Fray Jacinto joins Meeting of Vocation Directors in Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica–Fray Allan Jacinto, OAR, National Vocation Director of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno, together with other vocation directors and promoters from other Augustinian Recollect Provinces, attended the first ever gathering of Vocation Directors and Promoters for the sexennium 2016-2022. This weeklong gathering was held at Casa Formacion San Ezekiel Moreno, San Jose, Costa Rica that started last April 29, 2019.

There were twenty-two participants from the four Provinces of the Order, of which eleven were from the Province of Santo Tomas with the President of the Secretariat for Vocations and Youth, Fray Gustavo Barbiero, OAR; six were from the Province of Candelaria; and four from the Province of San Nicolas with the National Vocation Director of the Vicariate of Mexico and Costa Rica, Fray Fabian Martin Gomez, OAR. Fray Allan Jacinto, OAR, National Vocation Director, was the sole participant from the Province of San Ezekiel Moreno. These vocation directors and promoters are working in different parts of the globe such as in Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and the Philippines.

The main objectives of this gathering were, first, to hear from the brothers the positive and negative experiences that they have which include the ecclesiastical and civil implications of promoting religious and priestly vocation. Second, to evaluate the existing documents pertaining to the group of vocation promoters. Lastly, to propose matters for the betterment of the vocation campaign to the religious life.

Aside from the aforementioned objectives, the brothers were also asked to solicit and prepare succeeding programs for upcoming Order-wide celebrations. This moment was also an ample time to listen, act, and celebrate as an Order.

Prior to this encounter, the President of the General Secretariat for Vocations and Youth, Fray Juan Pablo Pelaez Martinez, OAR, convoked a three-day meeting of the members of the General Secretariat for Vocations last April 25-27, 2019.

(Photo below) The participants with Bishop Angel San Casimiro Fernández, OAR (center), Bishop-Emeritus of Alajuela, Costa Rica.