The 16th Chapter of the Province of St. Rita of Cassia, after approving all the decisions of the Project of life and missions of the Province, in November 12 elected as new prior provincial, for a period of four years, Nicolas Perez-Aradros.
The new provincial was born in Arnedo, La Rioja, Spain; he is 59 years of age and residing for 34 years in Brasil. He was first assigned in Tapaua, in the mission of Labrea, Amazons. He then resided in St. Monica Seminary, Sao Paulo; he served as parish priest in Castelo and Vitoria, in the state of Espiritu Santo. The last four years he served as prior provincial, with its residence in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo.
The work of the prior provincial with his council is to lead the Province in carrying out the Project of life and mission which the Chapter has prepared. To implement this Project, the work parted from a document based in the Project of Life and Mission of the Order and from the proposals of the religious. The primary objective of the new project of the Province is “Renew the Augustinian recollect vocation and revitalize with joy our communities in order to be an evangelical presence in our ministries”.
The relevant topics of the Chapter had been the cultural vocation, the initial formation, the fraternal life in community, the permanent formation and the profile of the Augustinian recollect parish in Brasil. In this last topic it was proposed to include in the Project of life and mission of the Province the apostolate that starts from the community, the missionary dimension of the parish and its collaboration with the mission in Labrea, Amazons, the option for the poor, the catechism, youth ministry, communications and formation of the laity.
November 13, the feast of All the Saints of the Order, the Chapter chose four councilors who will collaborate with the Prior Provincial. And it was concluded with the Holy Mass presided by Fray Nicholas, which, in his homily, reminded how the decisions were made in view for the good of the communities and its evangelizing mission. He emphasized the importance of sanctity, which consists in living in charity: for over and above the norms, is the love in the community and solidarity with the poorest.