HISTORY OF THE AUGUSTINIAN

RECOLLECTs AND THE PROVINCE OF ST.

EZEKIEL MORENO

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 Prayer to the Holy Spirit
(St. Augustine)
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that
my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my
work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I
love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to
defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that
I always may be holy. Amen.
Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 Learning Objectives:
DOCTRINE:
Discover the origin of the Augustinian-Recollects and its development as a
religious order.
Highlight the important contributions of the Augustinian-Recollects in the
field of mission and educational apostolate.
MORAL:
Value the legacy of the Augustinian-Recollects in the spiritual and secular life
of the people especially of the Filipinos particularly the Negrenses.
WORSHIP:
Express gratitude to God for the Recollect legacy and the opportunity to
study in UNO-R through prayers.
Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 St. Augustine of hippo founded 3 Monasteries

13 November 354 – Aurelius

Augustinus was born in Thagaste
(present day - Souk-Ahras, Algeria)
387 – Baptized by Bishop Ambrose
of Milan
389 – Founded the first monastic
community in Thagaste, N. Africa

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 391 – Priestly Ordination
Founded the second monastery at
Hippo “on the model of the Church
in Jerusalem” – ONE MIND, ONE
HEART
Also founded a monastery for
women; the first “abbess” was his
only sister, Perpetua
395 – He was ordained as Bishop; He succeeded the Greek Bishop
Valerius; founded the third monastic community in Hippo
(monastery of clerics)

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 397 – Widely accepted date of composition of
the “Rule of St. Augustine”
28 August 430 – Death of St. Augustine. He was
succeeded by Heraclius, his youngest deacon
Augustine’s followers were called to rule many
other African dioceses.
They also established monasteries of clerics,
laymen and virgins.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 PERSECUTIONS & REVIVAL
OF AUGUSTINIAN LIFE

5th Century -Almost all of the

Augustinian Monasteries
ceased to exist during the long
persecutions of the two Vandal
Kings in Africa: King Genseric
and King Huneric

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 King Genseric (429-477) and his son
Huneric (477-484) were Arians.
Both vented furies against bishops
and the religious.

When the persecutions abated, the

Augustinian life was revived across the sea
(Italy, Tunisia and Spain)

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 7th Century – Arab scimitars
wiped out the last vestiges of
Augustinian monasticism from
the face of Africa.
8th Century - Western religious
life was gradually drawing close
to the Benedictine model but it
didn’t totally displaced St.
Augustine from the monastic
world.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

9
 FOLLOWERS OF ST. AUGUSTINE’S RULE

1200’s – Plenty of scattered

coenobitic communities followed
the Rule of St. Augustine.
The Pope urged them to unite
their forces and organize
themselves.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 1244 - Pope Innocent IV
confirmed the “FIRST
GRAND UNION” among
Augustinian hermits of
Tuscany, thus the birth of
the “ORDER OF HERMITS
OF ST. AUGUSTINE” (OHSA,
later OSA)

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 OSA has no historical nor juridical link to
St. Augustine’s original communities.

ORDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE (OSA)

had its direct origin in the fusion of
several eremitical groups in Central
Italy.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 The First Augustinian Saint after the
Grand Union of the Augustinians.
Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

13
 PHILIPPINES UNDER THE SPANISH RULE
1521 – Arrival of the Spaniards in the Phils.
Spain had taught the Philippines how to
become a nation. (The first missionaries to
arrive are the Augustinians).

The Archipelago was composed of various

kingdoms ruled by different Datus and
Rajahs.

One colony, one ruler, one religion.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 1533 – From Spain, the
Augustinians arrived in Mexico

▫ Mexico would later be an

important stopover for Recollect
missionaries from Spain before
proceeding to the Philippines

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 ARRIVAL OF 4 RELIGIOUS ORDERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1565 – Augustinians
1578 – Franciscans
1581 – Jesuits
1587 – Dominicans

*The Recollects arrived in the

Philippines in 1606 – 5th and last
group to arrive

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 FIRST SIGNS OF RECOLLECT MOVEMENT from OSA

1540 – 1588 - There appeared Augustinian religious who

aspired for a real life of poverty, prayer, silence and
equality.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

19
 The Mexican Recollection was
headed by the spiritual father
St. Thomas of Villanova.

1533 - ST. THOMAS OF

VILLANOVA sown the first
seeds of the Mexican
Recollection.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

20
 BIRTH of the AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECTION

December 5,1588
Talavera De La Reina, Toledo
Augustinian Province Of Castile,
Toledo, Spain

*Talavera dela Reina – first

Augustinian Recollect convent

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

21
 The FORMA DE VIVIR
FRAY LUIS DE LEON – wrote the
“FORMA DE VIVIR” - document on
the Recollects “Way of Life”.
Expresses the desire for greater
perfection… in an intensification of
contemplative & communitarian life
with an emphasis on its ascetic features.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

22
 11 February 1602 - POPE CLEMENT
VIII approved the separation of the
Augustinian Recollects from OSA.

FR. JUAN DE SAN JERONIMO - was

elected as the First Prior Provincial
who later lead the pioneer missionaries
to the Philippines.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

23
 5 June 1621 – Recoletos was
elevated to a Congregation by
Pope Gregory XV through his
papal brief “Militantis
Ecclesiae”

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

24
 Recoletos CROSSED THE OCEAN
22 February 1606 – 14 Recollect
missionaries boarded Galleon Espiritu
Santo led by Fr. Juan De San Jeronimo
May 12, 1606 - Only 13 arrived in Cebu
(Fr. Andres de San Nicolas died at sea)

24 July 1606 – First convent was raised

in Bagumbayan (San Juan Bautista)

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

25
 St. ezekiel moreno in
The philippines

1870 - 1885 – He lived and worked in

the Philippines for 15 years
He was assigned to different
missionary areas in the Philippines
including Palawan, Mindoro,
Zambales and Las Piñas.
“An Augustinian Recollect Saint
among Filipinos.”

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

26
 RECOLETOS BECAME A RELIGIOUS
ORDER
16 September 1912 - POPE PIUS X, through his
papal brief “RELIGIOSAS FAMILIAS” elevated the
Recollection to a RELIGIOUS ORDER.
1912 - The official name of the order- Order of the
Recollect Hermits of St. Augustine (ORHSA)

1927 - Order of the Recollects of St. Augustine (ORSA)

1966 - Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR)

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

27
 LEGACY OF THE RECOLLECTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Sugarcane industry in Negros Churches and
cathedrals in Cavite, Negros, Misamis, Bohol
and Palawan.
San Sebastian Cathedral, Bacolod Public
Plaza, public cemetery and the Negros
Provincial Jail (now 888)– planned and built
by Fr. Mauricio Ferrero

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

28
 Bacolod Public Plaza Statues at the entrance of the San
and San Sebastian Sebastian Cathedral in honor of
Cathedral Fr. Mauricio Ferrero, OAR and
Fr. Fernando Cuenca, OAR

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

29
 Famous bamboo organ of Las Pinas – built by Fr. Diego
Cera
All-steel Basilica of San Sebastian in Quiapo, Manila
Manila paper
Build forts and towers to protect the faithful from Moro
raids.
Fr. Agustin de San Pedro – dubbed as El Padre Capitan

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

30
 EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE
630 parochial schools
In 1896-1898 – Colegio de San Jose
was established in Bacolod
Today: Universities , colleges,
secondary schools and seminaries

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.

31
 November 28, 1998 - Province of St.
Ezekiel Moreno was born
(Province of the Recollects in the Phils.)

•Schools, Universities, Colleges

•Parishes – Pastoral Ministry
•Mission Areas – Taiwan, Africa, Brazil
•Formation Centers – Seminaries for
men preparing for religious life
• Media – Recoletos Communications
• Social Concern – relief assistance, care
for environment

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
COMMUNITY Recoletos Social Outreach
EXTENSION Center (ReSOurCe) in
PROGRAM Purok San Ezekiel Moreno,
Brgy. Handumanan

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 PRESENCE OF THE RECOLLECTS
IN THE WORLD
Today, the Recollects are present in 19
countries, including:

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,

England, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Taiwan,
United States, Venezuela
The Recollects numbered 1500 religious spread throughout the world in 201
religious houses, distributed into eight provinces (regions) in four continents.
The strongest is in Spain, the Philippines and Colombia.

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
 Activity: MS Teams Answer the following
reflection questions.
Five sentences only for
each question.

2. As UNO-Rian, what legacy

1. Which legacy / would you like to personally
contribution of the contribute (to your family, school,
Recollects inspired church and the community)?
you the most? Why?

Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
Closing Prayer
Almighty and most merciful Father; we have come
together today to learn and grow in your word.
Thank you for the gift of education. Thank you for
the presence of teachers and students. We ask that
you would bless our time together. Help us to
open our hearts and minds to receive all that you
have for us. As we study your truth, may we be
transformed by it. Help us to apply what we learn
so that our lives would continue to glorify you. All
this we pray, in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(cf ) https://amosii.com/opening-prayer-for-class-and-closing-
prayer/
Genie U. Pedrosa
Program Head, REED Dept.
Thank you.