On November 1, Solemnity of All the Saints, the capitulars had a day of recollection. In the afternoon of November 3, the funeral of Msgr. Arturo Salazar Mejia took place at the Church of Desierto de la Candelaria. After which, Msgr. Alejandro Castaño gave the capitulars a conference on Spirituality and Community life.
On November 4, the 78th Provincial Chapter was formally opened by the invocation of the Holy Spirit with the singing of the “Veni Creator Spiritus.” Then, the Prior General and Chapter President, Javier Guerra Ayala, opened the first session with his message. The reading of the Ordo Capituli followed, and the religious elected the following to form part of the capitular commission: Norberto Escobar and Carlos Alberto Villabona as moderators, Jose Andres Zambrano as secretary, and Jairo Orlando Soto as councilor.
The chapter will conclude with the election of the prior provincial and council. Following the capitular procedure, the prior provincial has begun with the presentation of reports on the state of the Province in Colombia and Chile, expressing his gratitude to the religious. After which, questions for clarification, rejoinders and comments followed. Among the themes taken, there is a need to highlight the following: spirituality and community life, vocation and formation, pastoral ministry and mission, education apostolate and youth pastoral ministry, finance, government, new ministries, delegation of Chile, the collaboration with the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of the Sick, and with the Missionary Augustinian Recollects, attention to the secular fraternity.
At present, the religious chosen to represent the whole province are divided into several commissions to study the different themes concerning the communities. The chapter will conclude with the elaboration and approval of the directions for the next term, and the election of the prior provincial and council.