IV Provincial JAR Meeting: Youth, Mission, and Discernment for the Future of the Order
Manizales, Colombia. — From July 16 to 20, the San Agustín Major Seminary, located in the La Linda sector of Manizales, gathered delegations of young people from Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and the Dominican Republic within the framework of the IV Provincial Meeting of the Augustinian Recollect Youth (JAR).. Under the motto “Proclaim Christ wherever you can!”, the event solidified as a fundamental space for living out the charism and the pastoral projection of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria..
Deepening the Charism: Interiority, Transcendence, and Mission
During the agenda, the young people immersed themselves in a dynamic that integrated the fundamental pillars of Augustinian spirituality. Through various formative spaces and workshops, interiority was cultivated as a starting point for self-knowledge and a personal encounter with God, paving the way for transcendence through the Eucharist, vocational days, and adoration. .
Likewise, fraternity became palpable in the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures, reflecting the Augustinian ideal of having “one soul and one heart.” All this spiritual framework converged in the mission, the transversal axis of the meeting. Attendees were trained to be witnesses in daily life through workshops focused on JAR identity, solidarity, service, and the contemporary challenges of evangelization in the digital continent. . On Sunday, this call materialized in a day of direct mission with the local community, allowing the young people to share the fruits of their faith..
The Call to Coherence: Message from the Prior Provincial
In this context of profound formation and brotherhood, the prior provincial, Fray José David Niño Gómez, delivered a central message to the assembled youth, constituting one of the most relevant pastoral guidelines of the day. His words were a call to evangelical coherence, empathy, and charity in human relationships:
“We must learn to correct without humiliating, always walk with humility, and defend our points of view without harming the other person. Let us not lose joy and hope, for this makes us true Christians.”
Synodality in Action: Dialogue with the Pre-Chapter Commission
Another crucial milestone of the event was the working session dedicated to requests for the Chapter, which included the presence of the Pre-Chapter Commission, presided over by Fray Ángel Yair Córdoba.. This space for discernment and direct dialogue allowed young people from the four countries to express their concerns, hopes, and strategic proposals for the future of the Province.
The Order’s active listening underscores the importance of youth, recognizing them not as mere spectators, but as active agents of transformation within the framework of preparation for the upcoming 82nd Provincial Chapter.
The meeting formally concluded on Monday, July 20, with the Eucharist commemorating the JAR anniversary and the respective missionary sending forth.. The testimony of faith, reflections, and joy of these days have been documented on the official digital channels of JAR youth ministry in each of the participating countries, extending the experience of the meeting to the entire global community.
