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Puerto Rico
Population: 3.8 million Life expectancy males/females: 70/79 years Infant mortality rate: 11.5‰	Religions: Catholic 85%. Independence: 31 August 1962 (from the UK) GDP per capita: US $7,664

The foundation of Puerto Rico was born of the District founded in 1931 by the province of the United States East. At present there are 14 members, nine of them originating in the foundation. Of these four are still young professed.

The last chapter reaffirmed:

• the importance of having members working in mission ad extra, and for this reason one of the confreres is at present working in the District of Amazonia. Two of the young professed are doing their OTP in other countries of Latin America. It should also be noted that all the members of the foundation had an experience of missionary work outside of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico, however is ready to become part of a new missionary project of the Congregation in the Caribbean region, together with other circumscriptions of the region.
• the desire to continue to serve the local Church, which is being done through a parish, a shrine, and a centre of mission animation.
• advance on the way of having lay associates and along these lines a Brazilian lay woman has associated herself with the group.

From 1994 to 1997 the international novitiate for Spanish speaking candidates and those from Haiti, functioned in Puerto Rico. This has been an extremely positive experience. The novitiate, as well as giving more quality and a new impetus to formation, was a concrete experience of internationality and helped in the process of regionalisation. At the moment the novitiate has no candidates. The Haitians are doing their novitiate in Haiti, and one Mexican candidate went to Portugal. The idea, however stands and it is hoped to re-open it in the future.

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