The Team of Revitalization of the Order (TRO) (ERO) was formed at the start of the month of April in order to promote the spiritual accompaniment and theological formation in the Augustinian style. Two of its fronts of action are the spiritual exercises and the prayer workshops, and its first activity is the formation of the teams of multipliers in the different areas of the world. These teams composed of male religious, female religious, laymen and laywomen, are undergoing intensive training for a period of one week, with the use of materials provided them by the TRO (ERO) . It is not so much a question of study, but of willingness first; the materials and techniques, important as they are, will come later.
Acceptance
The Course in the Philippines took place between October 28 and November 1 with the attendance of religious, sisters, and lay members of Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity and Augustinian Recollect Youth also coming from Taiwan and Sierra Leone. That of Mexico took place from 4 to 8 of November with the presence of students from Panamá, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
In the course in Colombia, held in the Desierto d la Candelaria, 43 persons attended (religious, sisters and lay). The number of participants in two batches, Philippines and Mexico, was somewhat inferior, 31 and 32 persons respectively.
Identical Dynamics
Group of Messico All have followed the same scheme, with negligible variations. It started with the presentation of the participants, followed immediately by the giving out of especially prepared materials. The language has differed (English or Spanish), but the materials are common for the entire Order, specifically dedicated to the theme of next year 2014: ‘Revitalization, Community and Fraternal Life’.
The main course which had to be tested personally, was the practice of the spiritual exercises. To do this, one course in the Philippines and two in Mexico were devoted to the attentive listening to talks, strict observance of silence and the prolonged prayer before the Blessed Sacrament were held. This strong experience was then placed in common, submitting it to the evaluation of all and receiving suggestions from all.
When the phase of the spiritual exercises had concluded, another session was spent dedicated to the practice of prayer workshops, which ended with the corresponding evaluation and suggestions. And, finally, in the two instances the last day was spent in forming the teams and formulating strategies which will be helpful in organizing later the batches of exercises in different areas. The more than 100 leaders who have attended these courses will be the ones in charge of taking care of the communities and fraternities of their respective countries.
The general impression of the participants has been one of satisfaction. Friars, sisters and lay have felt being placed in the context of the revitalization of the Order and have felt motivated to lend a hand to this fundamental task of spiritual renewal. But what inspires them more to this is the most positive balance that they are having spiritual exercises in places where in fact they have been done: Italy (Rome), Spain (Salamanca), Filipinas (Cebú) and Mexico (Cuernavaca).
Madrid and Rio
Group of the Philippines The course in Brazil will be between 25 and 29 of November, en Rio de Janeiro, and will be coordinated by Carlos María Domiguez with the logistic collaboration of Hector Manuel Calderon. Religious of the Province of St. Rita and the Prior Provincial; religious of the Vicariate of St. Thomas of Villanova, together with the Vicar Provincial; the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters, plus a group of lay people, will attend – a total of 27 persons.
The course in Europe will be held from December 2 to 6, in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid, Spain) and it will be given by Enrique Eguiarte and Carlos Maria Dominguez. Religious and lay members of the four Provinces present in Spain, in addition to some members of the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters will attend. Several members of the General Council will come from Rome. There will be a total of 31 persons. All of them will join the communities of Madrid in the Commemoration of the Day of the Order on December 5, in St. Rita Parish.