THE SECULAR AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT FRATERNITY

IN THE PHILIPPINES

 A BRIEF HISTORY

     The Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (SARF), the Third Order of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, traces its origin to the Third Order of St. Augustine. Approved by the Holy See on November 7, 1400, the group was exclusively meant for women. On August 31, 1470, Pope Paul II, in his apostolic letter, Exposcit Vestrae Devotionis Sinceritas, allowed the incorporation of men to the group. Thenceforth, this noble group has continued to exist under the auspices of the Augustinian Friars.

     It was not until the year 1622 that Pope Gregory XV bestowed the same right and privilege to the Augustinian Recollect Friars to establish the Third Order of St. Augustine in their areas of apostolate. The Recollect missionaries in the Philippines immediately took the opportunity to recruit “indios” for the Third Order. Thus, in the 1630’s, the Recollects had clothed two widowed indias of Butuan, Mindanao with the sacred habit of their Third Order. They were Clara Caliman and one simply called Isabel, who were recognized for their virtuous lives, missionary zeal and corporal works of mercy among their people. In the late 17th century, they again allowed another pious india, Juana de Jesus of Binangonan de Lampon (now Infanta, Quezon), to don the sacred habit of their Third Order. These three women were known to be the first Filipinos to have joined the Third Order of St. Augustine.

     Simultaneously, the indefatigable and zealous Recollect missionaries also founded the Third Order in some other places throughout the Philippine archipelago where they went to evangelize. Their concerted efforts were blessed with splendid fruits. The most distinguished of them is what now known as the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters. Founded in 1725, their foundresses, the blood sisters Mother Dionicia Mitas de Sta. Maria and Mother Cezilia Rossa de Jesus, donned the habit of the Third Order before they organized a beaterio in Calumpang with the guidance and assistance of the Recollect Fathers. The first simple house of the beatas was built near the San Sebastian Church and their main task was to take care of the Lady of Mt.. Carmel to whose patronage the said church was dedicated.

     In 1919, seven years after the Augustinian Recollection was raised into an Order, a manual for an escalating number of Tertiaries affiliated to the Order of Augustinian Recollects was published. It was entitled, A Brief Manual of the Tertiaries of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. This brief manual was later enlarged and edited in 1949 by the then Prior General of the Order, Fr. Feliciano de Ocio, OAR who gave a new title, Manual for Secular Tertiar’r4jes of the Recollect Augustinian Order.

     It was in this milieu that the enthusiasm among the Recollect Fathers in the Philippines to, revive the Third Order was rekindled. Fr. Moises Lopez, OAR of the Recoletos Church (better known now as Carmel Parish — Recoletos) in Cebu City first took the initiative in 1955. He was able to recruit ten men for the Third Order but the group did not take root and hence, it faded away. Fr. Santiago Velda, OAR attempted to establish the organization anew but he also failed. It was during the third time that the Recollect Fathers of Cebu succeeded in this endeavor of theirs. Upon the request of Fr. Martin Legarra, OAR, who was at that time the rector of the then Colegio de San Jose — Recoletos (now a university), Fr. Juan Garcia, OAR recruited women to become Tertiaries. After two months of postulancy and novitiate, 39 members professed on January 2, 1957. From then on, the group has flourished into a full-grown Third Order. The chapter has already produced 410 professed members since the time of its foundation. On the other hand, on May 5, 1968, Fr. Alfonso Diaz, OAR with the help of Bro. Fernando Dizon, OARI founded the Third Order at the San Sebastian College — Recoletos in Cavite City. Fr. Diaz conducted a meeting among the churchgoers and explained to them the meaning and importance of the Third Order. In the subsequent meetings, 33 names were submitted for the trial period. However, only eleven were admitted, who formed the first Recollect tertiaries in Cavite City.

     In 1980’s, as an aftermath of the Vatican II which in turn prodded the revision of the OAR Constitutions, the Recollect Fathers in the Philippines felt the importance of having the Third Order permanently established in each of their communities. The OAR Constitutions thus exhort every religious to “promote our Augustinian Recollect Secular Fraternity, whose members work for Christian perfection according to th charism of the Recollection as lay men and women” (#113). Besides, the Church has given much importance to the Third Order as they are explicitly stated in the provisions of the new code. It also cites the prominence of the Third Order over the other Church organizations. Hence, the Recollect Fathers did not hesitate to invite more faithful to join their Third Order, now simply dubbed as the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternty.

     The Fraternity in this part of the world has grown maturely in number and in spirit. For its humble beginnings, the SARF has been blessed with 632 members at present, not to mention the many aspirants it has, dispersed in twelve chapters in the entire archipelago. Reckoning with its copious fruits, we can envision a brighter future for the Secular Augustinian Recollects in this corner of the world.

Source: OAR Parishes Manual pp. 84-85