On the shores of Lake Albano, in front of Castel Gandolfo, a special meeting has begun: more than 50 Augustinian Recollect religious with more than 50 years of consecrated life are meeting in Rome to relive the history of the Order that they built with their dedication and to dream of the one they wish to bequeath to the younger generations. It is a meeting of living memory and shared hope.
A meeting of dreams born from the heart of the Order
Inspired by the prophecy of Joel – “your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (Joel 3:1) – the senior Augustinian Recollects have begun a meeting in Rome for ongoing formation.
ongoing formation
. From the 5th to the 27th of October, 55 religious between 70 and 89 years of age, coming from different parts of the world, gathered to look at their history, renew their vocation and offer to the younger ones the dreams they have kept in their hearts for decades.
They will take advantage of these days of encounter to be formed, to have moments of prayer and to win the jubilee together with the young religious of less than five years of solemn profession; the Augustinian Recollect Sisters, the Commanders of St. James and the lay people of the parish of Our Lady of Buenavista, in Getafe, Madrid, Spain, will also join this jubilee pilgrimage on the occasion of the Jubilee of Consecrated Life.
One stage, one content, one wisdom
This type of meeting is not the old “renewal courses” that brought together religious of different ages. As Friar Francisco
Francisco Javier Monroy
Francisco Javier Monroy, General Councilor and responsible for ongoing formation, this model is adapted to each stage of life:
“It is no longer a matter of simply renewing oneself, but of integrating the life lived, accepting it, sharing it and living the present moment with peace”.
The contents revolve around self-care, health, incarnated spirituality and acquired wisdom. The aim is to create a space for listening, integration and communion:
“Many had not seen each other for thirty or forty years. Here they meet, recognize each other, rediscover each other as part of the same shared history”.
Active religious, living witnesses
Although many are administratively retired, most of them continue to collaborate in parishes, schools and communities. Their retirement is not inactivity: it is
silent and fruitful dedication
like deep roots that support the tree.
The atmosphere of the meeting is fraternal, joyful, full of anecdotes and shared memories. The initial day was marked by dynamics of presentation, reflection in pairs and small groups, generating an atmosphere of welcome, gratitude and contemplation of the road traveled.
atmosphere of welcome, gratitude and contemplation of the road we have traveled.
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The history that builds the future
They have built the Order we have today, and we still need them,” says Friar Javier Monroy,
Javier Monroy affirms. We need their dreams to be carried forward by the young people… but they must be their dreams”, he adds.
Their biographies are intertwined with historical changes, distant missions, foundations, daily sacrifices and dedicated lives. To listen to their voices is to understand where we come from in order to know where to go. They are
living history
But they are not past history: they are the future in flames.
From Lake Albano to the heart of the Order
This meeting is part of the Order’s ongoing formation plan and the journey towards the Jubilee of 2025.
Jubilee of 2025
. On the shores of Lake Albano, where the beauty of creation accompanies the passage of time, the Augustinian Recollect family pauses to listen to those who, with their lives, have made our present possible.
to listen to those who, with their lives, have made our present possible.
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In the words of Scripture, this encounter makes it possible for prophecy to be fulfilled:
the young will be able to prophesy when they hear the dreams of their elders.
. And those dreams, shared with humility and joy, continue to build the City of God.