Ten religious from seven countries have begun the Course of Immediate Preparation for Solemn Profession in Franca (Brazil). For over five weeks, they will delve into the spirituality, charism, and Augustinian Recollect life before pronouncing the definitive “yes” that will consecrate them forever to the service of God and the Church.
Ten young men prepare for the definitive “yes”
This July 27, the Course of Immediate Preparation for Solemn Profession began at the Seminary of Franca, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. This is one of the most significant stages of the formation itinerary of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. For five weeks, ten young religious will live through an intense time of discernment, prayer, and formation before taking their solemn vows, with which they will definitively consecrate themselves to the Lord.
The ten participants living this experience are Friar Luis Antonio Rosales Leal (Venezuela), Friar Randy Josué Campos Porras (Costa Rica), Friar Rodrigo Feitosa Linhares (Brazil), Friar Rey Jay Yu Quevedo (Philippines), Friar Luis Alejandro Martínez Caribana (Colombia), Friar Edgar Alexander Hernández Xuruc (Guatemala), Friar Jorge Carlos Racancoj Chaj (Guatemala), Friar Abelardo Batz (Guatemala), Friar Simón Mesa (Colombia), and Friar Andrés Toro (Colombia). Together they represent the intercultural richness of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and the universality of a vocation that transcends borders.
The preparation will conclude on August 29. After more than a month of prayer, community life, formation, and discernment, these ten young men will be called to pronounce the most important “yes” of their lives: solemn profession, through which they will definitively consecrate themselves to God within the family of the Augustinian Recollects. The Church and the entire Augustinian Recollect Family accompany them from now on with prayer, so that they may respond with generosity and joy to the call the Lord has made to them.
An experience to return to the heart
Far from being a merely academic course, this preparation seeks to offer an authentic spiritual and charismatic experience. In the welcome letter, the coordinating team reminds them that the objective is to “live, feel, experience, be restless, seek, and ground” their vocation, helping each participant build their life choice upon the essential pillars of the Augustinian Recollect charism.
The candidates will delve into fundamental aspects of religious life such as consecration, vows, interiority, community life, ecclesiality, pilgrimage, the social dimension of the mission, and the culture of safeguarding and care. Additionally, they will have personal accompaniment and will conclude the itinerary with several days of spiritual exercises.
A journey accompanied by the entire Order
The course is coordinated by an international team consisting of Friar Fabián Martín Gómez, Friar André Pereira, Friar Kenneth Joseph Llacuna Onda, and Friar Danilo Janegitz, along with other guest speakers who will address different aspects of the Augustinian Recollect identity. Planned activities also include a meeting with the Prior General and various sessions dedicated to the mission, the protection of vulnerable persons, and the solidarity work of ARCORES.
The preparation will conclude on August 29, after a month in which these ten religious will have shared life, prayer, and discernment before taking one of the most important steps of their vocation: definitively giving their lives to God as Augustinian Recollects.
