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Getting Together in Rome
Priors Provincials meet with General Curia in Rome, September 26 - October 1
There he was, as usual, waving to get my attention as I emerged from customs at Rome's Fumicino airport. Fr. Javier Guerra, prior general of the Augustinian Recollects, always seems to make it his personal business to greet the Recollect traveler arriving in Rome. Not far behind him was Fr. Javier Echarri, procurator general, who gave me a welcoming pat on the back with one hand, and whisked away my suitcases with the other. You immediately get the feeling that you are at home, even if you are really a foreigner visitor.
This is Recollect hospitality! Determination No. 16,1 of the 53rd General Chapter of the Augustinian Recollects, held in Rome in November, 2004, states that: At least two meetings of the priors provincial with the General Council be convoked during the sexennium in order to discuss the state of the Order, the progress of the programs of renewal, common problems, collaboration and compliance with the determinations of the General Chapter. I had traveled to Rome to attend the first of these two meetings, held at the General Curia, September 26-October 1, which brought together the eight provincials of the Order - coming from Spain, Colombia, Brazil, the United States, and the Philippines - together with Fr. General and the members of his Council. These meetings have been customary for a good many years and are useful not only for the interchange of ideas that takes place, but also for the opportunity for the provincials and members of the General Curia to get to know each other better by spending time together in convivencia over a cup of strong Italian coffee and perhaps a biscoti. This particular gathering was especially important since practically all members of the General Curia and several provincials were newly-elected and had not met together before in this context. Morning and afternoon sessions were held, with discussions focusing on the following topics: adaptation and revaluation of the Constitutions, reflections on the juridical organization of the Order in provinces, countries, and ministries, interprovincial collaboration, initial and continuing formation, the government of the Order, and the special concerns of each province. There were also reports on the Institutes of the Order, religious in special situations, the Augustinian Recollect family, the international college of Sant'Ildefonso, finances, and the calendar of activities of the sexennium. A message was prepared for all religious of the Order, indicating the main lines taken in the discussion of each topic. Participants at the meeting took a break from the long work sessions on Wednesday, September 28, to join the weekly audience of Benedict XVI and to receive a special greeting and blessing from the Holy Father. The audience was held in St. Peter's square which, as usual, was filled with pilgrims from all parts of the globe. In actions very similar to the late John Paul II, Benedict arrived in the "Pope-mobile" traveling throughout the enthusiastic crowd - which was chanting Be-ne-det-to! Be-ne-det-to!‹reaching out in a special way to the sick and handicapped, and commenting on the Scriptural reading of the day in six different languages. On Friday, September 30, all the friars together with the sisters assisting at the Curia joined in a special Mass and reception to celebrate the 50th priestly jubilee of Fr. Santiago Orobiourrutia (brother of the late Fr. Juan José) and the 25th priestly jubilee of Fr. José Miguel Panedas, General Councilor and president of the General Secretariat of Formation. Finally on Saturday, after the conclusion of the sessions, the friars were invited by the staff and students at Collegio Sant'Ildefonso for a sumptuous dinner at "Via Sistina 11." Everyone was warmly welcomed by Fr. Teodoro Baztán, prior, and the 15 students that are in residence at Sistina while studying in the various universities of Rome. Welcome visitors at the Generalate during the meeting included Bishop Mario Molina, OAR, of Quiché, Guatamala, who was attending a workshop for new bishops at the Vatican, and Bishop Agustín Ganuza, OAR, of Bocas del Toro, Panamá, who was in Rome to attend the Bishops' Synod. All the participants at the meeting enjoyed the traditional hospitality of the Generalate and in particular the bountiful meals featuring "to die for" pasta dishes and the wonderfully fresh fruit that abounds in Rome .... One always goes to these meeting with a bit of reluctance, knowing the heavy work-load ahead, but leaves with even more reluctance, having experienced once again the joy of belonging to a world-wide religious family that can come together as brothers, finding meaning and inspiration in their faith, their fraternity, and their common sense of mission in service of the Church.
Fr. John Gruben, OAR
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