The Province

The Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, the first in America, was founded in 1604 and continues to proclaim the Gospel with the Augustinian Recollect charism. With a legacy of mission, education, and parishes, we walk renewed, serving in five countries.

Origin

Our history in America began in 1604, when the Recollect life took root in the desert of La Candelaria, in Ráquira. There arose a movement born from the heart of the continent: simple, profound, and eager to live the following of Christ with greater interiority.

Over time, this seed spread to Cartagena and Panama, and eventually fully joined the Recollect movement of Castile, forming a single family that walked with the same desire for evangelical radicalism.

Our mission

Today we remain committed to evangelization and human development, serving wherever the Church needs us. Our work unfolds in the missions, bringing hope to the peripheries; in education, forming new generations in Augustinian values; and in our parishes, closely accompanying the life of faith of our communities.

Throughout the centuries we have learned to respond to each challenge with resilience and renewal. We overcame difficult times guided by the firm faith of figures such as Saint Ezekiel Moreno, who promoted our restoration and reminded us that the vitality of the Order is born from being faithful to our origins and from always renewing ourselves from the Gospel.

Coat of Arms of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria

Structure

The provinces help the Order to organize itself better and to live its mission with greater unity. They are not buildings or structures, but the religious who, from different parts of the world, live and serve the people of God. Thanks to them, the Augustinian Recollect family maintains the closeness, communion, and shared mission that unites us as one body.

The Province of Our Lady of Candelaria is one of those living roots of the Recollection. Today it is present in Colombia, Spain, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, accompanying communities, proclaiming the Gospel, and serving with the spirit proper to Saint Augustine: with simplicity, interiority, and fraternal love.

Prior Provincial

The Prior Provincial is a father, teacher, and brother to all the religious of the province. His service does not consist of commanding from above, but in walking first, guiding with humility, prudence, and love for the Order. The word prior—from the Latin prior, prius, “the first”—expresses just that: whoever goes ahead to serve and accompany.

The Prior Provincial presides over and animates the life of the entire province, assisted by his council. His mission is to promote unity, care for religious life, accompany each brother, and ensure the constant renewal of the province. The Constitutions indicate that he should be distinguished by his prudence, spiritual life, love for the Order, and his capacity to organize and serve with dedication.

During his service, the Prior Provincial listens to the brothers, discerns destinations and missions, promotes vocational ministry, and especially cares for initial and ongoing formation, as the future vitality of the province depends on it. He is also responsible for maintaining communion with the Order and with the Church, ensuring that the life of the province always reflects the Gospel that we proclaim.

Fray José David Niño Gómez, Prior Provincial.

He was born in San Mateo, Boyacá, Colombia, on March 4, 1961. Son of Deogracias and Rosa Angélica. He completed his primary and secondary studies at the Colegio Agustiniano Norte. In 1982 he finished his philosophy studies at the Seminario Mayor Filosofado de Manizales. He began his novitiate in the Desierto de la Candelaria in Raquirá, Boyacá on June 28, 1980, and made his simple profession in the parish of La Consolación on July 12, 1981. In 1985 he finished his Theology studies at the Seminario Mayor Teologado de Suba, there he made his solemn profession on January 12, 1985, and was ordained a priest in the parish of La Consolación on July 12, 1987. He completed theological specialization studies at the Gregorian University of Rome, where he obtained a degree in dogmatic theology. Since the moment of his priestly ordination, his positions have been:

Collaborator at the Colegio Agustiniano Norte 1987; Vice-master of postulants at the Seminario Mayor Filosofado 1989; Master of professed at the Seminario Mayor Filosofado 1990; Member of the Secretariat of Vocations and Formation 1990; Local Prefect of studies at the Seminario Mayor Teologado 1990; Subprior and master of professed at the Seminario Mayor Teologado 1993; Local Prefect of studies at the Seminario Mayor Teologado 1994; Professor at the Seminario Mayor Teologado 1994; Parochial Vicar of the Parroquia Our Lady Pilar Santa Ana, California 1994; Parochial Vicar of the Parroquia St Augustin Lamont, California 1994; Parochial Vicar of the Parroquia San Marys Fullerton, California 1995; Parochial Vicar of the Parroquia Our Lady Pilar Santa Ana, California 1996; Professor at the Seminario Mayor Teologado 1997; Provincial Secretary of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria 1997; Prior of the Convento Desierto de la Candelaria 1998; Member of the Secretariat of Economy 2001; Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria since 2001; positions in which he was re-elected in 2005; Local Prior in the Templo de la Candelaria, Bogotá, 2009; Local Prior and Parish Priest of the Inmaculada Concepción parish, Suba, 2013; Prior of the Convento Santa Cruz de la Popa in Cartagena, 2019; on November 13, 2022, he was appointed Prior Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, a position he currently holds.

Provincial Curia

The Provincial Council is formed by the Prior Provincial and four councilors. Together they have the mission of animating and guiding the life of the province, faithfully applying the Constitutions and the decisions of the Provincial Chapter, always at the service of the common good.

The provincial councilors accompany the Prior Provincial and put the gifts that God has entrusted to them at the service of the province. They stand out for their prudence, spiritual life, and love for the Order. They not only help in government decisions, but also sustain the life of the communities, coordinate the provincial bodies, and collaborate in the organization of the mission.

Their work is supported by fraternal communion, dialogue, and co-responsibility, seeking that each house and each religious live the Augustinian Recollect charism with authenticity. Thus, the Provincial Council ensures the unity, formation, mission, and continuous renewal of the province, keeping it always faithful to the Gospel and to its identity.

Provincial Council

Friar Juan Pablo Martínez Peláez

He has been a religious since January 17, 2004. He currently serves as Vicar and Provincial Secretary, President of Arcores Colombia and the province's commission for communications and digital evangelization, and is General Secretary of the Conference of Religious of Colombia.

Friar Julián Antonio Hincapié López

He has been a religious since January 14, 1995. In the province, he serves as: President of the Province's Commission for the Protection of Minors, member of the permanent formation team, spiritual advisor to the San Ezequiel Moreno Foundation, and Rector of the Agustiniana University, Uniagustiniana.

Friar Pedro Rivas Durán

He has been a religious since August 14, 1983. In the province, he serves as: President of the Secretariat of Educational Apostolate and the Educar Network, President of the Commission of Social Apostolate, and is Parish Priest in the San Agustín Parish of Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic.

Friar Germán Andrés Rodríguez Herrera

He has been a religious since January 17, 2004. In the province, he serves as: President of the Secretariat of Charism and Spirituality and Permanent Formation, and Member of the CEAR network and Pastoral Coordinator of the Agustiniano Ciudad Salitre School.

Where are we?

The Province of Our Lady of Candelaria is present in five countries: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama and Guatemala in Latin America, and Spain in Europe. In each of these places, our Recollect mission announces and serves, bringing Christ, our salvation, wherever we are sent.