The new provincial was born on April 11, 1958 and lived in the town of Los Arcos, Navarra until he entered the minor seminary that the Augustinian Recollects used to have in Lodosa, Navarra, Spain. Since then, he undertook the normal stage of secondary and humanistic studies in the houses of formation of this religious Province; he made his novitiate in Monteagudo, (Navarra) and finished philosophy and theology in Marcilla, (Navarra), where he also made his solemn profession on October 18, 1980 and received his priestly ordination on July 18, 1981.
His first assignment was the parish of Saint Rita in Madrid, where, beside his work as parochial vicar, he also begun his studies in Catechetics at Saint Pius X Institute. The following year, he finished his studies living in the Recollect community of Residencia Universitaria Augustinus. The different assignments which he received within the Order have given him a peculiar experience in practically all fields of work, where the Province of Saint Nicholas is present. He has exercised his ministry in various houses in Spain: Colegio San Agustín (Valladolid), San Sebastián in Chiclana (Cádiz), Parish of Santa Monica (Zaragoza); In the year 1997, he was transferred to the curia in Madrid upon his appointment as provincial secretary, which he undertook for six years. In the year 2003, he was sent to Brazil. He went to Tapauá in the mission of Lábrea and assumed the office of the provincial delegate for this country.
Finally, in the year 2006, he was named master of the professed of Saint Augustine in Las Rozas, Madrid. Also during these last three years, he headed the Commission on Mission and Social Development of the Province.
Vicars
The Prior Provincial and the President of the Chapter, the prior provincial-elect, the out-going prior provincial and the four new councilors elected the vicar of England and the vicar of Mexico and Costa Rica among the three religious who had received the highest number of votes in their respective vicariates. Gerald Wilson was named Vicar of England and Carlos Gonzalez Vicar of Mexico and Costa Rica.
The Capitulars approved a movingand encouraging message to all the religious of the Province.
Ten words from the heart
The Capitulars approved a movingand encouraging message to all the religious of the Province. Beginning with the words of Saint Augustine in the Rule: “The main purpose for which you have come together is to live harmoniously in the house and to have one soul and one heart intent upon God,” (Rule I, 2) they wish to address “ten words from the heart of the Chapter to the heart of each religious:”
Gratitude, community, mission, prayer, laity, charity, quality, availability, creativity and hope.
“We wish and we must be sowers of hope –they say in the message–. We cannot nor we desire to let ourselves to be contaminated and burned by many negative, pessimistic and catastrophic voices. The Spirit fills us with hope in order to share a message, a word, a faith, a certainty: that in Jesus Christ, there is eternal life for those who believe in Him.”
Hopes
The Chapter ended with the celebration of the Eucharist. It was presided by the new prior provincial, who, in his homily, invited the capitulars to take upon themselves the task of animating the religious. The Chapter has marked new challenges, which must be addressed with hope.