Each three years the General Assembly and National Meeting of the Augustinian Recollect Secular Fraternities of Brazil is celebrated, and in 2025 its 13th edition was held, for the first time, in the capital of the state of Ceará, Fortaleza, carefully animated and prepared by the two Secular Fraternities that the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine attends in that state, the one of Fortaleza and the one of Guaraciaba do Norte.
A total of 103 participants from across the country were hosted at the Santa Teresa Spirituality Center, managed by the Shalom Community. The gathering included training sessions, discussions, evaluation and planning, opportunities for fellowship, and opportunities for updates and mutual understanding among all the represented Fraternities. Elections were also held to form the new Fraternities management team for 2025-2028.
The national advisor, Augustinian Recollect Antonio Leopoldo Sarroche, gave the welcoming address before each of the Fraternities presented themselves. This first session concluded with a training on the Jubilee Year entitled “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” offered by Augustinian Recollect Sergio Pérez.
On Friday the 21st there were two talks: “Like our father Saint Augustine, we journey towards the city of God”, offered by the Augustinian Recollect Afonso de Carvalho; and “Jesus Christ, bread of life and hope”, by the also Recollect Danilo José Janegitz.
In the afternoon there was a visit to the Saint Monica Home, the socio-educational project of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine that fights against the scourge of abuse, abandonment, violence and violation of the rights of girls and adolescents in Fortaleza.
Accompanied by members of the management team, including the Augustinian Recollect José García Corcuera and the Augustinian Recollect Nuns of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, they learned about the details of the project, its facilities, and attended a cultural performance by the beneficiaries, with whom they also shared a snack. The members of the Fraternities were moved to learn about this project, and the beneficiaries were happy to show them around and express their gratitude for the affection shown to them. There was also time for a stroll along the seafront in Iracema and Beira Mar.
The National Assembly took place on Saturday the 22nd, with group meetings to reflect on the role of the lay formator within the local Fraternity, the lay identity of the Secular Recollects, and the definition of objectives to be developed during the next three years. Requests highlighted included a greater and higher-quality presence of religious, training for lay formators, and online training programs.
The Assembly concluded with the elections for the new National Council 2025-2028, which will include Efigenia Alves (Ceará), Gustavo Carvalho (Espírito Santo), Jacqueline da Silva (Pará), Sônia Regina Barros (Rio de Janeiro), and Nilcelena. Rafachine (São Paulo) and Cristina Alves (Amazonas).
The participants had the opportunity to meet the Augustinian Recollect nuns of the Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Guaraciaba do Norte, the only contemplative presence of the Augustinian Recollects in the country, and a way of life unknown to almost all those present. They led a rosary with lively participation.
The XIII National Assembly and Meeting in Fortaleza was a space of grace and blessing, a privileged occasion to strengthen ties and mutual understanding, an opportunity for evaluation and future planning, an expression of a deep religiosity shared from the Augustinian Recollect charism.
