On October 5, five Augustinian Recollect friars from the community of Union City (New Jersey) and one from the community of Suffern (New York) met with the provincial prior of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Carlos Gonzalez, and the vicar of the Province in the United States, Francisco Sandoval, accompanied by the secretary of the Province, to present the main ideas and objectives that came out of the last Chapter of the Province and to carry out the animation and accompaniment that the Constitutions entrust to the major superiors.
The day began with prayer and reflection on the biblical passage from Mark 12:28, with a teacher of the Law asking Jesus about the most important commandment. The scribe was moved to ask this question after hearing Jesus’ discussion with the Sadducees and realizing the wisdom with which Jesus had answered them.
In this passage, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy and Leviticus to summarize faith as loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself. The scribe acknowledges that fulfilling both commandments wholeheartedly is worth more than any sacrifice, leading Jesus to tell him that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
The text has served to introduce the insights that allow the Recollect communities to live the priorities of the 2026-2029 triennium with intensity and hope. Thus, charity, a compassionate gaze towards the impoverished, and the process of personal, communal, and ministerial conversion allow the friars to improve community life, put the local and provincial Life and Mission Project into practice, strengthen the culture and vocational witness, and share the mission and the spiritual and charismatic life with the laity.
There was a question and answer session about the reality of the Province and the most effective way to safeguard community life and the needs regarding ongoing formation without neglecting parish ministries with proper organization.
The Provincial Secretariat uses these visits to update the files of the religious members and their contact information. The meeting concluded with lunch and some time for fellowship in a more relaxed atmosphere.
One of the tasks entrusted to the major superiors is to be attentive to the situation and needs of the local communities and to open spaces with them for listening and exchanging ideas, for questioning and for prayer.
