The Provinces of Compostela, Ibérica and Mediterránea Will Form a Single Province in 2028
In 2028, the Provinces of Compostela, Ibérica, and Mediterránea will unite to form a single Province. This decision was authorised by the General Council on 19 June 2024, initiating a process that will lead to this canonical reconfiguration. The request was made by the Councils of the three Provinces in a letter dated 15 May 2024.
Brother Ernesto Sánchez, in his letter informing the Provincials of the approval, wrote: “The General Council and I support and approve your proposal to initiate, starting this year, a process of convergence between the Provinces of Compostela, Ibérica, and Mediterránea with the aim of a canonical reconfiguration to form a Province from 2028.” He praised their “efforts to go beyond borders and build a more open, wider and pluralistic Marist entity in Europe”, reflecting the founding spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat.
On 25 June 2024, the three Brother Provincials—Br Máximo Blanco Morán (Compostela), Br Abel Muñoz Gutiérrez (Ibérica), and Br Aureliano García Manzanal (Mediterránea)—informed the Brothers and Laypeople of this historic decision. Their letter acknowledged the challenges and questions this reconfiguration might bring but also highlighted the opportunities and the shared hope and confidence in the future.
The letter outlined several concrete steps already undertaken:
- Interpreting the Change: The reconfiguration is seen as a sign of the Spirit, urging the Provinces to move forward together, leveraging synergies to ensure the vitality, viability, and sustainability of this part of Europe.
- Planning the Journey: The Provinces do not claim to have all details finalised from the outset. Instead, they will proceed collaboratively, planning stages and organising encounters and reflections among teams, Brothers, and Laypeople.
- Upcoming Meeting: A meeting of the three Provincial Councils is scheduled for 28-29 September 2024 in Alcalá de Henares, where a more concrete and defined proposal will be shared regarding the journey towards forming a single Province by 2028.
- Marist Region of Europe (MRE) Configuration: Work is also ongoing to redefine the structure of the MRE, with short-term plans to engage with current European team members in this discernment process.
Reconfiguration in the Institute and in Europe
Reconfiguration was a prominent theme at the 2022 General Conference, identified as one of the five future intuitions to ensure the vitality, viability, and sustainability of Marist life and mission. This aligns with the vision of the 22nd General Chapter, which called for regionalisation and inter-regional collaboration to build a global body with agile, simple, and participative structures.
Marists in Europe have been engaged in regional cooperation and reconfiguration of Administrative Units for several years. Significant efforts have been made to embrace diversity, build a common identity, foster a sense of belonging, and design participative structures. Recently, the Province of the Hermitage and the District of West Central Europe began a reconfiguration process, linking the District canonically to the Province of the Hermitage.
Similarly, the Provinces of Compostela, Ibérica, and Mediterránea have been progressively coming together due to their geographical, social, and cultural proximity, as well as their numerous collaborative initiatives in various aspects of life and mission. This natural process has seen similar approaches in pastoral care of the Brothers, youth and vocation ministry, joint formation, and vocational discernment programmes, and communion between all Marists of Champagnat.
The new province will consist of six countries: Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Portugal, Romania and Syria.
The current challenge is to build a new Province that responds effectively to the contemporary context of the world and the Church.
