Fr. Ricardo Aganaraz: Founder and Faithful Friend

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Fr. Ricardo Argañaraz was born on 3rd July 1936, in the Argentinian city of Salta. Following a powerful conversion, in 1954 he entered the diocesan seminary. On 15th July 1962 he was ordained to the priesthood. Following ordination he was sent for further studies in Philosophy and Canon Law at the pontifical universities in Rome, where he had the opportunity to be present for the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

He graduated in philosophy and received his doctorate in Canon Law in 1969. After two years of service in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State he felt drawn to contemplative life. Following this calling, he co-founded a priestly fraternity with some other priests.

During 1974 and 1975, Fr. Ricardo had various experiences of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated with the manifestation of the charismatic gifts. After two months of solitude on Mount Pasubio, he received the inspiration to found a new community. On 19th September 1975, he arrived at Camparmò for the first time. That uninhabited townland in Valli del Pasubio in the province of Vicenza would be the place where he would establish this new community.

After living alone for about three years, the community’s first vocations arrived. The first community nucleus took shape at Camparmò. Over the years, this community would be the model for subsequent foundations, including our own plans for the Oasis of the Braid: the of Koinonia in Ireland.