(ANS – Madrid) – The Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, yesterday, 25 June, published further details regarding the new division of Salesian Provinces in Spain. From 24 May next there will be two provinces – one dedicated to St James the Greater with the provincial House at Madrid, and the other to Mary Help of Christians with the provincial House at Seville.

The Madrid province will include the central and north-eastern parts of the country, consisting of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque countries, Navarra, La Rioja, Castile and León, Castile La Mancha (Ciudad Real and Guadalajara) and the Community in Madrid. The Seville province will extend along the Mediterranean coast. It will include Andorra, Catalonia, Aragon, the communities in Valencia, the Balearic Isles, Castile La Mancha (Albacete), Andalusia, Estremadura, the Region of Murcia, and the Canary Islands.

At present there are six provinces in Spain with the provincial houses at León, Bilbao, Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid and Seville. There are 1140 Salesians, 97 schools of which 57 are Technical Schools, 92 parishes, 127 youth centres and 89 Centres for Social Assistance.

In the letter sent to the Salesians in Spain, the Rector Major says: “we have studied conscientiously the consultation done in the six provinces, paying attention to the views of the confreres on the location of the provincial houses and the possible patrons of the new provinces. Participation was good and the results showed a fairly large measure of convergence.

During the recent meetings of the General Council of the Salesian Congregation, one of the topics studied has been the division of the Salesian provinces in Spain. “[This decision was reached] after reflection, dialogue and prayer, weighing up the different possibilities, and seeking only the good of the Congregation,” the Rector Major explains.

This decision is part of the process which the Salesians have been engaged in for a few years to re-organize the Salesian communities in Spain. The Rector Major has said, “It is important, without doubt, that we do not lose sight of the fundamental objective we had in mind. What matters is that we accept this moment as an opportunity for interior growth, personal and community renewal, and an impetus for growth of the Salesian charism in your country.”

For this reason, the Rector Major exhorted the Spanish Salesians, as he did at the beginning of the process of reorganization, “to look far ahead, with generous hearts, to bring about a new reality for the Congregation and for Spain.” He invites them “once more to have faith and trust in accepting the decision of the Rector Major, without losing sight of the horizon towards which we are journeying.”

Fr José Miguel Núñez, General Councillor for the Western Europe Region, interpreted the sentiments of the Spanish Salesians: “We accept this decision with a sense of fidelity and in a spirit of obedience. We will continue working with all our strength to achieve the objectives we set ourselves in this process – the convergence and renewal of our provinces and the charismatic growth of the Salesian presence in Spain.”

Published 26/06/2013