In August, the Augustinian Recollects started a collaboration with Hallowthe most downloaded Catholic application for prayer and meditation in the world. Within the framework of the Jubilee of the Young People in Romewe had the opportunity to interview Bryan EnriquezBryan Enriquez, founding member and Head of Customer Operations of Hallow, to learn first-hand about the history of the app, its mission and what this alliance means for evangelization on the digital continent.
A meeting at the heart of the mission
In the midst of the bustle of the Jubilee, between songs, prayer and encounters with young people from all continents, we sat down with Bryan Enriquez. His closeness and enthusiasm made us feel that Hallow and the Augustinian Recollects share something essential: the desire that everyone can meet Christ, wherever they are..
Bryan told us that Hallow was born in 2018 in the United States, fruit of the concern of a group of young Catholics who were looking for tools to pray faithful to the teachings of the Church. “We were going through times of crisis in our faith and we couldn’t find resources to help us pray according to what the Church teaches“, he recalled.
From this search, and after discovering the richness of the Lectio Divina and the Ignatian ExamenThe idea was born to create an application that would accompany people spiritually, offering content faithful to the magisterium and accessible from anywhere.
A history marked by providence
The conversation with Bryan was full of anecdotes that show how providence has accompanied this project. “If we have come this far, it is because of God“, he affirmed. “We started with an idea, and He has opened the doors.”
In a short time, Hallow went from being a small initiative to becoming the most downloaded Catholic app in the world, even reaching the number one spot in all categories in the App Store for 48 hours. One of its most visible moments was the announcement during the Super Bowl in 2023, a leap that brought its message to millions of people.
A home for Recollect evangelization
The collaboration with the Augustinian Recollects began this August and has already borne its first fruit: the novena to St. Ezekiel Moreno. novena to St. Ezekiel Moreno available on the app, a special prayer for those suffering from cancer and their families.
“We are happy to have the Augustinian Recollects join the Hallow’s family.“, Bryan told us. “Their spirituality, mission and closeness to the people greatly enrich what we want to offer.”
For us, Hallow has become a place where we a place where we feel at home to evangelize together, bringing our spirituality to the digital continentbringing our spirituality to the digital continent and accompanying those who seek God in the midst of their screens.
Technology and faith: a bridge for today’s world
Hallow’s experience demonstrates that technology, properly used, can be a bridge to prayer and an encounter with God. Bryan sums it up with clear conviction:
“Faith must be present where people live their day-to-day lives. Today, that includes the digital world.”
This vision fits with our commitment to reach every possible corner, recalling the words of St. Augustine: “Our heart will be restless until it rests in You”.
Looking ahead
The interview with Bryan Enriquez left us with the certainty that this is only the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. Hallow and the Augustinian Recollects want to walk together, joining efforts so that no one is left without the opportunity to encounter God, also in the digital continent.
Because, at the end of the day, the mission knows no boundaries… neither physical nor digital….