On Monday, July 8, the II Ordinary Provincial Chapter of the Province of St. John of Sahagún began at the Fray Luis de León Residence in Guadarrama (Madrid) and was held until July 12. It was attended by 63 capitulars, two religious invited by the Prior Provincial and two religious for translation work. Among the capitulars were friars from Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Peru, India, Panama, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Argentina, Malta and Spain.
The II Ordinary Provincial Chapter of the Province of St. John of Sahagún began with a Eucharist presided by the Prior General, Fr. Alejandro Moral, who confirmed the Prior Provincial, Fr. Domingo Amigo, and the new Provincial Council. Domingo Amigo and the new Provincial Council. "Before us, as before the disciples, a path of uncertainty and uncertain steps opens up," said the Prior General in his homily, asking for the intercession of the Holy Spirit, light, guide and strength in times of difficulty.
In his greeting to the Chapter, Fr. Alejandro Moral also encouraged "to continue fostering the construction of a provincial community identity and the sense of belonging to the new province", and asked "to take care of the spiritual life, formation and vocations", asking for the help of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of St. Augustine and St. John of Sahagun.
On its first day, the tasks of the chapter were established: to approve the provincial program for the next four years, to reform the statutes of the province and to study the proposals made by the religious, communities, vicariates or delegations.
Fr. Domingo Amigo called on the religious to "strengthen fraternity and shared mission, promoting a synodal and collaborative spirituality". He also emphasized the need to know and accept the changes in the new province, to foster a sense of
of belonging, to review and adjust works and styles of work and to form the laity in Augustinian spirituality.
Accompaniment of the laity
The second day had a marked lay character, since the capitulars dedicated part of the sessions to listen to members of different commissions and secretariats of the Province of St. John of Sahagún.
In addition, Fr. Francisco Robles and Fr. Lucian Borg presented the economic reality of the two dependent Delegations of the Province, Central America and Cuba. From the gratitude for the constant support they receive, they spoke of their small circumscriptions, with a simple economy based on the good work of the religious and the commitment of the Province with them.
One of the most awaited appointments was that of the Provincial Treasurer, Fr. Victor Fernandez, OSA, and the new Provincial Secretary, Fr. Alfonso Turienzo, OSA, who replaces Fr.
Two of the Chapter Eucharists were presided over by Bishops Julián Centeno and Luis Marín.
During the OPC, the financial reports of all the vicariates were presented. Likewise, as Fr. Javier Pérez Barba tells us, the reports of the different commissions, secretariats and the team in charge of the colleges were given. As could not be otherwise, there was an opportunity to discuss vocations and initial formation, with special attention to the novitiate period.
After the excursions to Segovia, where the capitulars visited the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Aqueduct, or the Monastery of El Escorial, the chapter days continued with a reflection on the Augustinian style of evangelization (based on a document prepared by the commissions of pastoral ministry and religious life) and the study of what has possibly been the most complex topic of the provincial chapter: the location of the professory and the theological study of the province.
The Center for Theological Studies in Valladolid
The last day brought together the conclusions of the Chapter and moved on to decision making. In his homily, the Prior Provincial, Fr. Domingo Amigo, recalled that "God always takes the initiative, becoming close to his people with mercy and tenderness, because he is a Father ready to welcome us at all times, despite our infidelity, so we are called to return continually to him," and invited the friars to walk together in each of the declinations of religious life.
In addition to the reform of some points of the statutes, it was decided that the center of Theological Studies and the professory of the Province will have its headquarters in Valladolid and that the General Chapter of 2025 will request that the Vicariate of Panama be constituted as a Province. The formation program for the laity and the new evangelization plan were also approved.
At the end, the Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, Fr. Alejandro Moral, encouraged everyone to carry out the resolutions of the Chapter and to live this new provincial stage with fidelity and joy.
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