Spain – Fr José Carlos Sobejano has begun his term as Provincial of Spain’s St James the Greater province

The day brought together Salesians, members of the educative and pastoral communities, family members and guests in a celebration intended to give tangible expression to gratitude for the life given and, at the same time, to open up horizons for the future.

Provincial Celebration

From the early hours of the morning, participants began arriving at the Atocha theatre which had been set up for the main event honouring Salesians celebrating significant anniversaries (of priestly ordination or profession) and members of the Provincial Council concluding their service.

The first part of the gathering was marked by a tribute to the outgoing Provincial, Fr Fernando García. In an informal interview he stated that these years at the helm of the province had profoundly changed him as a person. He highlighted in particular the richness of the Educative and Pastoral Communities in every Salesian house, which he described as “enormous treasures of life and mission”, and spoke of the many people he had met during this period as veritable “torrents of vitality and Salesian charism.”

Fr Sobejano, the new Provincial

The highlight took place in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Atocha, which was packed for the Eucharistic celebration during which Fr José Carlos Sobejano officially took up his post as the new Provincial. The celebration was presided over, on behalf of the Rector Major, by Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy, Councillor for the Mediterranean Region.

In his homily, Fr Pérez Godoy recalled that the Provincial’s main objective, according to the Salesian Constitutions, is to build a community of brothers. He emphasised that the Salesian mission is never entrusted to a single person, but to the whole community, and invited the new Provincial to exercise his authority like the Good Shepherd, with charity, closeness and a pastoral spirit, recalling that recommendation so typical of Don Bosco: “Strive to make yourself loved.”

The Regional Councillor also addressed a few words to the young people whom he identified as those responsible for keeping Don Bosco’s charism alive today. He asked them for courage, prayer and commitment to take a step forward in their vocational response, one of the great current challenges facing the province and an area in which Fr Sobejano’s previous experience in vocational animation appears to be a significant strength.

After the homily, Fr Sobejano made his profession of faith and signed the official documents of his appointment.

Before the new Provincial spoke, Fr Fernando García shared a final, deeply personal message. He acknowledged that rather than the visible changes in the Province, the most profound change had taken place in his own heart: “Having greater access to the hearts of many people has changed my life; I now need God more than ever”. Drawing on this experience, he gave thanks for the gift of the Salesian charism, “a gift to the Church”, and encouraged everyone to continue walking together, accompanying Fr Sobejano in the new phase he is beginning.

Under Mary’s mantle

In his first words as Provincial, Fr Sobejano wished to place his service under the sign of continuity and trust in God. He recalled, quoting Mother Mazzarello, that the absolute priority, both on feast days and in daily life, is to love God and young people. And he emphasised that he is not embarking on a new journey, but that he is joining a story already in the making, made up of projects, hopes, efforts and even shared failures.

There were also words of heartfelt thanks to his parents, from whom he learned the value of work and simple faith, and to his elderly and sick confreres, whom he described as “our roots”, the silent support of the whole community through their constant prayer.

He then clearly reaffirmed the Salesian identity: “we live for and with young people”, because the Salesian vocation cannot be understood in any other way; and he recalled that this path is strewn with thorns and demands a willingness to lay down one’s life for one’s neighbour and for young people, seeking recognition solely from God.

The celebration concluded under the protection of Mary Help of Christians: the new provincial placed the SSM province under the protection of the Virgin, with a simple and deeply Salesian image: the words of a child from the nursery school of one of the Salesian centres – “Mary Help of Christians, play with us” – transformed into a prayer, asking Our Lady to watch over the dreams of young people and the hearts of those who accompany them.

Source: Salesianos.info