Father General Visits the Recoletos Community of Indonesia

The Augustinian Recollect Community of Paroki Santo Agustinus dari Hippo – Ledo in Indonesia were grateful for the visit of the Prior General Fray Miguel Ángel Hernández Domínguez, OAR and the general secretary Fray Luciano Audisio, OAR. They arrived in the community on November 17, 2023. This fraternal visit commenced with the concelebrated Mass presided by Fray Russel Lapidez, OAR, prior and the parish priest of the community. They were welcomed by the traditional ethnic dance by the young members of the parish.

In his message to the faithful, which was delivered in Spanish and translated into English and Bahasa Indonesia, he said that he is happy to finally meet the faithful and has learned so much from them especially in their devotion and their piety. He wished that the presence of the Order in this part of Indonesia will contribute to the spiritual formation and holiness of the faithful.

In the afternoon, in his meeting with the Orang Muda Agustinian Rekoletos (OMAR) or the Recollect Agustinian Youth (RAY), he told them not to be afraid to share their lives and talents to the Church. He added that the young ones must live and enjoy with the present time and not to be afraid and worried about the future because the future is in the hands of God. He encouraged them to be followers of Saint Augustine, to care for the community, to be at peace and to rest with God, and to be young missionaries of the Church.

The next day, he visited the Universitas Katolik Santo Agustinus – Hippo in Ngabang, kabupaten Landak. It is where the proposed second Recollect community will be collaborating with the Archdiocese of Pontianak. The day after, he had a courtesy visit with Mgr. Agustinus Agus, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Pontianak. He thanked the good bishop for the invitation and for taking care of the Recollect religious working in the Archdiocese. The fraternal visit ended on the 20^th of November. Fray Miguel Ángel Hernández Domínguez, OAR is the first prior general that visited the Recollect community in Indonesia since its establishment in 2020.