MOTHERS DAY CONCERT
(Colombian singer and songwriter Marta Gomez)

Tagaste Monastery, the major seminary of the Augustinian Recollects in Suffern, New York, held a Mother’s Day Concert on May 14th. This free-admission event was open to the community of Rockland County to bring together the diverse groups that live in the area in order to honor that essential pillar of the family: Mothers. The Colombian singer and songwriter Marta Gomez brought to those attending the very best of her repertory, and was able to touch the soul of the audience with both the lyrics and music of her beautiful songs.

Thanks to intense negotiations with St. Peter, no rain fell that day and the concert was able to begin on the front lawn of the Monastery.  Nevertheless, the afternoon was a little bit cold and the concert moved into the Guild Hall about half way through the performance. Around 150 people attended the event.  In addition to the music, they enjoyed typical Latin American food such as empanadas, burritos, tamales, etc.

This was the first activity organized by the Rockland County Latin American Association  (RALA), a new, non-profit civic organization devoted to the social development of Rockland County, with special emphasis on meeting the more important necessities of the Latin-American immigrant community that lives there.  The Augustinian Recollect friars at Tagaste Monastery have provided spiritual services for many years to the local Latin American community, including Spanish Mass held every Sunday at the Monastery. RALA is just one more way those served by the Recollects are building community.

Fr. Frank Wilder, OAR
Prior, Tagaste Monastery

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