More than 400 teachers from 49 Augustinian Recollect educational centers participated in the VI EDUCAR Encounter which, for the first time, was held virtually.
The Augustinian Recollect International Educational Network EDUCAR celebrated from November 3-5 its VI EDUCAR Encounter with all the educational centers of the Augustinian Recollect family. More than 400 teachers from 13 different nations participated in the meeting which, for the first time since its first edition, was held virtually. For three days, in three-hour sessions and divided into working groups, the participants contributed their impressions in the areas of pastoral ministry, social work, pedagogical bases, the educational project, the Model for the Evaluation of the Management of the Augustinian Recollect Charism and the work of the EDUCAR Network itself.
In order to facilitate the participation of all the teachers, the Encounter was divided into three phases. The first phase, the local phase, was a preliminary preparation in each center and was carried out until October 15. The second, the regional phase, until October 31, with the regional teams of the International Educational Network. The third and final phase, the international phase, was held from November 3 to 5 in working groups on six themes. The meeting laid the foundations for the educational work of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, advancing and facing some of the challenges that the educational centers have to face. This VI EDUCAR leaves five relevant ideas.
1⃣ The Institutional Educational Project of the Order of Augustinian Recollects has been assumed in the educational centers and there is interest in continuing to deepen the identity proper to the educational centers. The Augustinian Recollect education has its own characteristics that must be present from the entrance. to the exit of each educational center.
2⃣ Little by little the richness of the Augustinian pedagogical proposal is being rediscovered, for which it is necessary to establish guidelines for the initial and ongoing formation of the teaching staff.
3⃣ The MEGCAR – Model for the Management of the Augustinian Recollect Charism – is a good tool for evaluating the impact of the Augustinian Recollect charism in the management and processes of educational centers.
4⃣ The evangelizing and social dimension are two proper and inalienable facets of the educational centers of the EDUCAR Network. There are many initiatives and enthusiasm to continue strengthening them, in collaboration with other institutions, such as ARCORES, at the local, regional and international levels.
5⃣ The Augustinian Recollect International Educational Network EDUCAR is giving a great impulse to strengthen communication and joint projects among the educational centers of the Augustinian Recollect family. It is necessary a revision of the internal structure and an official and operative recognition from the different instances of the Order.
