Fray Miguel Ángel Hernández, Prior General of the Augustinian Recollects, begins the renewal visit to the communities of Guatemala, where he wishes to share the life of the religious, listen to them, and encourage them in their mission.
The Prior General of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, Fray Miguel Ángel Hernández, began his renewal visit this September 15 to the communities of Guatemala, belonging to the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria.
This is the second time that Fray Miguel Ángel has visited the Central American country. The first was in 2023, during a fraternal visit that allowed him to get to know firsthand the presence of the Augustinian Recollects and some of the ministries they accompany in Guatemala.
On this occasion, he returns with a purpose specifically linked to the meaning of renewal visits: to meet with the religious, share daily life and prayer with them, listen to their concerns and difficulties, and encourage them in their vocation and mission.
“Approaching barefoot to listen”
For the Prior General, the personal encounter with the brothers constitutes the heart of these days.
“Meeting with the brothers is always something beautiful, lovely, wonderful. Sharing moments of prayer, experiences, expectations, dreams, and difficulties,” explains Fray Miguel Ángel.
An experience he summarizes with an especially significant image: “Approaching barefoot, so as not to step on anything, so as not to cause harm. To listen”.
Precisely that listening will be one of the axes of the visit. “I believe that is what renewal visits are about: listening to the brothers, so that they feel heard,” he points out.
Alongside listening is also the desire to accompany and encourage: “To encourage them in their religious life, encourage them in the difficulties they may be facing, and try to transmit a little bit of hope and confirm them in our identity as Augustinian Recollects.”
Four communities and a deeply rooted faith
The Augustinian Recollect presence in Guatemala is made up of four communities, distributed between Guatemala City, Totonicapán, and Quetzaltenango.
In the capital, one of the communities carries out its mission centered on formation, education, and parish ministry, with the seminary, the school, and the parish. Another community serves the parishes of Saint Jude Thaddeus and Saint Mary Goretti.
The Prior General especially highlights the vocational reality he finds in the country and links it to a faith that continues to be part of the daily life of numerous families.
“Guatemala is experiencing a vocational boom,” he affirms, while highlighting the presence of numerous Guatemalan religious sisters in communities in different countries. In his view, this reality is born from a faith “deeply rooted in the people”: “A simple, popular faith, but a faith that is lived in the family and that transforms people’s lives”.
Today I begin the renewal visit in Guatemala, starting from the St. Augustine Postulancy. I am happy to meet those who are beginning to respond to the Lord’s call. I pray that they never lack the joy of following Christ and the desire to serve the Church.#AnunciadACristo pic.twitter.com/HVlnyOHJSM
— Miguel Ángel Hernández (@PriorGeneralOAR) September 15, 2026
One of the highlights of the visit will be the time spent in Totonicapán, a presence that Fray Miguel Ángel considers especially significant for the history and current mission of the Order.
“Totonicapán is one of those emblematic places of the Order, places that we should protect, that we should care for,” he assures. The Prior General recalls with admiration what he experienced there during his previous stay: “Faith revolutionizes everything, it invades everything. It is present in the life of that people and in everything they do”.
His stay will also coincide with the beginning of the celebrations in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron saint of Totonicapán, which will allow him to participate in one of the most deeply rooted expressions of religiosity in the town.
The visit will also include Quetzaltenango—popularly known as Xela—where the Augustinian Recollects serve the Holy Family parish and various communities. Currently residing there as well is Monsignor Mario Molina, Archbishop Emeritus of Los Altos, Quetzaltenango-Totonicapán, together with the religious community.
During these days, the Prior General will visit the different Augustinian Recollect presences with a priority that he himself synthesizes in three verbs: listen, encourage, and accompany. A path to approach the reality of each community, share their dreams and difficulties, and renew together their Augustinian Recollect hope and identity.
