On Friday, November 21, the Augustinian Recollect Tiago Ribeiro de Araujo made the solemn profession of the evangelical counsels and was definitively incorporated into the Order of Augustinian Recollects, in which he was welcomed by the delegate of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Juan Cruz Vicario, on behalf of and in place of the prior general.
Tapauá, in the heart of the Amazon, witnessed a ceremony unlike any other. Tiago, a native of Guaraciaba do Norte (Ceará, Brazil), where he was born on November 14, 1985, solemnly professed his vows at the age of 40, having recently completed his novitiate and taken his vows five years prior, in 2020. The current parish priest of Guaraciaba do Norte, the Augustinian Recollect Santiago Martínez, traveled to Tapauá to accompany him at the ceremony.
During the homily, Juan Cruz Vicario spoke about the vocation to consecrated life. He recalled the call and response of Abraham, explained what the evangelical counsels are and how a consecrated person lives them, and asked Tiago that his experience of poverty be a witness of communion, that his obedience be a generous “yes” to the mission, and that his chastity be a manifestation of love for all equally, without exception or distinction. He also placed this profession within the context of the centenary of the Augustinian Recollects at the Lábrea Mission, asking Tiago to continue the work of his brothers.
In his thanksgiving, Tiago began by quoting St. Augustine, saying he identified with the famous prayer, “Late have I loved you.” He thanked God for his calling, his deceased parents for being his “first catechists,” and his siblings, nephews, and friends who attended the ceremony via social media.
She also thanked her Augustinian Recollect religious family for their welcome and friendship, as well as all those present at the ceremony and all those who had prepared it with dedication and affection. In fact, the atmosphere was very joyful, with many congratulations and much enthusiasm from those present.
The following Sunday, the Catholic community of Tapauá gathered again in the main parish church to celebrate Tiago’s diaconal ordination. This time, the ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of the Prelature of Lábrea, the Augustinian Recollect Santiago Sánchez.
In his homily, as is his custom and taking advantage of the Feast of Christ the King, the bishop told a parable about the succession of a king with three sons: ultimately, he chose the one who knew how to forgive his enemies and rule with love. And now, he continued, Tiago, as a deacon, will become Christ’s successor in his roles as king, priest, and prophet. He then explained the degrees of the sacramental priesthood.
He also took the opportunity to give a catechesis on what religious consecration and priestly ministry are, the consecrated life with the role of superiors and its difference from the task of the bishop in a local Church.
Tiago offered a few words of thanks. He recalled how he often talked and wondered with the Augustinian Recollect nuns of Guaraciaba why God had chosen him, and one of them reminded him that “God doesn’t see appearances, but the heart. While people see you on the outside, God sees you on the inside.”
He remembered her deceased parents with special emotion and affection: “God has let me know what is first, what is most important, His plan for me. Today was one of those days when I wanted my parents close to me, although I know that in some way they are.”
He asked, in the words of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, “to flourish, to bear fruit wherever Jesus sends me.” And he thanked his blood family, his religious family, and his family of faith, the parish, for accompanying him.
