The two new Provinces to be created will be: the “Mediterranean”, which will  be comprised of the present Provinces of Barcelona, Valencia and Seville and the “Central North-East” which will bring together  those of Bilbao, León and Madrid. In the first there will be 79 communities with 556 Salesians, covering the Regions  of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Aragon, Valencia, Albacete, Murcia, Andalusia, Extremadura, the Canary Island and Andorra.

The “Central North-East”  Province with 686 religious in 64 communities will cover the Salesian houses in Galizia, Asturie, Cantabria, the Basque Countries, Navarra, La Rioja, Castille and León, Madrid and Castille La Mancha.

“After a long process of discernment in the General Council and taking into account the work undertaken by the commission for re-structuring  and the opinion of everyone concerned,” Fr Pascual Chávez explains “a decision has been taken which aims  optimise the Salesian personnel, revitalise the charism and strengthen the evangelising outreach of the confreres among the young in order to renew our consecrated .life and to give a new impetus to the Salesian chrism in Spain especially in the field of vocations.”

In Spain at present there are 1200 Salesians in 362 works including schools, youth  centres, parishes...in which over 400,000 people are being cared for. There are 100 schools, 36 of them vocational training schools, in which there are almost  90,000  students and about 6,000 teachers. In addition there are 103 youth centres with 24,000 youngsters and 2,500 youth leaders. Throughout the country the Salesian Congregation is working in 92 parishes or public churches There are also 40 social centres or centres for youngsters at risk of being marginalised.

Published 31/01/2011