The St. Ezekiel Moreno House of Formation began operations in Madrid at the beginning of the 2023/2024 academic year. This new formation community, belonging to the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, currently has 19 religious, including 3 formators and 16 formandi coming mainly from Colombia and Guatemala.
Fr. Raul ReinosoThe Provincial Master of Professed explains that a house of formation is a community of the Province. The purpose of this program is the formation, growth and discernment of those friars who are preparing to become Augustinian Recollects. In this house, the religious are not only formed in our charism, but are also prepared in theological studies.
The decision to move one of the formation stages to Spain came during the last provincial chapter. According to Fr. Valerio BainesThe prior of the community, the location in Madrid was chosen because in Spain there are two more theologates of the Order and many joint activities. This initiative not only facilitates the integration of religious from different countries, but also promotes a more complete and diverse formation.
Fr. Valerio explained that in reality the story goes back some time… Some religious of the Candelaria Province wanted some of the stages of formation to take place outside Colombia. It was decided that the theology stage would be transferred to Spain so that the postulants from Colombia could also experience other cultures and ways of living the faith.
The cultural diversity of the formandi in this community is a reflection of the Province’s expansion into five countries. Jorge, from Guatemala, in his third year of profession, explained that his days are structured with times for prayer, Eucharist, studies and rest, and that The backbone is prayer, the meeting in the chapel, to thank God for bringing us together and to thank Him for life.
José, from Colombia and in his first year as a professed student, says that the experience is very pleasant. This is my first time living outside of Colombia, and it has been a great learning and cultural exchange experience. It has been a great opportunity to share, to receive and also to give..
Andrés Felipe, also from Colombia and in his third year of profession, shares his reflections on community life: We live in fraternity and that does not mean that we are saints, of course there are difficulties to understand each other, but that is precisely what makes the community rich. I compare this experience with the Lenten season: we could say that this has been our time of preparation for an Easter, which is the arrival of our brothers, being all together working and walking to receive them with joy.
The St. Ezekiel Moreno House of Formation is not only a space for personal and spiritual growth for the friars, but also a place where strong and lasting bonds are forged that transcend borders. As noted by the prior to the formation house, the community in Madrid thus becomes a symbol of the openness and willingness of the Augustinian Recollects to go wherever they are needed, living their vocation with an open mind and heart.
Likewise, Fr. Raúl Reinoso has concluded that sharing with other friars from different countries and provinces strengthens the sense of unity in the Order. The trainees realize that, although the formators are different, we share a common ideology. This opens their minds and allows them to understand the diversity of our province, enriched by different languages and cultures.“.
The Prior General inaugurated this new formation house on July 11, 2023. At the Eucharist that day, Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez encouraged the young people in this “opportunity for personal enrichment”.