The Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Friar Miguel Ángel Hernández, has shared his impressions after concluding the renewal visit carried out in Brazil, an experience that allowed him to travel for more than a month and a half through the communities in the southeast and northeast of the country.
Friar Miguel Ángel Hernández values the leading role of the laity
The visit included twelve communities and, as the Prior General explained, it represented “an ecclesial experience, an experience of the Order, and a human experience,” marked by close encounters with religious members, the laity, and the various pastoral and social realities that the Augustinian Recollects develop in Brazil.
A living and participatory Church
One of the aspects that most caught the Prior General’s attention was the intense participation of the faithful in the liturgical life of the communities.
“The influx of people at the celebrations was surprising. All the Eucharists are very well attended, even on weekdays and at the earliest times,” he stated.
For Friar Miguel Ángel, one of the great characteristics of the Brazilian Church is the leading role of the laity, a reality that he also considered a challenge for the Order: “I believe that one of the great challenges we have is precisely to accompany that leadership.”
Educational and social works with a strong presence
During the tour, the Prior General was able to learn firsthand about various educational and social works promoted by the Augustinian Recollects, whose presence he described as an “immense wealth.”
Among them, he highlighted the Augustinian Recollect schools “with great prestige and tradition,” as well as highly relevant social projects such as the Santa Mónica Polyclinic, the LAR Santa Mónica, and the Creche Santa Rita de Vidigal.
These initiatives are part of the Order’s evangelizing and social commitment in Brazil, especially in contexts of vulnerability and exclusion.
Growth of Augustinian movements
The Prior General also emphasized the vitality of the movements linked to the Augustinian Recollect charism. During the visit, he was able to meet with various lay realities that “are very much in vogue and very strong.”
Among them, he mentioned the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternities, the Saint Monica Christian Mothers, some CEAR groups, and the organizational process of ARCORES Brazil. Likewise, he highlighted the work carried out by the RAY (Augustinian Recollect Youth) in different parts of the country.
“It is beautiful to perceive the great identification that the Brazilian people have with our Augustinian Recollect charism,” he noted.
An experience of listening and learning
Beyond the institutional and pastoral activities, Friar Miguel Ángel valued the close dialogue maintained with the religious members of the visited communities.
“It allows you to sit down and talk with the brothers, let them open their hearts, so that in confidence they can express what they feel, what they live, what they experience; to talk about their dreams and also their disappointments,” he expressed.
The Prior General concluded by stating that these visits also represent an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth: “It is always beautiful to be able to welcome all that wealth that the brothers deposit in one. For me, it also remains a learning process that never ends.”
