Five young Augustinian Recollects took an important step in their religious life during the celebration of the 432nd anniversary of the Augustinian Recollection.
More than four hundred years after the beginning of the Augustinian Recollection in 1588, the young people of the 21st century are still attracted to this form of life. Five of them celebrated the anniversary of the Augustinian Recollects on December 5 saying a new yes to Christ and taking a further step in their vocational journey. The feast of the Order was celebrated in Brazil, Costa Rica and the Philippines with diaconal and priestly ordinations.
In Brazil, two religious were ordained deacon and priest respectively. Jesus Emmanuel Mendoza, who recently made his solemn profession, was ordained deacon at St. Rita’s Parish in Casia de Manaos. The Augustinian Recollect Bishop of the Prelature of Alto Xingu-Tucumá, Monsignor Jesús María López Mauleón, presided over the Eucharist and laid his hands on the new deacon. Augustinian Recollect religious and faithful from Manaus accompanied the young Mexican religious in this important moment.
In the São Miguel Arcanjo Parish in Maringá, the Brazilian Fernando Ferreira was ordained as a priest. In a simple celebration, attended by only a small group of people for health reasons, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Maringá, Severino Clasen, laid his hands on the altar and invoked the consecrating prayer of priestly ordination. The celebration was attended by the Prior Provincial of Saint Thomas of Villanova, Miguel Ángel Hernández, and the Augustinian Recollect Bishop of Mar del Plata, Monsignor Darío Quintana.
In Ciudad de los Niños, Costa Rica, the Augustinian Recollects Pablo Jian and Alberto Valecillos, respectively, were ordained deacons and priests. The ordination ceremony of both Augustinian Recollects was presided over by Monsignor Angel San Casimiro, Augustinian Recollect Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Alajuela. The prelate exhorted the ministers of the Church that the life of the deacon and the priest is in being a Good Shepherd. The families of the two religious, who could not be present at this important event, followed the celebration through social networks.
The Filipino Augustinian Recollect Ramón Bitancor was ordained deacon on December 5 in Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Quezon City, Philippines. The young religious was ordained deacon by Bishop Roberto O. Gaa, DD, of the Diocese of Novaliches (Philippines). The Prior Provincial of St. Ezekiel Moreno Province, Dionisio Selma, as well as several Augustinian Recollect religious accompanied the new deacon at this very important moment in his life.