The Augustinian Recollect family celebrated its Jubilee pilgrimage to the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid with a multitudinous Eucharist presided by the Prior General, who invited the whole family to live in unity, gratitude and faithful dedication to the Gospel.
One heart, one soul… walking together
On November November 8thmore than 300 members of the Augustinian Recollect family – friars, nuns, sisters, lay fraternities, lay people, young people -friars, nuns, religious, lay fraternities, lay people, young people of the Augustinian Recollect Youth, students, teachers, parishioners and friends- gathered at the Royal Monastery of the Encarnación in Madrid to begin their Jubilee pilgrimage Jubilee pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena..
A symbolic and festive walk that expressed, step by step, the desire of the Order to “walk together” as the People of God. United by faith and the charism of St. Augustine, all the participants enthusiastically walked through the streets of the center of Madrid until they reached the Cathedral, where they celebrated the Eucharist commemorating the Jubilee.
A Eucharist that was a song of communion
The Eucharist was presided over by the Prior General, Friar Miguel Ángel Hernández, O.A.R.accompanied by more than 40 concelebrating priestsamong them Rodrigo MadridRodrigo Madrid, deacon of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, and with the presence of Fr. Aurelio Cayón Díaz, ss.cc.Aurelio Cayón Díaz, ss.cc., Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life in the Archdiocese of Madrid.
The liturgy was animated by the members of the Augustinian Recollect family, thus showing its diversity and richness. It was a deeply fraternal, ecclesial and gratitude-filled moment.
“We are not alone, we walk as a family.”
In his homily, the Prior General Prior General reminded everyone that “we are not alone. There are many of us who believe, who follow, who walk”. He affirmed that in this Jubilee year “we do not celebrate that we have fulfilled our religious duties, but we recognize that we are forgiven, healed, raised up by God”.
In a very direct message, he encouraged everyone to dream:
“Dream of a united family, dream of a servant Church, dream of an Order at the service of the Gospel.”
He also expressed his gratitude to those who have given their entire lives for the Recollection, recognizing especially the fidelity of those who have walked many years in the consecrated life. To the young people, he asked them to live their vocation as a gift:
“Be bearers of hope. May others be able to look at your life and find meaning. That in seeing you, others may hear God.”
A living testimony of the Augustinian Recollect charism
The day was a true celebration of the charism. Throughout the morning, it was possible to see how each generation and vocation contributed its own: the vibrant youth of the boys of the RAY, the serene experience of the elders, the dedication of the laity, the prayer of the religious, the dedication of the friars, the commitment of the educators. It was a true visible testimony of unity in diversity.
“Pilgrims of hope, disciples sent.”
This Jubilee meeting at the Almudena will remain engraved in the hearts of the participants as an expression of the synodality lived. The Augustinian Recollect family did not only go on pilgrimage to a cathedral: it made a pilgrimage to its identity, to its roots, to the shared Gospel..
And as the Prior General reminded us, “it doesn’t matter if you run, if you limp, if you can barely walk… the important thing is that you walk with others, that you walk with God”.