Br. Gabriel Villa-Real appointed Provincial of the Hermitage
The Superior General and his Council, after studying the consultation of the Brothers of the Province of the Hermitage, have appointed Br. Gabriel Villa-Real as the new Provincial for a period of three years.
Br Gabriel will begin his mandate during the celebration of the Provincial Chapter, which will take place between 3 and 7 July.
Br. Ernesto Sánchez, Superior General, thanked Br. Gabriel for his generosity in accepting this service of leadership in the Marist life and mission of the Province of the Hermitage. He also thanked the current Provincial, Br. Pere Ferré, for the years of service he has given to the Institute, accompanying the different situations of the Province.
Br. Gabriel Villa-Real
He was born in Barcelona in 1967. After his years of juniorate and novitiate in Llinars del Vallès and Les Avellanes, he made his first profession in 1986. He completed his initial Marist formation with a year of scholasticate in Barcelona and three years in Alcalá de Henares. He made his perpetual profession in Llinars del Vallès in 1993. He obtained a degree in General Basic Education (EGB) in Science from the Cardenal Cisneros University School in Alcalá de Henares and later a degree in Geology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
He worked for some years as a formator and teacher at the juniorate in Llinars del Vallès, then as a teacher, catechist, animator in youth ministry and scout groups, community superior and school director in Rubà (1998-2004).
In recent years, his activity has been concentrated in the service of the Province of L’Hermitage, first as Director of the Educational Works Service of Catalonia (2005-2010), then as Coordinator of the Secretariat of Mission of the Province of L’Hermitage (2010-2016) and member of the Provincial Council since 2006. He is currently Vicar Provincial, delegate for the protection of children in the Province and coordinator of the European Protection Team.