Yesterday, September 27, 2024, the Assembly of Augustinian Recollect Nuns of Mexico concluded with a solemn Eucharist presided by Msgr.
Francisco Javier Acero, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Mexico, and concelebrated by Fr.
Jesús María Ramos Leza and Fr.
Gerardo Ruiz Murillo.
The Assembly, which brought together the prioresses and delegates of the federated monasteries, closed a cycle of reflection and important decisions for monastic life.
After the closing, we took the opportunity to interview Sister Olivia Hernandez Garcia, newly elected president of the Federation of Augustinian Recollect Nuns of Mexico.
Sister Olivia, originally from Tampacan, San Luis Potosi, shared with us her vocational journey and her vision of the challenges and opportunities facing the Federation.
“The Lord put me on the path to the Augustinian Recollect Sisters during an ordination to the priesthood,” Sister Olivia recounts.
“From that first encounter, I felt a strong call that was confirmed over time.
I entered the monastery in 1998, and since then, fraternity and the sense of being a sister have been the most life-giving experiences for me.”
During the Assembly, fundamental topics such as formation, vocation promotion, prayer life and the internal government of the monasteries were discussed.
“One of the most important moments was the revision of the updated Directory, in which we reevaluated the foundations of the most recent documents for contemplative life,” Sister Olivia explained, referring to Vultum Dei Querere and Cor Orans.
Currently, the Federation has 20 monasteries (15 in Mexico and 5 in other countries), and is composed of 202 sisters in solemn vows, 19 sisters in simple vows, as well as novices, postulants and aspirants.
This year, five new monasteries participated for the first time in the Assembly, strengthening the unity of the Federation.
About her election as president, Sister Olivia describes it as an unexpected but providential call.
“The day of the election coincided with the anniversary of the restoration of the convent in Puebla in 1905.
It is a beautiful reminder of how God guides us, as He did with Mother Guadalupe Vadillo, whose work allowed the 16 monasteries that today make up our Federation to flourish.”
What is the Federal Elective (Ordinary) Assembly?
It is the meeting of the Prioresses and a delegate of all the federated monasteries to elect the Federal President and her Council, together with the treasurer.
As well as to treat important matters that concern to the good walk of the monasteries.
This Assembly is held every 6 years.
Now the Cor Orans has marked us to have an intermediate Assembly every three years to analyze the tasks carried out according to the determinations taken in the Ordinary Assembly.
What are the topics that were discussed at this Assembly?
The topics to be discussed are: formation, vocation promotion, our prayer life, government, fraternal life, and finances.
On this occasion, it would be presented for review and approval of the updating of the Directory.
The latter seemed to me to be very opportune, since in making the revision, all those present were able to reevaluate the foundations proposed by the latest documents Vultum Dei Querere, Cor Orans, Formational Orientations of the Search for the Face of God and our Own Formation Plan, which will help us to complement our Constitutions, which we still need to update.
How was Father General’s presence at the Assembly?
The presence of our Father General at the Opening Mass left us with a taste of a brother, close, simple in his way of relating and sharing.
I believe that he left our confidence open to be able to approach him not only as Prior General, but from that experience of feeling him as a brother in our journey.
What is the role of the Federal President?
The function of the Federal President is to coordinate the monasteries in all that concerns the religious, human, intellectual and formative part in the federation; from the fundamental of our Augustinian Recollect charism.
As well as to create fraternal bonds between the monasteries and the Order.
The service is for 6 years and now we can choose to reside in the monastery to which I belong, only if the assembly does not agree otherwise.
What are the main challenges facing the Federation?
The challenges of the federation seem to me to be to create those fraternal bonds with concrete acts of the sense of a united family, not only among our monasteries, but that we can have more relationship and support among all of us who make up the Augustinian family, using our gifts.
One of these challenges is to take steps towards a joint renewal of our Constitutions, something necessary due to the new norms of the latest documents for the contemplative life.
What are your dreams for the Federation?
I dream that we will become a self-forming federation, where we all take responsibility for being and having prepared sisters to support each one of the sisters of the Federation in the different areas of our integral growth.
What would you ask of the Order?
First, to thank you for the closeness and support that you have given us, since part of what we have come to grow, have and be as nuns and federation we owe much to your assistance and advice that you have given us.
And this is what I would continue to ask for: support in everything that involves our spiritual, human and charismatic growth.
