A beautiful history for which “we rejoice and give thanks to God, for the life and work of so many brothers”. They are the words of Miguel Miró, Prior General of the Order, who presided the activities of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Augustinian Recollects in Costa Rica during the first days of December.
The festive activities started last December 2 in the gymnasium of La Ciudad de los Niños (Cartago). There a shared choral concert (Ana Musa and Coro Maravilloso) was held, with the interpretation of Christmas carols and other popular melodies, they filled the atmophere with joy and optimism.
December 4: A strong bet
Two days later all the friars, postulants, members of the Secular Fraternity, Christian Mothers of St. Monica, Recollect Augustinian Youth, benefactors and friends of the Order were convened in a Eucharistic celebration in the Parish of El Carmen of Alajuela. Presided by the Pastor of the Diocese, the Augustinian Recollect Angel San Casimiro. At his side, other three Bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio, Pierre Nguyên Van Tot, and the diocesan priest of Cartago, José Francisco Ulloa; and Mons. José Rafael Barquero, Bishop Emeritus of Alajuela. Around them, all the religious of Costa Rica and many others who came from Mexico and Spain.
After almost 40 years of stay in Costa Rica, 18 of them as Bishop, Mons. Angel was the most appropriate person to make a reflection on the role of the Order in this country. He devoted his homily to it, in which he bet for the “continuation and the strengthening of the presence and work until now accomplished, that is, the missionary and evangelizing work, the promotion and formation of native vocations, social works for the benefit of the children and the youth, the service of spiritual formation and vitality of the People of God.
The activities of December 4, ended with the presentation of the synthesis of the history of the Recollects made by Fray Jesús Ortega and with the awarding to Mrs. Mayela Salas the recognition as Hermana General (General Sister) of the Order. The Prior General, on speaking about Mayela, stressed “the nearness, the total and disinterested support, as well as her simplicity and affection for the friars in the different houses such as La Ribera, San Antonio de Belén, and above all, lately La Ciudad de los Niños.
December 5: Great challenges
December 5 coincided with the day of the Order, celebrating her 425 birthday. The Eucharist took place in the gymnasium of the House of Formation of San Ezekiel Moreno, in Pozos de Santa Ana (San José), presided by Father General. The homily of Miguel was in its totality an act of thanksgiving: above all, to God, but also to the religious, to the seminarians and to those in Costa Rica who collaborated with the friars in their work of service. He also made a clear appeal: “Let us profoundly experienced the joy of being loved, the joy of being Augustinian Recollect and the joy of having at every stage of life a mission, a specific way of being, of serving and of loving”.
And, with respect to the future of the Order in Central America, Miro was also explicit: “We cannot remain looking at the past and think that our mission has ended. Let us look toward the future with hope and responsibility. In this stage of revitalization and restructuration of the Order, in Costa Rica we, the Augustinian Recollects have also great challenges: to assume in our communities a common apostolic plan; the pastoral on vocation and formation is also a challenge. And, finally, another important challenge is offering to the youth of this country Christian formation and hope of living.
The identity that the Prior General had outlined was confirmed later by those who attended: the religious renewed their vows; and the more than 60 members of the Secular Fraternity who have managed to attend by being absent from their works, affirmed their promises.
After the Holy Eucharist, the academic presentation followed, which took place in the chapel of the Seminary. Fray Jesús Doncel, the most veteran of all, spoke first. With 47 years of stay in Costa Rica, Doncel, was almost able to live the early times and, as a witness and protagonist, he could outline here a historical summary, that of one who has suffered, embodied and loved this land.
He was followed by the Prior of the community of the House of Formation, Bernardo Cerda, the principal author of the book that was presented: 50 Años en Costa Rica. Agustinos Recoletos. 1963-2013, an album that tries to gather in all its color and photographical splendour the external characteristics of what is above all an internal epic. Free copies of the book were distributed to those who attended, although, in compensation, a voluntary donation is suggested destined for the victims of the recent disasters of the Philippines.
December 6: Basilica and City
A pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Patroness of Costa Rica, la Virgen de los Ángeles (the Virgin of the Angels), in Cartago was planned for the last day of the three-days activities. There, a third Eucharistic celebration was held, presided by the Prior Provincial of the area, Francisco Jiménez. He delivered a homily which followed the guidelines of the recent exhortation of Pope Francis. In his analysis of the present reality Jiménez stressed “the individualistic sadness” that threatens our world, against which he set up the Christian Good News that “we are not in the world of orphans”, but that we have a God who is compassionate and a Mother of Consolation.
From the sanctuary of Cartago, traversing a distance of four kilometres, they all moved to La Ciudad de los Niños (CDN), a model institution that the Augustinian Recollects manage since 1965. The first objective was to inaugurate the Nuevo Colegio Técnico San Agustín (New Technical College St. Augustine), which has been constructed and the facilities of which could be already utilized in the next school year. It was the Prior General who blessed them, after having pronounced some timely words of encouragement and congratulations. And, after lunch, both the journey and the 50th anniversary were brought to a close in the temple of the CDN, at the feet of Our Lady of Consolation, with a fraternal get-together among the JAR (RAY) and Secular Fraternity of the Ciudad.