The ten communities of the Province of St. Nicholas of Tolentine of the Augustinian Recollects in Spain, in which 104 religious live, and the eight communities in the United States, in which 37 religious live, have held their respective preparatory assembly meetings for the 129th Provincial Chapter, which will take place in May 2026. Beforehand, all the local communities have held their preparatory meetings and have answered certain surveys that are also presented at the Assembly.
In fact, all communities in each country were required to be represented at the Assembly, while each religious were free to attend, provided they continued their ministry to the faithful and students. Ultimately, 20 religious attended the Assembly in Spain (19% of the total), and 24 in the United States ( 65%).
In Marcilla, the participants included the provincial prior, his four councilors, and the provincial secretary. In Oxnard, the meeting was coordinated by the provincial vicar for the country, Marlon Beof, and also present was the Augustinian Recollect Francisco Javier Monroy, general councilor in charge of the Augustinian Recollect Spirituality Centers (CEAR), whose reality, objectives, and situation he introduced to those in attendance.
In Spain, this was the third time an Assembly had been convened since 2022. The provincial prior, Carlos González, opened it by presenting the objective of all the zonal Assemblies: to dialogue about life and mission in order to respond together to what the Church and the world today ask for, supported by the grace of God.
Thus, the Assemblies hear the contributions of the local communities, gathered in their previous meetings; those in charge of governance (the provincial in Spain and the vicar in the United States) present their vision of the situation, which is complemented by the interventions of the assembly members. Then there are spaces for debate in smaller groups, and the conclusions are presented in the plenary session.
Educational apostolate
In Spain, it was one of the key topics. The debate centered on the ways in which friars should be present in this apostolate; some say it is important that they remain present in the classroom, while others advocate focusing efforts on training lay teams to maintain the ideals, spirituality, and charism of the Recollects.
The provincial councilor in charge of the area, Juan Luis González, explained the current situation with data from educational centers and the particularity of Spain that the coordination is done at the level of Order, since there are centers of three Provinces in the country.
Revitalization and restructuring
Where to go from here, and what kinds of presence and ministries are most appropriate for the Augustinian Recollects and for the Church? The assembly members in Spain agreed that the provincial superior, with his council, after listening to the local community, will have the broadest perspective for making decisions, provided that these changes are approached as an opportunity and an incentive to transform the religious community and become more creative.
The revitalization of the community begins with personal revitalization. That’s why the religious in Oxnard dedicated time to sharing how they felt personally, how their ministry was developing, and how to implement fraternal life in community.
And since new vocations are important in order to revitalize the institution, in the United States they gave a voice to the released vocation promoter to indicate how they work in this area and what results it is producing.
Augustinian Recollect Secular Fraternity (FSAR)
In Spain, on Wednesday the 12th, three representatives from the FSAR were present alongside the assembly members: specifically, its national president and two representatives from the FSAR Santa Rita in Madrid and the FSAR Marcilla. They presented their current situation and progress, expressed their gratitude, and shared their hopes and plans for the future. They also discussed their new Statutes and the most recent publications relevant to their training.
In the United States, in addition to discussing the FSAR situation with their advisors present, the situation of the Saint Monica Mothers Association was also addressed.
Missions
In the United States, there was also time to reflect on missions, with a shared and discussed reading of the Prior General’s letter announcing the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Year 2026. “How can we be parishes on mission?” was the question everyone wanted to answer from their own perspective.
It was also announced that the Augustinian-Recollect International Solidarity Network ARCORES is now legally established in the United States, having completed the bureaucratic processes.
Conclusion
On the final day of the Assembly in Marcilla, the discussion focused on the 129th Provincial Chapter in May 2026. The Provincial Prior thanked everyone for their participation. All expressed their appreciation for the days spent together, beyond the formal meetings, because sharing prayer, meals, conversations, and discussions about the daily life of other communities, the health of the religious, and their work enriches everyone.
At this point, the paella prepared by Augustinian Recollect Gerry Cosgayon was a highlight in Oxnard, enlivening the gathering with a festive atmosphere. The religious also paid special tribute to their deceased brothers with a visit and prayer at the Recollects’ pantheon in Santa Clara Cemetery, California.
They also wanted to visit the five Augustinian Recollects residing at the Our Lady of Health Residence of the Servants of Mary, who receive special care due to their dependency. Gathered in one room, they talked and reconnected, creating a fraternal and deeply moving atmosphere for those who received the visit from their brothers.
