Spain
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Population: 39.3 million
Life expectancy males/females: 73/81 years
Infant mortality rate: 5.6 |
Religions: Catholic; Protestant; Jewish; Muslim.
GDP per capita: US $13,580 |
Spiritan presence: since 1903.
This youngest province of Europe currently has 18 professed members,
6 of whom are working on mission abroad. Three Portuguese confreres
are appointed to the Province and have been giving faithful service
for many years. There are two lay associates.
A centre called 'Karibu' has been set up in Madrid for the welcoming
of African immigrants. It is run by one confrere, the students of
the formation house and members of the Familia Espiritana.
The confreres sometimes express their disappointment that there
are not many tangible results from their work of animation; this
is a frustration shared by all the European countries today. Those
in charge of the Province are doing their best to build up hope
in the long term prospects of the circumscription.
This hope is not without foundation. One can point to:
- the persevering commitment of the confreres in Spain and their
lay collaborators;
- the candidates who are coming forward;
- the sharing of the Province in the meetings and projects of
the European Region;
- its members working in the missions of the Congregation in
Africa and Latin America, who maintain the strong missionary orientation
of the Province; they will be able to return to play a direct
part in the animation of the Province when the right moment comes.
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