Morning Session
New Year, New Provincial Government!
Election day in Fátima. A new day dawned, cold and serene, without hangovers or any mishaps with the traditional grapes. We were able to start a little later today. We gathered for the Eucharistic celebration at 9:30 a.m. presided over by Fr. Remualdo Almeida, accompanied by a fine group of Portuguese missionaries. In the homily, Fr. Vítor Pinto invited us to live as children of the Heart of Mary, striving to be like “mothers” who welcome and care for others.
At 10:45 a.m. we met once again in the chapter hall to continue along with the proposed itinerary. We began with prayer—brief yet profound in spirit—centered on the primacy of God’s love (1 Jn 4:7–10). This was followed by reading of the minutes, which were approved with minor revisions.
A time was then opened for those who so wished, among the most voted in the chapter survey, to address the entire assembly. Once this had concluded, the Provincial shared the order for the election of the consultors’ prefectures: in the first place, the prefecture of Economy; followed by the prefecture of Youth and Vocations Ministry; then the prefecture of Community Life and Spirituality; and lastly, the prefecture of Apostolate. The elections were scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The remainder of the morning was set aside for informal conversations among the Chapter members, allowing for the exchange of views regarding possible configurations of the Government and to advance further in the process of discernment.
Afternoon Session
The afternoon was dedicated to the elections, beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the chapter hall. We opened with a moment of prayer. Before the voting commenced, Fr. Jorge Sánchez, the Provincial, invited us to focus on what God is asking of us, on what is most authentic, and to remain open to His will above any preconceived ideas we might bring. He recalled that sound discernment requires both passion for the mission and freedom both internally and externally. Finally, he urged us to seek the glory of God, as set forth in our Constitutions. Fr. Pedro Belderrain, for his part, read aloud the norms governing the election of consultors according to our particular law.
In the order of election, the newly elected Provincial Government is as follows:
Consultor and Prefect of Economy, Fr. José Enrique García Rizo;
Consultor and Prefect of Youth and Vocations Ministry, Fr. Martín Areta Higuera;
Consultor and Prefect of Community Life and Spirituality, Fr Abilio J. Correia Ramos;
and Consultor and Prefect of Apostolate, Fr. Manuel J. Ogalla Carrera.
At the conclusion of the elections, the Provincial expressed his gratitude for the spirit of fraternity and maturity shown in the process of discernment and in the shared desire to seek what is best for the Province.
After a generous period of rest until 6:30 p.m., the chapter hall devoted about an hour to addressing several practical and juridical matters. Among the topics discussed were the appointment of tellers, the free designation of Chapter members for the next chapter, the manner of electing superiors, and the Permanent Council. These matters will be taken up further tomorrow. Prayer and fraternity are also essential elements of the chapter; therefore, we celebrated Vespers, shared dinner together, and concluded with a simple toast to the new Provincial Government.
May Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, intercede for these her sons who will serve in the Government of the Province over the next three years!
