On Sunday, April 19, the Augustinian Recollects left the last of their communities in the State of New Mexico, located in Anthony, with the official handover ceremony to the Diocese of Las Cruces of the Parishes of Anthony and Chaparral and the missions of Berino and La Unión.
The previous Sunday, April 12, a popular farewell party was held, in which the Augustinian Recollect Rafael Castillo, a native of the nearby city of El Paso (Texas) and who served as delegate of the vicar of the Augustinian Recollects in the United States, was present, absent due to scheduling reasons.
Castillo presided over the Eucharist, accompanied by three other Augustinian Recollects, and gave thanks on behalf of the Augustinian Recollect Family for the 33 years they had shared life and mission in the Parish of Saint Anthony. He also apologized for any shortcomings and encouraged everyone to welcome the new parish priest with affection and a spirit of collaboration.
After the Eucharist, there was a reception in the parish hall attended by parishioners from the parishes and missions where the Recollects had collaborated until now (Anthony, Berino, La Union and Chaparral), but also others from parishes that were served many years ago, such as La Mesa and Vado, who fondly remembered the Recollect presence and wanted to say goodbye to the religious.
Even from Madera (Chihuahua, Mexico) there were also faithful who came to say goodbye to some of the religious who in times past, for years, had also served them on that side of the border and now formed part of the last Recollect community of Anthony.
During the reception there was a projection with images and memories of these 33 years of Recollect’s presence in Anthony (1993-2016), songs were sung that spoke of farewell and many emotional words of thanks were addressed to each other.
Along with Anthony’s closure, nearly a century of the Augustinian Recollects’ presence in Texas and New Mexico (1930-2026) also came to an end. Many Recollect friars gave their best in these lands. With nostalgia and satisfaction, those who remain in different parts of the world have declared their “mission accomplished.” And the people of God in that region have expressed their gratitude for their work and companionship.
