For four days, from March 4 to 7, the Comprehensive Development Accompaniment and Recovery Center (CARDI), a socio-health project of the Augustinian Recollects in Mexico City, organized celebrations for its twentieth anniversary.
The program included both educational and celebratory moments. Thus, on Wednesday, March 4th, the celebrations began with a lecture by María Elena Villamil on the history of thanatology and reflections on death and the meaning of life. From prehistory, she traced a cultural map of death that spanned civilizations, religions, and philosophies, culminating in its contemporary conception as a confrontation with our finitude.
It was a real exercise in awareness to awaken the urgency to live fully, to reconcile and to understand that death is a teacher about the need to transcend.
On Thursday, March 5th, the focus was on Logotherapy, with a roundtable discussion featuring Luz Echeverría, Lulú de la Mora, and Nohemí González. They proposed that living is not simply about achieving goals or surviving “on autopilot,” but about embracing each stage with gratitude, passion, and purpose. Through interactive activities, they encouraged attendees to find direction in their lives and decide how to live, what mark they want to leave on the world.
On Friday, March 6th, the celebration was filled with emotion and gratitude: it was dedicated to volunteering. Carlos Valente, Cecy Cano, Mireya García, Martha Huerta, and Ever Cedillo shared their experiences and reflected aloud on what it means to be a volunteer at CARDI, a mosaic of stories: how they learned about CARDI, how it impacted them, and what their acts of collaboration and assistance led to. They recounted stories, meetings, challenges, and rewards, all from the heart.
Next, Alejandra Abruto, honorary president of the Mexican Social Security Institute ‘s Volunteer Program, recounted the challenges she faced and the rewards she received on her journey of service. More than just an activity, volunteering is a way of life that enriches both the giver and the receiver.
Finally, the main celebration took place on Saturday, March 7, beginning with the Eucharist at the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Hospitals, presided over by the Augustinian Recollect Francisco Javier Acero, auxiliary bishop of Mexico and former director of CARDI, accompanied by the Augustinian Recollect Family.
In his homily, he recalled CARDI’s mission, the role of the laity, its union with the Parish of Hospitals, the integrity and commitment of the volunteers, and the triumph of love. He asked CARDI to be “an oasis of peace and each volunteer an artisan of peace.”
The institution’s current director, Augustinian Recollect Refugio González, thanked everyone for attending and encouraged them to continue their work. He then invited those present to a fraternal meal donated by Taquería Los Güeros, with the special moment being the cutting and sharing of the twentieth-anniversary cake.
The afternoon was filled with color and music with a performance of folk dances from the Huasteca region of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Veracruz by Ana Idalia and Nicté-Ha, accompanied by the voice of Nazarena Michelena. The evening continued with Mariachi Luna, directed by César Sandoval and again featuring Nazarena Michelena.
The entire CARDI Family and the Augustinian-Recollect Family concluded this day of joy and emotion, celebrating not only the twentieth anniversary, but also the strength of a project that has woven true networks of love and hope.
