Russell Lapidez is an Augustinian Recollect religious born in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, Mindanao (Philippines) in 1977. 
He was one of the founders of this new mission in the Order on the Asian continent, at a time of many difficulties due to the Covid19 pandemic. At present, the work of the Augustinian Recollects on the island of Borneo is carried out in the Parish of St. Augustine of Hippo in West Kalimantan.
“Their culture, therefore, is not only receptive to the Christian faith, but with these natural characteristics, their contact with the values proper to the Augustinian Recollect charism has been easy.”
Fr. Russell emphasizes how “Indonesian society is multicultural: each ethnic group is very different from the other. In Kalimantan, where we Augustinian Recollects are, the people have a very clear cultural orientation that gives great importance to the family. They also value very much other issues close to our way of being and acting, such as hard work or caring for the common goods. Their culture, therefore, is not only receptive to the Christian faith, but with these natural characteristics, their contact with the values proper to the Augustinian Recollect charism has been easy.”
The Augustinian Recollects have arrived in an area where the seed of the Catholic faith had already been planted in the hearts of the people thanks to the tireless work of the Dutch Franciscans. 
However, after years of clergy shortage, many faithful had become nominal Catholics, others joined different Christian denominations and some even embraced the Islamic faith.
“The situation began to change with the establishment of the Parish of St. Augustine of Hippo. Villages that had not been visited by a priest for more than five years now have a regular presence of clergy at least once a month,” says Fr.
This new dynamism has led to a remarkable return to the practice of the faith. Some of the faithful have returned from Protestant churches, while others, formerly professing Islam, have received the sacrament of baptism.
The faithful manifest a deep desire to receive spiritual nourishment. In addition, the formation of specific services and ministries, such as the accompaniment of young people and the creation of groups for adults, has facilitated the integration of the values of the Augustinian Recollect charism, centered on community life and the enrichment of personal interiority.
“The formative process will take time,” notes Fr. Russell. “But what really matters and what we are currently focused on is consistency.” This process of revitalization of the Catholic faith is still underway, in the hope of a future where Christian values will once again flourish in all their fullness.
