The sisters will participate as the opening act on May 2 at the Forum de Valencia, before thousands of young people from across the country. The Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Heart of Jesus will be among those responsible for opening the Hakuna movement concert on May 2 at the Forum de Valencia (Venezuela), an event expected to gather nearly 10,000 young people. The sisters’ participation is presented as a privileged opportunity for evangelization through music and the testimony of consecrated life. We spoke with Sister Gracelia Molina, an Augustinian Recollect of the Heart of Jesus, to hear how they are experiencing this moment.
A Providential Opportunity to Evangelize Thousands of Young People
“We see this as a blessing from God,” says Sister Gracelia Molina, Augustinian Recollect of the Heart of Jesus. The Hakuna concert, known for its ability to draw large crowds of young people, becomes—in the words of the sister—an unexpected space where God opens paths.
“We hadn’t thought about it: not having them here, nor hosting them, and much less opening their concert. But God places us there to reach many young people who perhaps have never seen a religious sister,” she explains.
The event will attract young people not only from Valencia but from various states across the country, expanding the evangelizing reach of this participation.
“Missionaries of Joy”: Testimony Before Spectacle
The community understands its presence as a mission. “We are sent as missionaries of joy, missionaries of song, to bear witness to religious life, Augustinian spirituality, fraternity, and walking together in faith,” Sister Gracelia emphasizes.
Beyond the concert format, the objective is clear: to direct the encounter toward God. For this reason, they will perform, among other songs, Venimos a alabar al Señor (We Come to Praise the Lord), a hymn created specifically to spiritually frame these types of events.
“The idea is for all of us to understand that we are not there just to see a group sing, but to praise God and give Him glory,” she adds.
Evangelizing with the Voice: Music and Vocation
Previous experience confirms the evangelizing power of this ministry. This is not the first time the sisters have sung before thousands of young people.
“Many times we don’t say a single word about our congregation, but people approach us, ask questions, and vocations arise,” the sister relates.
This way of evangelizing, centered on beauty, joy, and authenticity, connects deeply with the world of youth.
A Mission in Obedience and with Great Community Effort
Participation in these types of events is neither improvised nor frequent. It is part of a community discernment and religious obedience.
“We do not go where we want, but where the Mother Superior considers we should go,” Sister Gracelia explains. The logistics are complex: it involves mobilizing several sisters, reorganizing the care of children at the nursery—where they look after 12 babies—and coordinating instruments, transport, and sound.
Therefore, the community prioritizes events with a high pastoral impact, such as this concert, where their presence can reach thousands of people.
Music Born of Faith and for Faith
The musical ministry’s repertoire is broad and dynamic, ranging from ballads to Latin rhythms like merengue, bachata, salsa, or cumbia, always with a single purpose: evangelization.
“Our music is born from prayer and community life. Everything we do is to praise God,” notes the sister, who also highlights that in the daily life of the community, they only listen to religious music.
For the May 2 concert, they are preparing a 35-minute presentation featuring medleys, original songs, and well-known hymns to facilitate audience participation.
A Previous Link with Hakuna
The relationship with Hakuna is not new. During previous visits to Venezuela, members of the movement have been hosted by the community, even participating in solidarity activities and moments of adoration.
This fraternal bond has facilitated the invitation and the selection of some of the songs the sisters will perform at the concert.
A Bond of Ecclesial Communion with Hakuna
The participation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Heart of Jesus in this concert is also a reflection of the ecclesial communion experienced with Hakuna. Their evangelizing proposal, centered on Eucharistic adoration, music, and friendship, has successfully connected with thousands of young people worldwide, generating an authentic dynamism of faith that transcends borders.
The Augustinian Recollect Family especially values this gesture of closeness and affection toward the sisters. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity provided to us, recognizing in Hakuna a shared path of mission. In many countries, both ecclesial realities coincide in the desire to announce Christ with joy, building fraternity and unity in the Church. We wish to continue walking together so “that we may all be one and love each other ever more.”
A Church Going Forth, Even on Stage
The presence of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Heart of Jesus at this event reflects a Church “going forth,” capable of meeting young people in their own languages and spaces.
Amidst the music, joy, and encounter, their testimony seeks to remind us of the essential: “we have come to praise the Lord.”
