The Order celebrates 25th anniversary of RAY

This year, the Recollect Augustinian Youth is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Many experiences, people, testimonies of fraternity, joy and shared Gospel have been lived since that incipient dream that began to be forged in 1995. Several religious in different countries experienced the need to offer the Augustinian Recollect charism to the youth. The objective was clear: to share the richness of the Augustinian Recollect spirituality with the youth. From then until today, many steps have been taken leading to the establishment of a youth movement with an itinerary that excites and continues to bear fruit.

Meeting of your people with Cardinal Lacunza

The General Secretariat for Vocations and Youth of the Order and the Provinces have organized numerous activities to commemorate this 25th anniversary. Recently, the Augustinian Recollect Cardinal José Luis Lacunza, OAR, DD, participated in an online meeting where he shared experiences accompanying young people as a religious, priest and bishop. It was also an occasion to comment on his impressions from the Youth Synod, in which he had the opportunity to participate. Card. Lacunza was one of the great architects of the Word Youth Day in Panama in 2019, so the young people who attended the online session were very interested in sharing this space with him. The meeting with the Cardinal took place on the afternoon of July 29 and was organized by the Vicarage of Mexico and Costa Rica of the Province of St. Nicholas of Tolentine.

Remembering the Origins of the JAR with Bp. Carlos Maria Domínguez

Another similar meeting held recently, had as special guest Bp. Carlos María Domínguez, OAR, DD, auxiliary bishop of San Juan de Cuyo, and one of the promoters of the RAY since its origins. Under the theme, “The Augustinian Charism of the Augustinian Recollect Youth,” Bp. Carlos Maria made a journey through his life dedicated to the youth, recalling the fundamental notes of a young man who feels called to live his faith based on the Augustinian Recollect charism. This encounter, organized by the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, took place last August 8.

The inauguration of the 25th anniversary of the RAY in Mexico was celebrated in a very special way: in the monastery of the Sacred Heart in Lomas de Tecamachalco, belonging to the Augustinian Recollect nuns. Fray Javier Acero, OAR, presided over the celebration and, from this symbolic place of prayer, invited the young people to be faithful in their search for God in the style of St. Augustine.

On August 22, the General Secretariat for Vocations and Youth, together with the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria, is organizing a concert of praise and adoration that will be transmitted through the digital platforms of RAY International, the YouTube channel of the Order and the online platforms of the Province. The guest artist will be Jesse Demara.

In order to accompany the celebration of this anniversary, the RAY Section of the General Secretariat for Vocations and Youth prepared catechesis and materials inspired by the five characteristic dimensions of the movement: Mass of Thanksgiving (missionary dimension), Adoration (prayerful dimension), Lectio Divina (community dimension), Marian Act (Marian dimension), Catechesis on the charism (Augustinian dimension). All this is available in the 25th anniversary section of the RAY website.

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