(ANS – Rome) – Yesterday, 23 December, following consultation with other members of his Council, the Rector Major appointed two new Provincials for Spain: Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, for the Mary Help of Christians Province, to be based in Seville; and Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, for the St James the Greater Province, to be based in Madrid. The two Provinces are the result of the reshaping process; the two Provincials will assume office after the General Chapter 27, in May 2014.

Mary Help of Christians province will bring together Andorra, Catalonia, Aragona, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Murcia, Extremadura, Andalusia and the Canary Islands.

St James the Greater Province will take in Galicia, Asturia, Cantabria, the Basque region, Navarre, La Rioja, Castilla León, Castilla La Mancha and Madrid.

Addressing the Salesians in Spain the Rector Major has asked them to welcome the two new Provincials as “being sent to be close to you and be the face and heart of Don Bosco for you”. The new Provincials are to “guide this delicate journey, already under way, of repositioning the Salesian presence” in Spain and setting processes in motion “which are aimed at the personal holiness of each Salesian, religious renewal of communities, the quality of our educative and pastoral offering and to set up new missionary projects which will be meaningful in Salesian terms”.

Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, 53 years of age was born 21 August 1960 at Gozón-Luanco; he made his first profession on 3 September 1978, his perpetual profession on 17 June 1984 and was ordained priest on 4 July 1987. Originally from León Province, he has been Youth Ministry Delegate, Rector of the school at Ourense, member of the Council and Vice Provincial and , from 2000 to2006, Provincial of León. He was a member of the technical commission in preparation for General Chapter 26. In 2009 he was appointed Provincial in Argentine South, a task he has carried out until now.  He has a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology and a Licence in Philosophy and Pedgagy.

Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, 54 years of age, was born 5 November 1959 at Burguillos; he made his first religious profession on 8 September 1978, his final profession on 15 August 1984 and was ordained priest on 5 June 1987. He has been Rector at Cadice and of the provincial House in Seville. In this Province he has been Councillor, Youth Ministry delegate, Vice Provincial and, from 2000 to 2006, was Provincial. He was also a member of the technical commission preparing for General Chapter 26. He is currently Vice Provincial and Youth ministry Delegate for Seville Province. He has a Doctorate in Ecclesiastical Sciences, a Diploma in Teaching and Catechetics and Youth Ministry..

Published 24/12/2013