Fr. Jesús Arroyo, CSV, was elected Jan. 18 to lead the Province of Spain and the Foundation of Honduras from 2020 through 2024. At the same time, Br. Claudio Salán, CSV, and Fr. José Javier Ruiz, CSV, were elected as Provincial Councilors. Fr. Arroyo later selected Br. Tomas Aramberri, CSV, and Fr. Manuel Rubio, CSV, to be the final two councilors. Fr. Ruiz was approved by the General Council to serve as Assistant Provincial.

The election took place at the San Viator Centre in Valladolid and was presided over by Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, Superior General and Fr. Claudio Rios, CSV, General Councilor from Chile.

For Fr. Arroyo, this will be his second consecutive term as Provincial of Spain. He is a native Spaniard, who made his first profession as a Viatorian in 1975 and his perpetual vows in 1983. Fr. Arroyo was ordained to the priesthood in 1987.

In an interview shortly after the election, Fr. Arroyo said he felt good about his re-election, especially knowing he has a good team of councilors to help him.

“That’s reassuring,” he said.

However, looking ahead he said the Province of Spain is entering a new period, where professed Viatorians would be spending less time in schools and more time in parishes, maintaining an urban and rural presence, “as loved by our founder.”

“We must also see that the time of retirement is filled with contentment,” Fr. Arroyo added. “The building of the Viatorian Community is another challenge we must not forget.”

Despite these challenges, Fr. Arroyo said he is optimistic and he offered these words to Viatorians serving around the world: “We must maintain the joy of our vocations. Through our pastoral work, we must take the Viatorian charism to all corners of the world, without neglecting the formation, spirituality and community life of all Viatorians.

“The Viatorian Community,” he added, “is a model of the people of God, and that can be a beautiful testimony in all latitudes.”