A goal and a beginning: Panama celebrates its first Provincial Chapter 60 years after the beginning of the mission

During the last week of January, the first Chapter of the Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus took place at the Franciscan retreat house in Boquete, in western Panama.

Four months after the 188th General Chapter, at which the decision was made to elevate the Augustinians of Panama from Vicariate to Province, more than forty participating brothers were able to share in the “great joy” of this new stage together with the Prior General, who presided over the Chapter.

With Father Joseph L. Farrell, those present as guests included the Vicar General, Father Alexander Lam; the Prior Provincial of San Juan de Sahagún, Father Domingo Amigo, who was accompanied by Father Carlos José Sánchez and the former Prior General, Father Miguel Ángel Orcasitas, who delivered one of the opening conferences of the Chapter.

Fr. Orcasitas had the opportunity to share with the Augustinian friars the bond that this land has had with the Order since 1612. He recalled his own experiences and those of the friars still alive today who were present at the beginning of the contemporary mission, as well as his “deep joy” at the recent establishment of the new Province.

Joy and expectations

The first capitular session was marked by the installation of the new Prior Provincial, Father Carlos de la Cruz Murillo, along with his Provincial Council, including Fathers Carlos Flores Haylock, who in addition to serving as councilor will assume responsibility for the provincial secretariat; Oscar González Villalobos, who will take on the duties of treasurer; and councilors Jorge Luis Arcia, Ángel Luis Quintero Sánchez, and José Alexánder Quirós Tencio.

The new Province is made up of 59 friars, including 50 with solemn vows —among them brothers who collaborate in other circumscriptions or are in formation processes outside the country— and 9 professed with temporary vows.

“A positive atmosphere, joyful, participatory, respectful, and hopeful considering the significant challenges involved in fostering an increase in voctions and in continuing to strengthen the economic stability needed to undertake the major projects envisioned” 

As reported by the Vicar General to the General Secretariat of the Order of Saint Augustine, the remaining sessions focused on evaluating reports from the province communities, the work of the commissions, and group discussions on the statutes, while the final two sessions were reserved for the Chapter program and the written approval of the proposals that will guide the coming years of governance of the Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“There is great joy and high expectation, because this goal has been achieved in a relatively short time since the beginning of this mission sixty years ago,” notes Father Lam. “It is indeed a milestone, but at the same time it marks a new beginning. Now comes the responsibility of embracing, with maturity and autonomous commitment, the challenges that lie ahead as a Province.”