New provincial inaugurated in Spain.

The change of the Provincial of Spain on July 8th came with the serenity of the new one, Fr Antonio España and gratitude to the former provincial Francisco José Ruiz Pérez SJ.

The place chosen for this celebration was the school that Fr Antonio España SJ has directed the last four years: Ntra. Señora del Recuerdo in Madrid. He was accompanied by his mother and sisters and Jesuits and lay people from the Spanish province.

Antonio España SJ, presided the Mass with Francisco José Ruiz Pérez SJ, EMR Assistant Joaquín Barrero Díaz SJ, the delegate for the Elderly, Cipriano Díaz Marcos SJ and the Portuguese Provincial, José Frazão SJ. Many Jesuits concelebrated, all dressed in red, for the celebration of the memory of St. Leo Ignatius Mangin SJ, Maria Zhu Wu and his fellow martyrs of China.

At the beginning, Fr Socius, José María Bernal SJ, read the patent announcing the nomination of the new Provincial by Fr General, Arturo Sosa SJ.

During the homily, Antonio España thanked God for the new task entrusted, explained his sense of leadership, that today's leaders are people to "unite and inspire" (Gandhi). After naming the skills that a Provincial must have, he says "if there is any lack of these... at least, kindness and love for the Society of Jesus" (Constitutions 735). That is why, for him, this leadership asks for both goodness and love and to unite and inspire.

A long applause for the former provincial

Before concluding the Mass, Fr Francisco Jose Ruiz SJ addressed to the audience a thanksgiving where he remembered all the gifts that the provinces integration has brought to the Jesuits and lay people. Finally, Fr. Assistant, to the surprise of the former provincial, read a letter of thanks from Fr. General Arturo Sosa, to his work and his person where he recognized "so many years of unselfish work for the Society, integrating several provinces with such diverse history and personality, and consolidating as a single apostolic project”, making a serene transition. After the reading, there was a prolonged applause.

Photos here: (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jesuitasesp/sets/72157683599531061/) and vídeo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu699qfeONM&feature=youtu.be )