New provincial of Mediterránea: I feel greatly appreciated

The new provincial of the Mediterránea Province, who received a letter of the superior general on June 9 confirming his new appointment, said he feels valued by other brothers.

Shortly before the announcement, Brother Juan Carlos Fuertes Marí visited a few communities and said that when speaking to the brothers he felt “greatly appreciated.”

In an interview with the general house press office in Rome on June 10, he said he had “heard a few comments in his province” about his possible appointment.

“My reaction to the appointment as provincial was no surprise, but rather of nervousness,” said Br Juan Carlos, who is originally from Valencia, Spain.

“That’s right, I got nervous and felt confused and I didn’t really know what to say,” he added.

Br Juan Carlos, the current vice provincial, will take up his role during the province’s fifth chapter on Jan. 2.

“It’s a symbolic date on which Marcellin, with few resources, did a great work and I hope that God does the same with me,” he remarked.

He will replace Brother Antonio Giménez de Bagüés, who chose him as vice provincial six years ago.

During the first three years, Br Juan Carlos worked in the province’s pastoral team, in charge of vocations. For the last three years, he has been coordinator of the ‘Brothers Today’ team within the province.

He praised Br Antonio, underscoring that “I’ve learned from him how to deeply respect people and care for the processes of decision making.”

“I felt that he has placed a lot of trust in me, in my work, in my way of doing things and it has given me a lot of freedom to take initiatives,” reflected Br Juan Carlos. “I’m really grateful to him.”