States, it is also home to the country’s first church, its first hospital, and its first tavern…
And today, this North American location is in vogue, as it prepares for the commemoration of 500 years since its foundation, on the day of Saint Augustine, on August 28, 1565, by Juan Ponce de León.
With a population of 13,000, the city is home to historically important colonial sites. It is located on the state of Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Separately, and on the opposite end of the country in the state of California, Saint Augustine is also in vogue these days, at least in the realm of the Augustinian Recollects. Near the city of Los Angeles, in Oxnard, a meeting that started on June 17 is being held and attended by the North American Province Chapter, also named after the Bishop of Hippo.
The Province
The Augustinian Recollect Province of Saint Augustine, isn’t quite fully staffed, nor is it that extensive. It is made up of 44 religious, of which 33 are priests. Among them is Monsignor David Arias, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Newark, New Jersey. Nine out of the ten ministries are located in the United States, largely along the West Coast, and only one is located beyond this region, in Mexico City.
Under the name and emblem of the Doctor of Hippo – even if for different reasons—a similar goal is being pursued on both coasts of the United States. “Find yourself in our past” reads the title of the official website for the city of Saint Augustine, a title that is further explained with: “this is a time to reflect on our past, and to look to the future… it is a prism through which we view not just the past, but also the future”.
The Recollect Province of Saint Augustine takes this on towards revitalization, taking the pulse of its life and ministry from the Augustinian Recollect charism and the orientation to a Hispanic Apostolate it took upon many years before. Upon conclusion of the due analysis of the reports to be presented and reviewed, the 21 representatives making up the Chapter will also have to project towards the future and propose necessary restructuring before the Province, particularly given its geographical spread throughout this vast North American region.