Spain - Feast of Salesian Province "Spain-Saint James the Greater"
Pamplona, Spain - May 2023 - On May 6, the Salesian work in Pamplona welcomed 200 Salesians from the "Spain-Saint James the Greater" (SSM) Province for a day of celebration and full of gratitude. Fr. Fernando García, SSM Provincial, expressed gratitude for the presence of so many Salesians at the meeting, and also paid tribute to the Salesians who were celebrating the 25th, 50th, 60th, and 75th anniversaries of their first religious profession or priestly ordination. The Salesians of Pamplona presented the new educational center built in Sarriguren - on the outskirts of the Navarre capital - in this way, where all the participating Salesians gathered. The first moment was the celebration of the Eucharist, in which the Provincial called this feast "a feast of vocation, of God's choice for a mission." He encouraged the Salesians to move forward because "our society needs the Gospel," even if there are "complicated situations." Hence, he encouraged them to change their outlook and seek "reasons to always be happy, because joy is the way to holiness." Then in the institute's theater, he celebrated the Salesians' anniversaries and also thanked the work done by the members of the Provincial Council, especially that of Fr. José Manuel González, the Provincial Economer, who is about to end a ministry he has served for 20 years.