The Prior General of the Augustinian Recollects, Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández, highlights the vitality of the communities visited in the state of São Paulo and the involvement of laypeople in parish life.
Strong pastoral dynamism in the parish of Our Lady of Grace
The Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández, made a renewal visit on March 26 and 27 to the parish of Our Lady of Grace (Miraculous Medal), located in the city center and served by four religious.
This is a parish with intense pastoral activity and a constant flow of the faithful, where ongoing care is ensured in areas such as spiritual direction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Prior General especially highlighted the organization of parish life and the active participation of laypeople in the celebrations.
Ministers of the Eucharist, readers, psalmists, and choirs make it possible for each celebration to be carefully prepared and to have broad participation.
“I was very pleasantly surprised by the number of people involved in the different groups and movements,” he noted.
During the visit, Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández met with the Parish Pastoral Council, where he was able to listen freely to its members and appreciate firsthand the richness of community life.
Paraguaçu Paulista: a rural parish with great vitality
On Saturday, March 28, the Prior General traveled to Paraguaçu Paulista, a rural town in the state of São Paulo, where the Order serves another parish with numerous chapels both in the town and in rural areas.
Despite having only three religious, the parish shows notable pastoral dynamism and solid organization. The Prior General underscored the high participation of the faithful even in the earliest celebrations of the day:
“It is very significant to find more than one hundred people at the 7:00 a.m. Mass.”
Among the parish groups, he highlighted the vitality of the Augustinian Recollect Youth (JAR), one of the largest he has encountered in his visits to the Order’s communities, as well as the presence of the Mothers of Monica, with a strong presence in the parish.
Vibrant celebrations and abundant participation
One of the most striking aspects of the visit was the broad involvement of the faithful in the various liturgical ministries. The parish has many musicians, altar servers, acolytes, and masters of ceremonies, which makes it possible to celebrate solemn and participatory liturgies.
During Palm Sunday, which the Prior General presided over, this liturgical richness was especially visible, with a strong presence of altar servers and a community deeply engaged in the celebration.
“One does not feel alone: one is always well accompanied by so many committed faithful,” said Fr. Miguel Ángel Hernández, who spoke very positively of both the welcome he received and the witness of living faith in these communities.
The Prior General will return to the Provincial Curia of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanueva, where he will observe the Sacred Triduum.
