Change of superior in the Province of Ibérica

Brother Superior General and his Council, at their meeting of 3 November 2009, appointed as Provincial of the Province of Ibérica, Brother Ambrosio Alonso Díez for a three year period. Br. Ambrosio was filling the role of Vice-provincial and Co-ordinator of the Mission Commission of the Province of Ibérica. The time he spent serving the province as Vice-provincial, animating and co-ordinating evangelical works and projects of formal and non-formal education, has prepared him well for this new service.

Br. Ambrosio inherits the fruits of the management and leadership of Br. Samuel Holguín, who guided the Ibérica Province during the first six years of its existence. The new Province has been realizing a path of mutual knowledge and integration consolidating the sense of belonging, has strengthened the relationship between Brothers and laity, based on communion, has augmented the sense of co-responsibility and the efforts in formation, of the Brothers as well as of the teachers and educators. The Fraternities of the Province provide a key opportunity for sharing and living boldly the Marist charism, all forming together a prophetic and Marian Church.

At the same time, however, the Province continues to face some challenging problems: the rise in the median age of the Brothers, the scarcity of vocations, and the difficulty of finding suitable ways of vocation ministry. The response to these challenges will come from the ?new hearts for a new world?, which the Chapter has asked for, called to intensify the spiritual life, to live as men of faith, to grow in the brother?s identity, and in love and practice of Marist values. New hearts to animate and energize communities, to give potency to the evangelical dimension of the works, to promote structures in line with the Marist charism, to care for the most needy in the field of social education and solidarity, to make more evident the presence of the Brothers among young people, youth ministry and a greater commitment to apostolic activities.

Born in Mecerreyes, province of Burgos (Spain), Br. Ambrosio completed his studies in the formation houses of Villalba (1970-1972), Sigüenza (1973-1976), and then studied for the batchelor?s degree. Later he did his novitiate and made first religious profession on 15 August 1979. In Alcalá de Henares he completed the formation phase of the scholasticate, studying for a diploma as teacher of Basic general education in the University School Cardenal Cisneros and subsequently, in the Higher Institute ?St Pius X?, the licentiate in Religious Sciences, speciality ?Catechetics?.

His ministry has included educational and pastoral activities in the centres ?Champagnat? of Guadalajara and ?San José del Parque? of Madrid as teacher, co-ordinator of pastoral participation and in the directing team.