Evangelization in nine mission territories
The Order of Augustinian Recollects is missionary since its birth. Currently, she is responsible for evangelization in 8 mission territories, located in seven different countries: Brazil, Colombia, China, Cuba, Peru, Panama, Taiwan and Sierra Leone.
Since the origin of the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the late sixteenth century, the reform movement that takes place in the Augustinian province of Castile pushes the new members of OAR to spread the Gospel in places of mission. As early as 1605, they began their missionary work in the Philippines, the first mission of the Augustinian Recollects. A few years later, they went to Japan. The first half of the 20th century was the one with the greatest missionary expansion.
Cuba has been the last country where the Augustinian Recollects have started a new mission. Four Augustinian Recollect missionaries arrived in Antilla in February 2018.
A Statute of Missions
Within the legislative framework of the Order, the Order has developed a Statute of Missions, more particularly directed at the managers and the missionaries themselves. It consists of 52 numbers with doctrinal foundation, identity of the Augustinian Recollect missionary and practical questions of missionary activity and missionary animation.
The Statute affects the aspects already indicated by the Constitutions, and attaches great importance to the personal testimony of the missionaries, to the promotion of the people in an integral way, to the social commitment, to the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, to the cooperation and animation, co-responsibility with the laity and the important role of religious superiors in their support and determination.
The missions of the Augustinian Recollects
The Augustinian Recollects began this mission on August 8, 1925.
It is currently served by the San Nicolás de Toletino Province since November 19, 1979. It previously belonged to the provinces of Santo Tomás de Villanueva and Santa Rita.
It has an extension of 230.20 Km2. Its population is 78,832 inhabitants.
Currently there are three communities of Augustinian Recollects in Lábrea, Pauiní and Tapauá. In total there are eight Augustinian Recollect religious, who attend social actions and centers in support of children at risk of social exclusion.
Bishop: Bishop Santiago Sánchez, Augustinian Recollect.
The Augustinian Recollects began this mission on October 19, 1930.
It has been attended since its inception by the Province of Santo Tomás de Villanueva.
It has an area of 105,000 km2. Its population is 260,000 inhabitants.
Currently there are three communities of Augustinian Recollects in the towns of Salvaterra, Breves and Portel.
In total there are 11 Augustinian Recollect religious who are in charge of attending social actions and educational centers.
The Augustinian Recollects began this mission on August 8, 1925.
It is attended from its beginnings by the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria. On October 27, 2000 lost territory as it was divided into two jurisdictions: the Diocese of Yopal and the Vicariate of Trinidad. The latter continues to be attended by the Augustinian Recollects.
It has an area of 27,075 km2 and a population of 65,000 inhabitants.
Currently there are four communities in Trinidad, Orocué, Maní and Bocas del Pauto.
In total hay 11 Augustinian Recollect religious supporting the pastoral work of the Order in this place.
Bishop: Bishop Javier Pizarro, Augustinian Recollect
It was entrusted to the Augustinian Recollects Order on September 15, 1923.
The work has always been attended by the Augustinian Recollect religious of the Province of San Nicolás de Tolentino. The mission was created Vicariate in 1937 and later it was declared Diocese in 1946.
It has an area of 8,500 km2 and a population of 2,500,000 inhabitants, of which 20,000 are Catholics.
Currently there are 15 religious supporting the pastoral work in the mission of China.
The Augustinian Recollects began this work in February 1964.
It is attended by the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria. From its beginnings until 2018, it had been attended by the Province of Our Lady of Consolation.
It has an area of 8,115 km2 and a population of 123,567 inhabitants.
There are three communities of Augustinian Recollects in Almirante, Changuinola and Canquintú.
In total, 11 Augustinian Recollect religious support the pastoral work of the Order in the mission of Panama.
Bishop: Mons. Aníbal Saldaña, Augustinian Recollect
It was assumed by the Augustinian Recollects on July 7, 1963.
It is attended by the Province of Santo Tomás de Villanueva. From its beginnings until 2018 it had been attended by the Province of San José.
It has an area of 6,823 km2 and a population of 337,000 inhabitants.
The Augustinian Recollects have a community in Santa Monica Parish, where there are four Augustinian Recollect religious.
Bishop: Bishop Fortunato Pablo Urcey, Augustinian Recollect
The Augustinian Recollects began this work in 1963.
Since 1998, it has been attended by the religious of the San Ezequiel Moreno Province.
It has an area of 5,723 km2 and a population of 3,649,083 inhabitants, of which 47,425 are Catholics.
Currently there are two communities that serve the pastoral work of the parishes of Taliao, Linyuan and Santimen.
It was assumed by the Augustinian Recollects on January 14, 1997. The religious had to abandon the mission several times because of the civil war. They all left on December 24, 1998, returning to Kamabai on April 8, 2004.
It is attended by the province of San Ezequiel Moreno since November 28, 1998. Previously it was attended by the Province San Nicolás de Tolentino (1997-1998).
It has an area of approximately 150 km2. The population is 15,000 inhabitants, although Catholics are 4,000 of them.
There are two communities of Augustinian Recollects. In total there are five Augustinian Recollect religious in this mission.
The Augustinian Recollects are present in Cuba since February 17, 2018. It is the most recent mission of the Order.
It depends directly on the Prior General, as one more community of the General Curia.
Four religious, who make up the only community, attend the pastoral work in the parishes of Our Lady of Carmen, in Antilla; of the Holy Spirit, in Tacajó; and of the Sacred Heart, in Báguanos.
