“Remember, Reflect and Give Thanks:” Recoletos de San Carlos honors Sister Provincial on the 436th Founding Anniversary of the OAR

Augustinian Recollect priests, sisters, members of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (SARF) and Recollect Augustinian Youth – San Carlos (RAY) gathered at the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva-Recoletos Chapel today, December 5, 2024, for the Memorial of the 436th Founding Anniversary of the Order of Augustinian Recollects.

During the celebration, Ms. Beatriz Atienza Gaviola was honored for her outstanding merits in supporting the OAR vocations and the Recoletos de San Carlos community. Ms. Gaviola was conferred the title Sister Provincial of the Order last November 28, 2024, during the Closing Rites of the 25th Anniversary of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Carmen La Limpia in Cebu City.

“Like any family, we have a rich history, but this should not be an excuse for not moving forward, for falling into rigidity, into immobility or closed heart,” Rev. Fr. Cristopher C. Maspara, OAR, prior of Recoletos de San Carlos, opened his homily thus. Fr. Maspara further related the history of the Order as a reminder for all Augustinian Recollects of what the Order had been through and of what needs to be done at present to stay relevant.

The prior, who also leads Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos, Inc. as president, reminded the members of the OAR family in San Carlos that “nonconformity is the essence of the Recollect movement.”