Missions
Evangelization in nine mission territories
The Order of Augustinian Recollects has been missionary since its birth. She is currently responsible for evangelization in 8 mission territories, located in seven different countries: Brazil, Colombia, China, Cuba, Peru, Panama, Taiwan and Sierra Leone.
Since the origin of the Order of Augustinian Recollects at the end of the 16th century, the reform movement taking place in the Augustinian Province of Castile has pushed the new members of the OAR to spread the Gospel in missionary places. In 1605 they began their missionary work in the Philippines, the first mission of the Augustinian Recollects. A few years later, they moved to Japan. The first half of the 20th century was the period of greatest missionary expansion.
Cuba has been the last country where the Augustinian Recollects have started a new mission. Four Augustinian Recollect missionaries arrived in Antilla in February 2018.
A Mission Statute
Within the legislative arc of the Order, it has developed a Statute of Missions more particularly directed to the managers and to the missionaries themselves. It consists of 52 issues with doctrinal foundations, the identity of the Augustinian Recollect missionary and practical questions of missionary activity and missionary animation.
The Statute stresses the aspects already indicated in the Constitutions, and gives great importance to the personal witness of the missionaries’ lives, to the promotion of persons in an integral manner, to social commitment, to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, to cooperation and animation, to co-responsibility with the laity and to the important role of religious superiors in their support and determination.
The missions of the Augustinian Recollects
Prelature Lábrea in Brazil
The Augustinian Recollects began this mission on August 8, 1925.
It has been served by the Province of St. Nicholas of Toletino since November 19, 1979. It formerly belonged to the provinces of Santo Tomás de Villanueva and Santa Rita.
It has an extension of 230.20 Km2. Its population is 78,832 inhabitants.
There are currently three communities of Augustinian Recollects in Lábrea, Pauiní and Tapauá. In total there are eight Augustinian Recollect religious, who attend social actions and centers in support of children at risk of social exclusion.
Bishop: Mons. Santiago Sanchez, Augustinian Recollect.
Marajó Prelature in Brazil
The Augustinian Recollects began this mission on October 19, 1930.
It has been served since its inception by the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova.
It covers an area of 105,000 km2. Its population is 260,000 inhabitants.
There are currently three communities of Augustinian Recollects in the towns of Salvaterra, Breves and Portel. In total there are 11 Augustinian Recollect religious who are in charge of social actions and educational centers.
Vicariate of Trinidad in Colombia
The Augustinian Recollects began this mission on August 8, 1925.
Since its inception, it has been served by the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria. On October 27, 2000, it lost territory as it was divided into two jurisdictions: the Diocese of Yopal and the Vicariate of Trinidad. The latter continues to be served by the Augustinian Recollects.
It has an area of 27,075 km2 and a population of 65,000 inhabitants.
There are currently four communities in Trinidad, Orocué, Maní and Bocas del Pauto. In total there are 11 Augustinian Recollect religious supporting the pastoral work of the Order in this place.
Bishop: Mons. Javier Pizarro, Augustinian Recollect
Diocese of Shangqiu in China
It was entrusted to the Order of Augustinian Recollects on September 15, 1923.
The work has always been carried out by the Augustinian Recollect religious of the Province of St. Nicholas of Tolentine. The mission was created a Vicariate in 1937 and was subsequently declared a Diocese in 1946.
It has an area of 8,500 km2 and a population of 2,500,000 inhabitants, of which 20,000 are Catholics.
There are currently 15 religious supporting the pastoral work in the China mission.
Bocas del Toro Prelature in Panama
The Augustinian Recollects began this work in February 1964.
It is served by the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria. From its inception until 2018, it had been served by the Province of Our Lady of Consolation.
It has an area of 8,115 km2 and a population of 123,567 inhabitants.
There are three communities of Augustinian Recollects in Almirante, Changuinola and Canquintú. In total, 11 Augustinian Recollect religious support the pastoral work of the Order in the mission of Panama.
Bishop: Mons. Anibal Saldaña, Augustinian Recollect
Chota Prelature in Peru
It was taken over by the Augustinian Recollects on July 7, 1963.
It is served by the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. From its inception until 2018 it had been served by the Province of St. Joseph.
It has an area of 6,823 km2 and a population of 337,000 inhabitants.
The Augustinian Recollects have a community at St. Monica Parish, where there are four Augustinian Recollect religious.
Bishop: Mons. Fortunato Pablo Urcey, Augustinian Recollect
Kamabai Mission in Sierra Leone
It was taken over by the Augustinian Recollects on January 14, 1997. The religious had to abandon the mission several times because of the civil war. They all left on December 24, 1998, returning to Kamabai on April 8, 2004.
It has been served by the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno since November 28, 1998. It was previously served by the Province of St. Nicholas of Tolentine (1997-1998).
It has an area of approximately 150 Km2. The population is 15,000 inhabitants, although 4,000 of them are Catholics.
There are two communities of Augustinian Recollects. There are a total of five Augustinian Recollect religious in this mission.
Antilla Mission – Cuba
The Augustinian Recollects have been present in Cuba since February 17, 2018. This is the Order’s most recent mission.
It depends directly on the Prior General, as another community of the General Curia.
Four religious, who make up the only community, attend to the pastoral work in the parishes of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in Antilla; of Espíritu Santo, in Tacajó; and of Sagrado Corazón, in Báguanos.
