Central Mexico and Western Mexico to form a single Province from July 2027

The Superior General, Br Ernesto Sánchez Barba has sent a letter to the Provincials and their Councils, and to all the Brothers of the Provinces of México Central and México Occidental, communicating the following decision of the General Council taken during the Plenary of February 2025: ‘In application of article 117 (6) of our Constitutions, Br Ernesto Sánchez Barba and his Council, after reflection and discernment on the issue of reconfiguration, have taken the decision to canonically restructure the two current Provinces of México Central and México Occidental into a single Province, starting in July 2027″. On 13 March, the Provincials of Mexico announced this decision in their Provinces, inviting all to read the letter of the Superior General ‘with openness, gratitude, boldness and trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide us in this new change’.

This decision of the General Government is closely linked to the issue of Reconfiguration, which was numbered as one of the priorities for the Institute during the General Conference of March 2022, in order to ensure the future viability, sustainability and vitality of the Marist Institute.

In his letter, Br Ernesto highlighted some of the elements that led to the decision on the canonical restructuring of the Provinces of México Central and México Occidental:

• In the Provinces of México Central and México Occidental, several meetings have been held to reflect on the reconfiguration for several years, and more intensively since July 2023.
• In the year 2024, an interprovincial assembly was held on the theme of reconfiguration, an interprovincial retreat, and the theme was also addressed during the two Provincial Chapters held in July 2024.
• There have been a number of joint meetings of the two Provincial Councils and we received a letter from the two Provincials and their Councils dated 27 January 2025 in which they jointly expressed their ideas and suggestions on reconfiguration.

The letter noted that there may be unforeseen issues and questions for which answers will have to be sought. The support of the Superior General and the General Council is mentioned, especially through the link Councillors. It is suggested that an external Advisor accompany the process until July 2027. In addition, it is recommended that Provincials and their Councils learn from the experience of other Provincials who have undergone, or are currently undergoing, reconfiguration and canonical restructuring.

Br Ernesto concluded his letter by inviting them to continue ‘walking together to keep alive the dream of Saint Marcellin Champagnat in both Mexico and Haiti’.

For their part, the Provincials of Mexico Central and Mexico Occidental, Brothers Luis Enrique Rodríguez and Luis Felipe González emphasised that the Provincial Councils will meet ‘in order to work on the implications of this decision in a step-by-step manner. We will also arrange opportunities for reflection and consultation so as to come together, at this historic moment, with the best possible attitude and the best possible preparation’. And they concluded with a prayer: “May the spirit of Jesus, Mary and Marcellin accompany us on this new journey, so that this decision may generate new life in the Marist Mexico that we all desire so much.