The course was directed by Fr. Enrique Eguiarte, Fr. Jose Manuel G. Duran and Fr. Javier Acero. On the first day, after the greetings, Fr. Eguiarte invited all the participants to make an evaluation of the spiritual exercises and workshops on prayer with St. Augustine. Those present coming from different places (CEAR-Mexico, CEAR-Costa Rica, CEAR-Chihuahua) presented the activities that they have prepared, as well as the results gathered, all of which were extremely positive.
In the evening after praying the rosary, a day of reflection in silence started, as a chance to experience and put in practice a day of spiritual exercises.
Revitalization and Discernment
The second day of the encounter was dedicated in the reflection in silence, with the topic of the exercises for the year 2016, “Revitalization and Dicernment”. The day was also used for all the participants to live and experience an augustinian spiritual accompaniment, for them to have a first hand experience, and letting them offer within the augustinian exercises. In the afternoon was a conference, a well as the exercise of lectio divina by groups. Afterwards the Holy Mass was celebrated together with the prayer of the vespers, in order to conclude the day with the prayer of the rosary and the complines.
The morning of the third day, after the prayer of lauds, a communitarian exercise was made in one of the new workshops on prayer with St. Augustine, and this time the one which corresponds to the third volume. The day was dedicated in the presentation of the topic of Discernment in St. Augustine, with the dual purpose, not only in announcing the contents of the spiritual exercises for the year 2016, but at the same time for the trainers would also receive the Augustinian formation. In the afternoon, as what was done last year, the group transferred to the convent of the Augustinian recollects sisters in Cuernavaca to celebrate with them the Eucharist, and to be followed by later on with fraternal interaction.
The morning of the fourth day, was the celebration of the Mass integrated lauds. What followed was the continuation of the exposition of Fr. Eguiarte on Discernment of St. Augustine. He later on presented the new tool designed by the Team of Revitalization of the Order, that is, the Augustinian spiritual exercises in the day-to-day life. This treats of an instrument through which the augustinian exersices could be practiced all throughout the year, and not only within the dynamics of one week. Fr. Eguiarte commented the possibility of giving this new tool not only in printed form, but also through an application that could be downloaded in the different mobile media. In the afternoon an evaluation of the spiritual accompaniment was made and related with that a workshop was also made. The exercise was highly appreciated by all the participants. At the close of the day, after the prayers of the vespers, a supper and confraternization in the finca Centenario which is adjacent to the “Casa de la Recollection” was celebrated.
The last day of the encounter was again dedicated to the exercise of the workshops of prayer of St. Augustine. Afterwards the different groups met to coordinate the activities and program the spiritual exercises in each of the region. In the closing Mass of the encounter was the giving to the participants, for the first time, “the cross of the capacitador”, an Augustinian cross which would distinguish those who have undergone these workshops for trainers. After the fraternal meal, the participants returned to his different communities.
The participants of the course, religious and laity of the province of St. Nicholas of Tolentine from the ministries of Mexico City, Queretaro, Chihuahua, together with the three religious of the Province of St. Augustine, from Los Angeles, Califonian, USA. In the encounter were also present the Vicar of Mexico, Fr. Javier Acero, as well as the Assitant of the Augustinian Recollects contemplative nuns, Fr. Paco Legarra and two contemplative Augustinian recollect nuns of the monasteries of Morella and Cuernavaca, respectively.
This course is the seventh that is organized within the Order, to train the religious and laity in the giving of Augustinian spiritual exercises and workshops of prayer of St. Augustine. The next course will be in Spain, in Becerril de la Sierra , Madrid, from November 30 to December 4.