The SAR branches from Mexico City, Querétaro, Cuernavaca, and Macuxtepetla (Hidalgo) participated in their annual Lenten retreat on February 21st, hosted by SAR Hospitals. Everything was ready early in the morning to ensure the activities proceeded smoothly.
The reception was filled with warmth and joy. The SAR Avante, which arrived by bus and brought many participants, was in charge of the opening prayer. This was followed by exposition and Eucharistic adoration accompanied by biblical and Augustinian texts.
Augustinian spirituality provided the basis for the reflections: returning to the heart, a commitment to interiority, remaining in Christ… Other notes were also added, such as the Augustinian Recollect Missionary Year 2026 with its motto (Announce Christ wherever you can) combined with the Lenten experience (participation in the Paschal Mystery).
The first talk was given by Augustinian Recollect Alfredo Leitón, who commented on the Gospel mandate “Go into all the world.” He encouraged everyone to follow the motto of the Missionary Year, taken from Sermon 206 of Saint Augustine, which invites to proclaim Jesus at all times and in all places, in a daily and concrete way, in personal and community settings, in all spaces of coexistence.
The second talk was given by Luis Arturo Hernández of SAR Hospitals: “Lent: Participating in the Paschal Mystery of Christ.” He encouraged everyone to unite themselves to Christ in his glorious sacrifice through daily life, through the liturgy, the Eucharist, and love of neighbor. To do this, he indicated, it is essential to stop focusing on the “self” and become witnesses of hope and resurrection.
Following this, SAR Saint Monica organized a group activity for awareness-raising, prayer, and pastoral outreach with various priority groups: the terminally ill, those estranged from the faith, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, the discriminated against, and the excluded…
In the outdoor parking lot of the CARDI building (Center for Accompaniment and Recovery of Integral Development), in a warm and friendly atmosphere, taking advantage of the good weather, the community lunch took place.
The retreat concluded with the Eucharist, presided over by Martín Luengo, Vicar of the Augustinian Recollects for Mexico and Costa Rica. Then came the farewells and the hope for future reunions.
Give me a drink: when God thirsts for us