• The Superior General, Brother Jesús Etayo, has appointed Brother Amador Fernández as the Provincial Superior of the newly created Spanish Province of St. John of God, which will amalgamate the three existing Provinces.  

• The appointment took place at the Provincial Assembly which the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God held in Granada, where the Spanish Province of Saint John of God was proclaimed this morning.

Granada, 16 March 2021 - The appointment of Brother Amador Fernández as the new Provincial Superior took place during the Provincial Assembly of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God (OHSJD) being held in the Basilica of Saint John of God in Granada, under the theme 'Moving Forward in Hospitality', which also saw the proclamation of the Decree on the Constitution of the Spanish Province of Saint John of God.

In his opening remarks, Brother Amador Fernández, the Provincial Superior, said, "My first words after assuming this service for the Hospitaller Order in Spain are to recall Saint John of God, whose life is a model of consecration for the Brothers, while it also inspires the vocation to hospitality of our co-workers".

He also stressed that "This new task makes us all builders of something new, but building on a rich history and a very vibrant present. Nothing of what is best must be lost", adding, "with the Order committed to the task of healing, caring for and accompanying the sick and those suffering the social and economic consequences of this crisis", due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Superior General of the Hospitaller Order, Brother Jesús Etayo, in his opening address to the Assembly, stressed that "What has brought us here and what truly unites us and gives meaning to everything we do is hospitality, service and compassion for all those who suffer", and he paid a special tribute "to those who are suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences at all levels". Brother Etayo insisted that with the union of the Spanish Province of St. John of God "we are being called to continue to grow and to move forward".

The Superior General views this unification as "an opportunity to pool potentials to realise the dream of St. John of God in all its fullness" based on commitment, faith, audacity, hope and trust, adding that "hospitality is the very essence of this project, always open to innovate new forms and models which respond to the needs of the poor and the sick".

At the same Assembly, and after the appointment of the Provincial Superior, the six Brothers of the Provincial Council were also appointed, as follows:

Brother Amador Fernández Fernández Fernández - Provincial Superior

Brother José Luis Fonseca Bravo - first councillor

Brother José Ramón Pérez Acosta - second councillor

Brother Juan José Ávila Ortega- third councillor

Brother José Miguel Valdés Grande- fourth councillor

Brother Moisés Martín Boscá - fifth councillor

Brother Benigno Ramos Rodríguez - sixth councillor.

In addition to the Superior General of the OHSJD, Brother Jesús Etayo, who presided at the meeting, also present at the Assembly in Granada were the General Councillor of the European Area of Animation, Brother Joaquim Erra; the Brothers of the Delegate Council: José Luis Fonseca, José Antonio Soria, Amador Fernández, José Miguel Valdés, Moisés Martin and Juan José Ávila; the financial director and coordinator of the Provincial Government of the Aragón Province, Dolores Sáenz; the general director of the Bética Province, Juan José Afonso; and the financial director of the Castile Province, Iria Atienza, as well as other guests. 

For COVID-19 healh reasons, attendance had been strictly limited to enable the rest of the Brothers and co-workers of the OHSJD to participate and follow the Assembly online.

Biographical Profile of Brother Amador FERNÁNDEZ FERNÁNDEZ

Brother Amador FERNÁNDEZ FERNÁNDEZ (1962) was born in Las Villas, Asturias. He made his temporary profession in 1982 and solemn profession in 1989. He is a priest. He has a degree in Theology and Business studies. He has held various animation offices as Provincial Councillor, Community Superior and Formator, with responsability for the Area of Spiritual Care and as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Castile Province.  He was currently the Provincial Superior of the Castile Province.