Celebrating Communion: SARF 26th Luzon Regional Annual Reunion

Quezon City – The Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity celebrates communion as SARF de Recoletos Formation Center hosted the 16th annual regional reunion of SARF Luzon, in Mira Nila Homes, Quezon City.

248 delegates from 8 chapters of mainland Luzon filled Bulwagang Recoletos’ Bagumbayan Hall accompanied by their respective Spiritual Directors.

They celebrated the morning prayer and votive mass of their sister and patron, St. Magdalene of Nagasaki. The reunion follows the tradition of the SARF Members gathering together at a date nearest her feast on the 20th of October.

The annual reunion is not only a moment of rekindling old memories, but starting new ones as the Fraternity welcomes new pre-trial, trial, and promise Members. This year there are 29 Pre-Trial candidates who would undergo a year of formation and 41 candidates who promised to live the way of life.

New Members of the Fraternity

Rev. Fr. Bernard C. Amparado, OAR, Prior Provincial, celebrated the Mass as the main celebrant and accepted the candidates’ promises.

The significant promise and the document signing took place in front of the altar, followed by the Prior Provincial’s formal acceptance of the delegates by the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity.

Embraces of felicitation enveloped the candidates as the Prior Provincial, other concelebrating priests and SARF provincial councils gave the fraternal sign of peace to the new candidates as a sign of welcome to the community.

Mundane as it may seem for some, the applause that filled the House of God is only an expression of joy felt by the family with the entrance of new members to the fraternity.

Theme: Communion Our Mission

The theme for this year’s annual reunion resonates with that of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno’s 25th Anniversary celebration.

“We are one in Christ. We belong to Him because we belong to each other,” said Sis. Marielou Aventajado SAR, President of the RFC Chapter formally welcomes the delegates in the afternoon program.

“May our time together strengthen us in this mission is accomplished in communion, so that we may truly live as witnesses of the love of Christ in our world today,” she added.

Indeed, it was a hope realized as the delegates showed active participation in the getting-to-know activities proving that the fraternity is not bound by any hindrance.

Channeling the retro-vibes with their presentation of “September,” SARF de RFC, the host chapter, jumpstarted the vivacious afternoon. It was truly an ice-breaker that set the mood throughout the afternoon facilitating meaningful encounters in the other activities.

It was a sight to behold as everyone stood up in their chairs and jived to the beat of Dancing Queen and Build Me Up Buttercup. Nothing could be heard in the hall but laughter and shouts of joy as the activities ensued showing indeed unity amidst diversity.

The gathering ended with gratitude to God for bringing everyone closer to His bosom through the Secular Augustinian Recollect way of life.

By: Sis. Bhieng Zamora, SAR and Sis. Jhoan Beran, SAR