The religious sisters have concluded a first phase of study and updating of the constitutional text, which will now continue in a process of joint work with the Federation of Spain to prepare a common proposal to be presented to the Holy See.
The Federation of Augustinian Recollect Nuns of Mexico has taken a significant step in the process of renewal and adaptation of its Constitutions, a task driven by the Church’s guidelines for contemplative life contained in the documents Vultum Dei quaerere and Cor Orans. After several months of study, reflection, and community work, the sisters have concluded a first phase of preparation that will now continue in a synodal manner together with the Federation of Augustinian Recollects of Spain, with the aim of reaching a consensus on a single constitutional text that reflects the identity and charism of the Order and can subsequently be presented to the Holy See for approval.
This path of reflection and study arises in the context of the pontifical documents Vultum Dei quaerere and Cor Orans, which have prompted a renewal of female contemplative life throughout the Church. Based on these provisions, the Mexican Federation first began updating its Statutes and Directory and, subsequently, took on the task of revising and adapting its Constitutions.
The decision was approved during the VII Elective Federal Assembly held in September 2024, which established a working team coordinated by Mother Olivia Hernández García, federal president. Since then, the communities of the Federation have actively participated in an extensive process of study, discernment, and submission of proposals.
Work in communion
The process has involved the collaboration of all the monasteries of the Federation, which have reflected as a community on the different constitutional chapters in light of the recent magisterium of the Church and the Augustinian-Recollect tradition.
To accompany this work, the communities received various training presentations given by Augustinian Recollect and Augustinian friars, who delved into fundamental aspects of contemplative identity, fraternal life, formation, enclosure, and the Order’s own charism.
Likewise, the project has been developed in dialogue with the Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Friar Miguel Ángel Hernández Domínguez, who was informed from the beginning about the objectives and methodology of the work.
Fidelity to the charism and openness to current challenges
The study and drafting sessions were mainly held at the monasteries of Santa Mónica, in Puebla, and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Tecamachalco. The team in charge also had the accompaniment of the religious assistant of the Federation, Friar Gerardo Ruiz Murillo, OAR, as well as the collaboration of specialists who helped to deepen the understanding of both the Augustinian sources and the history of the Augustinian Recollects in Mexico.
The objective of this update is for the Constitutions to continue being a living instrument of identity for the Augustinian Recollect nuns, favoring a coherent experience of the charism in the current context of the Church and contemplative life.
Next steps
Once this first phase of preparation is concluded, the text will undergo a canonical review. Subsequently, joint work will be carried out with the Federation of Augustinian Recollects of Spain to prepare a final version that can be presented to the Holy See for approval.
The sisters have expressed their gratitude for the journey taken, lived as an experience of communion, study, and discernment, trusting in the action of the Holy Spirit who accompanies the life and mission of the Order.
