After several intense days of fraternity and discernment in the Philippines, the Philippines y Saipanthe Prior General of the Augustinian Recollects, the Prior General of the Augustinian Recollects, Miguel Angel HernandezMiguel Angel Hernandez, has concluded his visit to Asia to embark on a new destination: Peruwhere he begins the visit of renewal to the communities of the Order. A time of encounter, listening and renewal that breathes fidelity and hope.
Rome – Monday, June 9, 2023 – Editorial Office Communications Office.
Philippines and Saipan: fraternity and renewal
The recent Provincial Chapter of the Province of St. Ezekiel Morenoheld in Cebu, Philippineswas the heart of this first stage of the Prior General’s journey. Days of review, prayer and election of a new government, in which Friar Miguel Ángel personally accompanied each step of the community discernment.
But his visit did not end there. Subsequently, he traveled to Saipanin the Mariana Islands, where the presence of the Augustinian Recollects is young and missionary. In Saipan, he shared daily life with the friars, visited the parish and celebrated the Eucharist with the local community.
“Traveling to Saipan was a gift. There, where there are few of us, the Gospel is proclaimed with the simple strength of fraternity lived with authenticity”, he commented after his return.
What is a renovation visit?
In the words of our Constitutionsthe renewal visitation has as its purpose:
“To know the state of the community, to confirm more fully the religious life and the charity and union among the brothers, and to correct possible abuses” (OAR Constitutions, 464). (OAR Constitutions, 464).
The Prior General – or his delegate – visits each province and community during his term of office in order to accompany, encourage and confirm the religious in their vocation. religious in their vocation. It is not only an administrative act: it is a time of grace time of grace to rekindle the first love, to live religious consecration more authentically and to renew missionary enthusiasm..
During the visit, there is a dialogue with the communities, a review of the spiritual, pastoral and economic life, and the friars are invited to back to the centerChrist and fraternal life in community.
From Asia to America: Peru visit begins
With hardly any rest, Friar Michelangelo has already embarked on a new journey. As of this Sunday, he is on his way to Peruwhere he will begin an intense visit of renewal in the communities of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova.
“I exchange the beaches of the Philippines and Saipan for the Andean mountain ranges; the heat of Asia for the cold of Peru”, he commented with humor before his departure.
Beyond the change of scenery, the Prior General emphasized the profound meaning of this new part of his service:
“I am happy because I am going to meet my confreres. It is an opportunity to learn from them and also to encourage them, encourage them, confirm them in their faith, vocation and mission”.
In his message, he emphasized that the renovation visit is not only to review, but also to to help to rescue the profound meaning of our existence, to fill with God all that we have been emptying of God, to recover the charm and enthusiasm of our first love, to sincerely seek holiness. .
An Order on the way
From the Philippines to Saipan and now to Peru, the Prior General continues to accompany the Augustinian Recollects in every corner of the world. accompanying the Augustinian Recollects in every corner of the world, strengthening communion and renewing the charismatic fidelity that defines us.strengthening communion and renewing the charismatic fidelity that defines us.
We pray that this time of visitation may be fruitful and continue to bear the fruits of renewed life, daring evangelization and authentic fraternity. renewed life, audacious evangelization and authentic fraternity..