The latest statistics show the number of Augustinian recollects and the parishes that the Order administer almost remains the same: there are 196 communities and 184 parishes. The total number involve in the parochial ministry has the highest number, in which 475 religious work, almost half of the Augustinian recollects in the world. The coordinator and animator of this administrative arm of the of the Order is the General Secretariat of the Missions and Ministerial Apostolate.
Rome, May 11-16
The members of this Secretariat, convoked by its president, Jaro Gordillo, met together in the General Curia in Rome, from the 11th to the 16th of May. This was the second meeting since 2013. The prior general, Miguel Miro, was present in that meeting, who welcomed with gratitude the dedication of so many religious, and at the same time expressed the need to revitalize the pastoral life of the Order. “Proposals for the General Chapter have to be made that would define our way of guiding a parish work proper to that of as Augustinian recollects”.
The reflection was centered in three topics presented by the Secretariat: the so-called a parish in solidum, the transition from a pastoral of preservation to a pastoral of mission and new evangelization and thirdly, the importance and in the quality of preaching. For this purpose they counted on the help of known specialists as the canonist Daniel Medina, Augustinian recollect, and the professors Alvaro Granados and Sergio Tapia.
The recollect parish of today
In the light of this reflection, the actual state of the parishes of the Order was carefully examined in detail. First of all, the members of the Secretariat expressed their admiration for the efforts of many religious dedicated in the pastoral ministry. But this should not be taken as a hindrance to say once again to accept and acknowledge the need for everybody for a personal and communitarian revitalization. Without it, it is impossible in bringing real changes in the ministerial services.
The Secretariat also acknowledge the limitations that will make the parishes and missions of the Order suffer nowadays A pastoral which is not born from a community nor it is marked properly as an Augustinian recollect way. A pastoral disinterested in the youth and less committed in sharing responsibilities with the laity. A pastoral, which in the end, sins in its “self-reference”, for using the terminology loved by Pope Francis.
Far from being pessimistic, the participants of the meeting brought out as a challenge the call to break away from the old ways and creatively build an evangelizing and missionary parish.
For the future
Feeling challenged by the complain made by Pope Francis to the religious to awaken the world, the General Secretariat have adopted some compromises which should be implemented in view of the General chapter. He ask that in all the parishes a Parish Pastoral Council should function and that the parish priest should draw out a Parish Pastoral Project.
A Program of Formation to all the religious taken as a parish priest in solidum was also set up. Competent authorities are urged, that as far as possible, implant in some parish this way of administration.
Other commitments were more in the area of administration, although they are not meant to be taken of less importance. To start, for instance, a file with all its data, of all the parishes of the Order. Finally, the General Secretariat commits itself a fix date in providing all the parishes of various pastoral supplements, both general and specifically augustinian-recollect alike.