Visit of Renewal 2024: Sharing the OAR Charism to the Lay of the Recoletos de San Carlos Community

An encounter with the Augustinian Recollect religious community, the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (SARF), the Recollect Augustinian Youth (RAY), the Christian Mothers of Sta. Monica and the Former Seminarians of the OAR (FORSOAR) highlighted the Visit of Renewal 2024 of Rev. Fr. Bernard C. Amparado, OAR, prior of the OAR Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, and his secretary, Rev. Fr. Jose Ernil F. Almayo, OAR. The visit was from July 1 to 4, 2024.

Message from Pope Francis
Fr. Amparado first shared the message of Pope Francis to the Augustinian Recollects during the General Chapter in Rome last year. The Pope told the OAR priests not to be bothered nor worried about the declining number of religious in the Order (at press time, the Order has less than a thousand priests) “but your charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit; this gift of the Holy Spirit will not be destroyed—it will only transform for as long you are willing to share your spirituality to the people around you, the lay.”

On this note, Fr. Amparado challenged and inspired the lay members of the community to truly imbibe the charism of the OAR.

Formation by the Prior Provincial
The prior provincial, who arrived in San Carlos City last July 1, 2024, to visit the Recoletos de San Carlos community, went on to discuss the “Four Characteristics of the Charism of the OAR.” The formation emphasized the importance of prayer, the very first characteristic which is “contemplative.” Thoroughly explained was the Order’s “communitarian character” to inspire Recoletos de San Carlos, especially in the daily living of the vocation.

Fr. Amparado also reported positive news in that the late missionary to the Amazons, Rev. Fr. Loreto Dacanay, OAR, whose first assignment as an OAR priest was as campus minister and teacher of Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos, is believed to be “saintly” so pieces of evidence are now being gathered related to intercessions granted through him for use in the future.

The Visit of Renewal also included a campus tour of CST-R Basic Education and College Departments and a visit to the Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Colegio de Sta. Rita de San Carlos, Monteagudo-Recoletos and Motril in Calatrava town.

The Feast of St. Thomas, The Apostle
On July 3, 2024, Fr. Amparado was the main presider and homilist of the Holy Mass in Honor of St. Thomas the Apostle, while the concelebrants were Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR (STV-R prior and CST-R president), Rev. Fr. Enrico Peter A. Silab, OAR (vice-prior) Rev. Fr. Joel Dequilla, OAR, (CST-R VP for administration and finance), Rev. Fr. Excel Saycon, OAR, (CST-R CEDO director) and Fr. Almayo. “God never leaves us hanging on air.” This was the prior provincial’s final point as he reflected on the Gospel about Doubting Thomas during his homily.

Story and Photos By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga and Rachel De Gracia, CVPro