Salesians Elect Rector Major

Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, SDB

GUWAHATI — The 27th General Chapter elected as new Rector Major and tenth Successor of Don Bosco Don Ángel Fernández Artime, provincial of Argentina South.
The election took place at 10:20 am today (25 March 2014), on the first ballot.
A long and warm applause greeted the official proclamation.

Don Ángel Fernández Artime, 53, was born August 21, 1960 in Luanco-Gozon, Asturias, Spain; made his first profession on September 3, 1978, perpetual vows June 17, 1984 in Santiago de Compostela and was ordained priest on July 4, 1987 in León.

Standing ovation for new Rector Major in the Aula Magna, 25 March 2014.

A native of the Province of León, was Director of Youth Ministry, a member of the Council and the Provincial and Vicar, 2000-2006, and Provincial. He was a member of the technical committee which prepared the 26th General Chapter.

In 2009 he was appointed provincial of Argentina, a position he held until now, by virtue of its role has also had the opportunity to meet and collaborate personally with the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal.Jorge Mario Bergoglio, today Pope Francis.
He holds a degree in Pastoral Theology and a Licentiate in Philosophy and Pedagogy.

Salesian Rector Major presents a book on the essential role of religious life

ROME, (Romereports.com and C.M. Paul) — “The essence of consecrated life is the relationship with God.” This is one of the quotes included in the book “Testimonies of a Living God,” by Pascual Chávez Villanueva, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, 23 October.

The 400 page book published in Italian by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, is, A Salesian vision – an essay on consecrated life, from a Salesian point of view and a tool to inform both the priests and the laity of the great richness of religious life and its chances of renewal, relying both on the recommendations of Vatican Council II and the theological reflection gained from within the Congregation.

Drawing on his experience as the Rector Major and President of the Union of Superiors General (USG), Fr Chavez reveals insights and suggestions on how to be authentic disciples of Jesus in the modern world and be true apostles today

“The fidelity to the Church depends on the inseparable union of these two factors: charismatic identity and social relevance. (…) It is not seen as an alternative, but an integration,” writes Fr Chavez in the preface of the book.

The Spanish version is published by the Central Salesian Catequistica of Madrid.

FR. PASCUAL CHÁVEZ VILLANUEVA
Rector Major of the Salesians
“To show the true identity of the consecrated life at its core. To understand the real purpose for which it was created, the role it has in the Church and in society. And above all, how to make it significant today, credible and fruitful in this world.”

According to the book, the crisis faced by some sectors of the consecrated life, are based on upon three points: identity, visibility and credibility. The author encourages readers to face these challenges as opportunities to renew the their vocation.

Among those attending the presentation, was Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life.

CARD. João Braz de Aviz
Prefect, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life
“I think that above all, we have to see if our consecration to God is the source of our happiness. To see if we can recognize a decisive value in God, forever, only then can we
transmit this happiness to others.”

Many religious attended the presentation as well. Pascual Chavez thanked all of them for their work among the different congregations and asked all of them to give God a proper place in their consecrated lives.

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http://www.romereports.com/palio/the-rector-of-the-salesians-presents-a-book-onthe-essential-role-of-religious-life-english-8053.html#.UIcec1Jkiso