10-09 Br. Joseph Joly, OAR, celebrates 50 years as an Augustinian Recollect - He was in the navy back in 1952, but he also was reading the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, a sure sign that Joseph Joly wasn’t destined to be a sailor forever. While on shore leave in New York City, he decided to ask the first priest he saw for Guideposts (an inspirational magazine). The priest turned out to be Fr. Robert Krajicek, OAR, who not only promised to get him Guideposts, but started a correspondence that would eventually lead to Br. Joe’s admission to the Augustinian Recollects. More on this story...

9-09 St. Benedict’s Montebello - Farewell Gala for Father Joseph Gallardo, OAR - It is always a sad occasion when a beloved pastor is reassigned, and St. Benedict’s Father Joseph is indeed a much-beloved pastor. It was only fitting, then, that the new Father Provincial’s going-away party be a spectacular event! On Saturday, August 15, 2009, the parish hall looked nothing like your normal parish hall! It was like walking into a fancy and colorful Hawaiian luau! More on this story...

9-09 Fr. Provincial Joseph Gallardo receives Plaque of Outstanding Contribution from City of Montebello - Saint Benedict Church, Montebello, California - On August 12, 2009, the city council of Montebello presented Fr. Joseph with a beautifully engraved plaque of appreciation for his seven years of dedicated service at St. Benedict’s, three of which he served as pastor. Fellow friars, newly-arrived St. Benedict parochial vicar, Fr. Michael Rafferty and visiting provincial procurator, Br. Anthony Torretti, happily accompanied Fr. Joseph on this special occasion. More on this story...

8-09 Favors Attributable to Bishop Gallegos Please visit our new page devoted to favors attributed to Bishop Gallegos. Recently, three stories were added to Bishop Gallegos: Young girl recovers her vision
while praying before the tomb of Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR, Eye Surgery Not Needed, Two unexpected years of life. Click to visit the page: Favors Attributable to Bishop Gallegos.

7-09 OAR General Visits Tomb Of Bishop Gallegos - Sacramento, CA. The Reverend Father Javier Guerra Ayala, Prior General of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, recently visited the tomb of the Servant of God Bishop Alphonse Gallegos, OAR at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. He was accompanied by Father Eliseo González, OAR, Vice Postulator of the Cause. The Diocesan Process of the Cause of Canonization of Bishop Gallegos was opened in Sacramento on December 4, 2005 and concluded on November 4, 2006. The Congregation of the Causes of Saints in Rome granted the decree of validity on July 4, 2008. More on this story...

6-09 Opening of the 21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province - St. Augustine Priory, Oxnard, CA – Monday, June 15th the religious convoked for the 21st Provincial Chapter gathered at Saint Augustine Priory, Oxnard, California for a day of prayer with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and praying of the Rosary. In the evening there was a fraternal celebration on the occasion of the birthday of Fr. Jesús Villaseñor, during dinner. More on this story...

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 2 Heeding God’s call through the beautiful sound of St. Augustine Priory’s bell, the capitulars, together with the members of the local community, headed to the Chapel at 7:00 AM for the morning prayers and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist being Vocations as the theme of today’ Mass. Presiding the Eucharistic celebration was Fr. Marlon Beof, OAR, President of the Secretariat of Vocations and Formation, with Frs. Fidel Hernandez, OAR and Eliseo Gonzalez, OAR as main concelebrants. Serving as deacons were Ulises Feliciano, OAR and Ascension Esqueda, OAR while Br. Anthony Toretti, OAR served as the liturgist. More on this story.

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 3 – Feast of the Dedication of the Seminary Chapel to our Lady Thursday Morning June 18, 2009 – The day began with the office of readings at 7am followed by Mass with morning prayer incorporated. The Mass celebrated by the Rev. Fr. John Oldfield and concelebrated by the rest of the capitulars was in honor of the 19th anniversary of the foundation of the the Seminary Chapel of Our Lady. The Mass was very solemn. Father Oldfield reminded the congregration about the More on this story.

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 4 June 19th the Friars began the day at 7:00am with prayer followed by the Holy Eucharist in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today marked the beginning of the Year for Priest June 19th- June 11th 2010, declared by Pope Benedict XVI. Fr. Charles Huse, Prior Provincial, was the main celebrant. He spoke about encountering the loving heart of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, in each other and in the faithful that love and support us. More on this story.

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 5 – Feast of the Sacred Heart of Mary On Saturday June 20th the religious gathered for prayers at 7am, followed by the Holy Eucharist. Fr. Domingos Machado, Secretariat of Spirituality was the main celebrant. During his homily he mentioned how as a young child his parents had engraved in him a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. He asked the capitulars to ask Mary to accompany them in their deliberations as she did the apostles in the upper room. More on this story.

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 6 – Remembering the Deceased of the Province Today’s chapter meetings began with the Office of Readings for the dead as we remembered our deceased brothers of the Order. The Eucharist was celebrated by the Fr. Gerard Cosgayon who inspired us all with anecdotes from his memoirs of our deceased friars. His homily was really touching as he made us think of those friars who have shared with us this journey of following in the footsteps of St. Augustine. We remembered them in prayer as Holy Mother Church suggests praying for the dead, that although they might have lived a good lives and in friendship with God, they still might need the comfort of our prayers. More on this story.

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 7 If there are golden girls, there should also be golden boys. Entering into their golden year in their priesthood are our brother capitulars Frs. Anthony Palos, Jose Antonio Arias, and Alfredo de Dios. They were our main concelebrants in today’s Eucharistic celebration. More on this story.

21st Provincial Chapter, Saint Augustine Province Day 8 - Nativity of John the Baptist Wednesday, June 24th, the day began with prayers at 7am followed by breakfast. The first session began at 9:15am with a prayer led by Fr. Fidel Hernández. Fr. John Oldfield proceeded to read some messages sent to the capitulars by Fr. Francisco Javier Jiménez, Prior Provincial of Saint Nicolas Province, Fr. Julio Chacon, Fr. Miguel Miro, Fr. Juan Manuel Torrecilla. More on this story...

5-09 Adult Religious Education at Cristo Rey Shortly after arriving at Cristo Rey Church in Los Angeles, Fr. Michael Stechmann was meeting with parents wishing to have their children baptized and they spoke with honesty about having “fallen through the cracks” through the years regarding reception of the Sacraments. Some of the parishioners who attend daily Mass were concerned about their adult children who were negligent in receiving the Sacraments. Fr. Michael noticed those who were attending Mass and not receiving the Eucharist and began to speak privately to individuals and they were quite eager to tell their stories and even more excited about the possibility of receiving the Sacraments of Initiation. They were ready and willing for the invitation to advance in their faith. More on this story.

2-09 San Miguel, Follow-up As the last Augustinian Recollect parochial vicar at San Miguel Church in Watts (Los Angeles), it was a pleasure to read in the Oct.31, 2008 issue of the Tidings, Hermine Lees' thumbnail history of that parish. I had always heard that it was in gratitude for the financial help of the parishioners of St. Michael’s Parish in Los Angeles that the new parish chose the name San Miguel. The article was unable to give a list of the pastors in San Miguel's early days. More on this story...

2-09 2-09 San Miguel Church: A history (originally appeared in Los Angeles’ Archdiocesan Catholic publication, The Tidings, October 31, 2008) Founded: 1927 Location: 2214 East 108th Street, Los Angeles San Pedro Region: Deanery 17. The poignant cry of "Viva Cristo Rey!" echoed around the world in November of 1927 when the young Jesuit priest, Miguel Pro, was executed in Mexico during the violent persecutions of Catholics in that country. The photograph of his execution --his arms raised in the form of a cross, one hand holding a crucifix, the other a rosary --was intended to show the power of the Marxist regime but instead elicited outrage and protest worldwide. Pope John Paul II beatified the Jesuit in 1988. More on this story...

1-09 Walk of Faith: 1,300-Plus March for Peace in Montebello The marchers came on foot, with dogs on leashes, elders in wheelchairs and babies on shoulders --- more than 1,300 of them, not a bad turnout. Especially on a Labor Day when they could have been sleeping in, heading for the beach, or otherwise taking it easy. More on this story...

12-08 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION FOR EAST COAST FRIARS, HOSTED BY AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT SISTERS, IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, DECEMBER 30, 2008 That time again! Our gracious AR sisters of Immaculate Conception Convent in Irvington hosted a fantastic Christmas and New Year’s party, packed with fun, food, and plenty of laughs. Fr. Provincial and I were there, along with several of Tagaste’s friars, Fr. Fidel Hernández, and many of St. Nicholas Province’s religious from Union City. As always, the sisters outdid themselves. More on this story...

12-08 - NEW CRUCIFIX IN EUCHARISTIC CHAPEL, ST. BENEDICT’S, MONTEBELLO, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 14, 2008 When St. Benedict’s jewel-like Eucharistic Chapel was blessed and opened in 2007 on the Feast of Christ the King, it lacked several liturgical pieces that were envisioned in its original plan. To mark, in a small way, the parish’s celebration of the golden jubilee of its present church, Father Joseph Gallardo, pastor, has acquired and hung a museum-quality ivory crucifix above the adoration tabernacle. More on this story...

12-08 - Installation of new electric organ, St. Benedict’s, Montebello, California, October 23, 2008 On January 11, 2009, St. Benedict will celebrate the golden anniversary of the dedication of its present church. For some time the pastor, Father Joseph Gallardo, has been pondering and questioning how the parish might suitably mark such an important milestone in parish’s history. Many ideas and suggestions surfaced – some of which may yet be used--, but the one that received universal applause was the installation of a new organ. More on this story...

12-08 A BELL RETURNS TO CRISTO REY, 12-08 - The Solemnity of Christ the King on November 23, 2008 was especially significant for our friars and community at Cristo Rey Church in Los Angeles. This marked the patronal feast of the parish which has been under the care of our religious since 1940 when Fr. Jesus Domench began celebrating Mass for the residents of Atwater Village in a rented home. The present church structure was built in 1943 under the watchful eye of Fr. Domench and the generosity of faithful parishioners who asked that their new church be named “Cristo Rey”, a title so important to their faith and culture. It has been a tradition here for many years that various parish groups and families present floral tributes each evening of the novena preceding the patronal feast. More on this story...

12-08 2008 Province Assembly, Oxnard, California, October 13-17 - More than three years have passed since our preceding assembly, and this year’s get-together was another memorable one. There were 33 friars of St. Augustine Province in attendance. As usual, the accommodations provided by St. Augustine Priory’s Father Prior Domingos Machado and fellow religious were terrific. The food was fantastic. Yet again, our cherished friends, the Friedrich family, provided several of the meals, beautifully catered and served, complete with brightly-colored autumn table linens and fresh flower baskets. More on this story...

12-08 Priestly Ordination of Friar Juan José Guzmán, OAR, October 16, 2008 - I can remember so well the night that Juan José first arrived at Tagaste Monastery in Suffern, New York. It was August 2001. Fr. Fredric Abiera and I drove to Newark airport to pick him up. He had just completed his year-long novitiate in Monteagudo, Spain. He was exhausted and not hungry. But, since he didn’t want to disappoint the ravenous Fredric and myself, he went along with our suggestion that we stop for a bite to eat. More on this story...

10-08 Fr. Michael Kenny, OAR (1974-2008) - Monday, September 15 was the day I was scheduled to return from California to New York. I had spent several weeks, following my vacation, helping at Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Oxnard during the absence of Fr. Michael Kenny, who was visiting his family in New York. During that final week of my stay at Mary Star, people kept asking me when Fr. Michael would be returning to the parish. He was, as a matter of fact, I told them, due to return on September 19. On the day of my departure I celebrated the 8:00 AM Mass in the parish before leaving for the airport. By coincidence the intention for the day—the Feast of the Sorrowful Mother—was for Fr. Michael Kenny. More on this story...

10-08 Fra. Ulyses Moyao, OAR, Professes Simple Vows -The Feast of St. Augustine, August 28, was a doubly joyful event as celebrated at St. Augustine Priory in Oxnard, CA, this year, since it was also the occasion for Fr. Ulyses Moyao to profess his Simple Vows. Fr. Ulyses had spent his novitiate year, as is customary in our Province, at the St. Nicholas inter-novitiate house in Monteagudo, Spain, and was present there for the profession of his classmates in early August. Returning to the United States on August 12, he spent some time visiting with his family before beginning preparations for the final preparations for Profession. More on this story...

9-08 Dinner-Dance Held at St. Augustine Priory - The Tenth Annual Dinner-Dance was held at St. Augustine Priory, Oxnard, CA., on July 12, 2008. The event is a project of the St. Ezekiel Moreno Guild, with Alex Santos and Nona Solis as Coordinators. The crowd this year was one of the largest in the history of this annual event. The guests, younger than usual, entered into the spirit of the gala with great enthusiasm and enjoyment. More on this story...

9-08 25th Anniversary Celebration at Mary Star of the Sea - “Cantaré eternamente las misericordias del Señor. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.” These words from the 89th Psalm that were sung at the Mass celebrated on June 20th aptly express the sentiments experienced at the celebration commemorating twenty-five years of Augustinian Recollect ministry at Mary Star of the Sea Parish. More on this story...

8-08 Sr. Betty Segura, AR, celebrates 25th Anniversary - She came to the United States from Mexico as a simple professed religious in 1987 to join the first foundation of the Federación de Monjas Agustinas Recoletas de México and to live as a nun dedicated to the contemplative life. Sister Beatriz “Betty” Segura had made her simple vows in Mexico City in 1983 before Fr. Rafael Rivera, OAR, current Vicar for the Augustinian Recollects in Mexico. The year after her arrival at Immaculate Conception Convent, located at that time on the grounds of the Provincial Residence in West Orange, New Jersey, she professed perpetual vows before Fr. John Oldfield, OAR, Prior Provincial of St. Augustine Province. In the years that followed, Sr. Betty participated in the community life of the Recollect Sisters—a life dedicated to prayer and to the various activities undertaken to support them in their way of life, distinguishing herself most especially in the area of music. More on this story...

7-08 A Mission to Brazil - São Paulo, Brazil was our first destination. The whole community at Las Rozas in Madrid was present on June 24 to say goodbye to us, the five friars—Fr. Javier Jiménez, our prefect, together with Fras. Antonio Flores, Jesús Olvera, Luis Cadena and me—who were leaving for a two-month mission in Brazil. We took off from Barajas Airport around 1:30 PM, and by 2:45 PM we were already having lunch as we flew out over the Atlantic Ocean on our way to Brazil (an 11 hour flight). Leaving Spain, Gibraltar, and Morocco behind, we took the sea way of “Via Esperanza” and arrived in São Paulo at 12:35 AM (local time). We waited almost five hours there for our connecting flight, which took off at 4:50 AM. and arrived in Manaus around 9 AM. Brother Miguel Pérez was already there at Eduardo Gomes Airport waiting patiently so that he could take us to the Recollect community house. More on this story...

7-08 Priestly Ordination of Fr. Michael Stechmann, OAR - During my first year at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, I overheard frequent discussions about “late”, “delayed”, “mature” vocations and this would make me laugh inside, especially since I was almost the oldest student there. It wasn’t until word got out about my age and years in religious life that faculty members and students wanted to hear of my life experiences. (This had its disadvantages, especially when professors in liturgy classes would ask me to explain pre-Vatican II prayers or rituals. It finally got to the point that whenever a professor in any class would mention the general views of anything prior to the Second Vatican Council the whole class would automatically look to me for a response. That was great because I was able to offer personal insights that textbooks might not convey.) I really began to feel like a “mature vocation” during a course in liturgical music when I was the only one in the class that had access to a tape recorder! More on this story...

6-08 A Missionary Experience in Casanare - Fra. Fernando Murillo, OAR, is a simple professed religious of St. Augustine Province currently studying at the Seminario Mayor Filosofado San Agustín in Manizales, Colombia, the house of postulants for Candelaria Province. The article below, describing his experience there, is given first in English translation followed by the original Spanish.

My stay in Colombia has been full of experiences that have enriched greatly my life consecrated to God as an Augustinian Recollect. I’d like to share a marvelous mission apostolate experience. More on this story...

5-08 Dn. Juan José Guzman graduates from Immaculate Conception Seminary - It was a good thing we brought our umbrellas. By the time we reached IZOD Center (formerly Continental Arena) in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey the rain was coming down steadily, blown by a gusty wind. The weather, however, was not enough to dampen our spirits. We were attending the Commencement Exercises of Seton Hall University, and Dn. Juan José Guzman was graduating from the School of Theology with his Master of Divinity degree. Some 1100 students graduated from the various Schools of Seton Hall in an 11:00 AM ceremony on May 12. More on this story...

5-08 Three tales of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to New York - A Papal visit is always an extraordinary event in the history of the local church. The following three articles, written by Augustinian Recollects, testify to the inspiration, joy, and encouragement generated by the presence of the Holy Father during his visit to the New York area in mid-April, 2008 More on this story...

5-08 Bishop David Arias, OAR, celebrates Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination - The cherry blossoms in Branch Brook Park were in full bloom, adding to the beauty of the stately cathedral basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey, which was the setting on April 13 for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop David Arias, OAR. Archbishop John J. Myers and a number of other bishops from the Archdiocese were present for the 10:00 AM bilingual liturgy. More on this story...

5-08 Visit with our Students in Spain, 2008 - It was cold and windy on the evening of Wednesday, April 2 when I left Newark Liberty Airport on the overnight flight to Spain to make my regular visit with our students, Fra. Juan José Alfaro at the theologate in Madrid and Fra. Ulyses Moyao at the novitiate in Monteagudo. It was definitely déjà vu when I arrived at Barajas Airport about 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 3 and saw Br. Alberto Eraña waiting for me with his welcoming smile and a quick offer to help me with my bags. More on this story...

4-08 The Augustinian Recollects Welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

4-08 St. Benedict Youth Mission - It has long been a desideratum at St. Benedict to dedicate more time and attention to the religious formation of parish teenagers and young people. A few months ago Father Joseph Gallardo, Pastor, furthered the creation of a youth choir which sings each Sunday at the evening Mass. He sees that as the initial step in scheduling a weekly youth Mass. More on this story...

3-08 SARs Reflect on Vocation at Regional day of Recollection - The day was clear and sunny as some 100 Secular Augustinian Recollects from the Tagaste, St. John, and St. Cloud chapters arrived in Suffern for the annual Lenten day of recollection on Saturday, March 15. Members of the Union City chapter (St. Nicholas Delegation) could not attend this time around due to other obligations. The topic for this year’s gathering was Vocation, which followed in the wake of the mandate of the last General Chapter that 2008 be a special Year of Vocations, and the recent opening of Vocation Year 2008 in both the Eastern and Western regions of the province. With the vocational “crisis” adversely affecting all Christian vocations, it is clearly important to enlist our SARs in vocational promotion. More on this story...

A Most Holy and Happy Easter to all the friends of the Augustinian Recollects.

3-08 Fr. Hernan Canete, OAR, joins staff at St. Benedict - A young, active, and athletic Recollect, a member of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, Father Hernan Canete arrived in Los Angeles January 19, 2008, and immediately took up residence at St. Benedict Parish, Montebello, where he had been assigned as pastoral associate. More on this story...

3-08 Vocation Year 2008 opens for the Western Region - On last year’s feast of the Epiphany, the General of the Augustinian Recollect Order, Father Javier Guerra, in a letter to the Order’s membership declared 2008 THE AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT VOCATION YEAR. More on this story...

2-08 Vocation Year 2008 opens for the Eastern Region - Article No. 9 of the 53rd General Chapter (2004) after petitioning Fr. General to declare 2008 “the Augustinian Recollect Year of Vocations” goes on to state that all the religious of the Order should be “. . . the first agents for stimulating vocational interest through their joyful witnessing to their religious consecration and their life of good example (cf. Const. 159). They should strive to live fraternally in community being zealous in serving and joyful in their experience of God. In this way, the communities’ appeal will be contagious and be itself a vocational calling.” More on this story...

2-08 Western Regional Retreat, 2008 - At mid-day on a rather brisk mid-January Monday, ten California Recollects gathered at Los Angeles’ Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests to begin their annual spiritual retreat. They would be together in prayer and silence from January 14-18. More on this story...

2-08 News from Monteagudo (I) - The following notes are taken from a letter by Fra. Ulyses Moyao, OAR, a novice of St. Augustine Province in the novitiate class of 2007-08. I can tell you that I am very happy here, enjoying my novitiate. As you might imagine, there are a lot of activities here that make the days go by quickly. We have already had two excursions: to the convents of San Millan de la Cogolla and to Sos del Rey Católico. More on this story...

2-08 Adoration Chapel at St. Benedict - It was last August and long before he knew anything of the December 8th letter from the Congregation for the Clergy’s Prefect, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, asking that special “Eucharistic shrines” be created, that Fr. Joseph Gallardo, Pastor of St. Benedict, set plans in motion to establish just such a shrine. More on this story...

1-08 Holy Innocents with the AR Sisters in Irvington - Every year on the feast of Holy Innocents, December 28, the Augustinian Recollect Sisters in Irvington, New Jersey, invite their Recollect brothers from St. Augustine Province and the St. Nicholas Delegation to join them for a community gathering and lunch. Since Holy Innocents is the day for pranks (like April Fools’ Day) everyone has to remain alert; the Sisters are always very creative when it comes to playing tricks! More on this story...

1-08 Christmas in West Orange - December Regional Day of Recollection -Eighteen friars participated in the monthly day of recollection for the Eastern Region on December 19. Traditionally, St. Cloud Monastery has hosted this pre-Christmas get together. The topic of discussion for the day was “The Community Praying and Penitent” from Las Constituciones fuente viva. More on this story...

Annual SAR Christmas Party - This year’s SAR Christmas party for the West Orange chapter fell on the twelfth day of  Christmas—the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Fr. Provincial, Charles Huse, and local community members Br. Anthony Torretti and Fr. Michael Rafferty were on hand to greet some 50 guests, including several friars from Tagaste Monastery, who attended the celebration. More on this story...

1-08 SAR Profession at Tagaste - It has become traditional at Tagaste Monastery for the local SAR fraternity to celebrate the profession of novices and entrance into the novitiate on the first Wednesday of December each year. This year’s profession happened to coincide with the Day of the Recollection—“Foundation Day”—in the Order, making it a doubly joyful occasion. Bishop David Arias, OAR, presided at the liturgy and received the profession of promises from the SAR candidates.  More on this story...

12-07 Br. Michael Stechmann ordained a Transitional Deacon -On Saturday, November 17, Br. Michael Stechmann, O.A.R., along with twelve classmates from St. John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was ordained to the transitional diaconate at Padre Serra Church in Camarillo, CA by Most Rev. Alexander Salazar, Auxiliary Bishop of the San Pedro Region.  Also present was Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis and over 100 concelebrants. Fr. Domingos Machado, O.A.R., Vicar Provincial accompanied the Rector and Vice-Rector in the entrance procession and liturgy and Augustinian Recollects from several communities were present for the ordination liturgy.  More on this story...

12-07 Fra. Juan José Guzman ordained to the Diaconate - Recently, things have been happening very quickly for Fra. Juan José Guzman. After a month of special preparation in Burgos, Spain, he made his profession of solemn vows on August 25 at Tagaste Monastery. Although he had fulfilled all academic requirements for diaconate in the spring along with his classmates at Immaculate Conception Seminary, he had to wait, as mandated by canonical regulations, until after his solemn profession to receive the Order of Deacon. Accordingly, his diaconate was scheduled for December 1. His family, who were also present for Fra. Juan José’ solemn profession, came from their home outside of Guadalajara, Mexico, to witness his promotion to major orders.   More on this story...

12-07 First Meeting of Provincial Secretaries with General Curia - I shall begin with a resounding “Viva, Italia”! Yes, that’s how much I loved my first visit to Rome. I was warmly greeted at the city’s Da Vinci airport on Friday, September 28, 2007, by Frs. Miguel Miró, prior, and Javier Echarri, general procurator, of the Curia residence. The friars wasted no time in giving me a quick run-through of the scenery that Rome had to offer on the highway as we headed toward the Curia. Upon arrival there, I immediately ran into (literally!) Fr. Jesús Suela, secretary general.   More on this story...

12-07 Thanksgiving at St. John Kingsbridge - Once again on Thanksgiving Day, the doors of St. John's Parish in Bronx, New York, were opened up to those who were alone without family on this festive holiday.  This tradition began seven years ago by Fr. Ed Fagan, OAR, who, when he was a student, said that if he became a priest he would hold a dinner on Thanksgiving for people in the local community who normally spend the whole year alone.  Well, that wish did become a reality.  This year a dinner with all the trimmings was served to over 60 guests.  There were also a number of dinners delivered to those who were homebound and unable to join us at the Godwin Terrace School. More on this story...

11-07 The Day of My Religious Consecration to God - The day I consecrated myself publicly to God will always be a blessed and special moment for me--a very personal, intimate, and unique experience. Admittedly there have been moments when I have not felt worthy enough to make this commitment. Moreover, the profession liturgy seemed to be so short but simultaneously so valuable for my future life. For sure it will be a lifetime remembrance. Reflecting deeply on my profession of simple vows of chastity, obedience and poverty, I would have to say that it would not have been so blessed and would not have marked my life so profoundly, if it wasn’t for the spiritual preparation I received during my year of novitiate.
More on this story...

10-07 Fr. James McGuire celebrates 60 years as an Augustinian Recollect - Anniversaries and jubilees are milestones. They do not represent a goal or a finish. An anniversary is a time to pause, a moment for a backward glance to see what has been accomplished, to be humbly grateful and then strike on toward another milestone. So Father McGuire reminded the many who gathered with him on September 9, 2007, in Montebello's St. Benedict Church to mark the 60th anniversary of his religious profession. More on this story...

10-07 Memories of my Solemn Profession - The day of my solemn profession came at last on August 25th 2007. This event was so significant in my life because I was first and foremost making a decisive choice, a lifetime commitment. Before making my solemn profession I began to think about how it all started: in other words, what events and experiences brought me to this point? The first thought that came to my mind was the time when I was just starting my initial formation. I remembered Oxnard, California where the house of initial formation is located and the weekend vocation retreats are held. In 1995 I first met Fr. JosÈ Luis Mart’nez who was vocation promoter at that time. More on this story...

7-07 Eastern Regional Retreat, 2007 - Tagaste Monastery in Suffern, New York once again hosted the Eastern Regional Retreat for St. Augustine Province, June 10-15, 2007. A dozen Recollect friars from our three Eastern houses and from Mexico City—the Provincial Residence in West Orange, New Jersey; St. John Parish in the Bronx, New York, Our Lady of Lourdes in Mexico, and Tagaste—were represented at the retreat, which was directed by Fr. John Benedict Weber, O.Carm., from Carmel Retreat House in Mahwah, NJ. The main theme of the retreat was contemplative prayer as it is rooted in the Scriptural example of Jesus, the evangelical counsels, and the tradition of Augustinian Recollect religious life. More on this story...

5-07 A Visit with our Students in Spain - “Sorry about the delay;” the pilot’s voice blared over the intercom, “there were forty planes lined up ahead of us.” . . . That, at least, explained the one-hour delay on the runway at Newark Liberty Airport. It was after 9:00 PM on Sunday, March 25 when we finally took off. Fr. Michael Rafferty was my traveling companion on the seven hour trip to Spain where we planned to visit with our students, Fra. Juan José Alfaro, a simple professed studying philosophy in Madrid, and Fra. Eduardo Rodríguez, a novice in Monteagudo. More on this story..

5-07 Fr. Anthony Palos, OAR, receives evangelization award. The Cursillo de Cristiandad of New York held its 19th annual banquet De Colores at Marina Del Rey restaurant in the Bronx on May 10, 2007. Some 800 guests and community members were present for the celebration, including Fr. Fidel Hernandez, spiritual director, and Br. Mario Alvarez, assistant director of St. Joseph Center as well as Bishops David Arias, OAR, and Gerard Ward. Fr. Provincial, Charles Huse, was also on hand to present Fr. Anthony Palos with the Ezekiel Moreno Evangelization Award for his work over many years in serving the Hispanic community and the Cursillo Movement. Click here for more...

4-07 Tagaste participates in New York Archdiocese Bicentennial Celebration - “Rockland’s Catholic heritage” is the title of one of a series of events celebrating the bicentennial of the Archdiocese of New York. The Historical Society of Rockland County will be displaying a variety of historical and artistic items at its New City headquarters from March 11-June 17, 2007. More on this story... | Ver Español de este página. To see Spanish of this page.

3-07 Fr. James McGuire to Celebrate 60 years of Religious Profession. The Los Angeles Archdiocese celebration for religious men and women observing significant jubilees of religious profession took place at 3:30 PM, Sunday, January 28, 2007, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angeles. 140 religious are observing jubilees this year, and 70 of them were present for the celebration. Click here for more...

3-07 Honoring the Ministry of Fr. James Brown in Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska, was the site of the first permanent mission of the Augustinian Recollects in the United States. Beginning at Holy Ghost Parish in 1917 and then at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in 1919, the Recollect friars ministered to both the English and Spanish speaking residents of South Omaha. The corporate mission of St. Augustine Province in Omaha ended in the mid-1980s when lack of personnel and the need for consolidation to preserve community life forced the Recollects to withdraw from the Archdiocese.
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3-07 Recollect Formators meet in Colombia - Twenty five friars involved in formation ministry in the Order of Augustinian Recollects met at the Monastery of El Desierto de la Candelaria, Ráquira, Colombia, for a meeting sponsored by the General Secretariat of Formation, January 22-February 3. The meeting was directed by Fr. Bernardo Cerda Saiz, OAR, president of the Secretariat. Representing St. Augustine Province were Fr. Ramon Gaitán, prior of Tagaste Monastery, Suffern, New York, and Fr. Eliseo González, prefect of students at St. Augustine Priory, Oxnard, California. More on this story...

2-07 Christmas Scenes at St. Augustine Province - East Coast and West Coast: Click here for slide shows...

1-07 - Western Regional Retreat, 2007 - A dozen Recollects in California joined together for their annual spiritual retreat from January 14-19, 2007. As they did last year, the friars assembled at the Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests in Los Angeles, which offers excellent..... More on this story & slideshow