The Augustinian Recollect Youth of Peru celebrated with enthusiasm their first Mission and second National Camp 2025. The setting chosen for this significant experience was Chulit, a small town of Chota, in the region of Cajamarca, in the northern highlands of Peru.
The objective of this event was to mobilize all the JAR Centers in the country, strengthening the fundamental pillars of its charism. Under the motto “Pilgrims with hope”assumed by the Order for the year 2025, the organizers decided to merge the Mission and the Camp in a large national meeting, away from the capital.
The date chosen was the last days of January, coinciding with student vacations. The National Coordination of the JAR took on the logistical challenge of mobilizing eighty young people from Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Chota and Lima to this small Andean town. The planning took into account the challenges of the terrain, the extreme weather and the rainy season, making the event a success.
A meeting marked by community
Nature became an ally of the activity, giving sunny days that facilitated the missionary visits. The young people were organized in small groups led by an Augustinian Recollect or a JAR coordinator, going around the village to accompany the elderly and the sick. Another group was dedicated to the formation of children, transmitting the faith in a playful and close way, while a third team worked with adults in the local chapel.
The closing of the mission was marked by a festive Eucharist in the chapel of Chulit, built with adobe, wood and calamine. The celebration was presided by Fr. Nicolás Vigo, national advisor of the Augustinian Recollect Youth in Peru, who encouraged the young people to assume serious commitments with the Order, to opt for the values of the Kingdom of God and to continue the evangelizing work initiated by the Augustinian Recollects in the region since 1945.
An experience of fraternity and spirituality
In addition to the missionary dimension, the event fostered friendship and interaction among the young people of the five JAR centers in Peru, including Lima, which now has communities in Santa Maria Magdalena and Santa Rita de Casia. The methodology employed encouraged teamwork, breaking down localisms and strengthening the Augustinian community.
The natural environment also played a key role, offering peace and recollection, as well as a challenging setting that favored introspection. One of the most memorable moments was the nightly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, held outdoors and surrounded by the natural elements: air, earth, water and fire. The prayerful atmosphere was complemented by songs and music, creating a profound spiritual experience.
The coexistence was enriched with games, bonfires, gymkhanas, spaces for dialogue and a traditional peasant barbecue that closed with joy this first Mission and second National Camp of the JAR in Peru. Undoubtedly, a transforming experience that leaves a mark in the life of each participant and in the community that welcomed them.