In an emotional ceremony early this morning in the chapel of Peralta de la Sal, Fr. Carles Gil i Saguer, Sch. P., took office as the new Superior General of the Piarist Order.
The ceremony was attended by nearly a hundred Piarist religious and members of the fraternity and the Calasanctian family. It was presided over by Fr. Carles Gil, Sch. P., who recalled in his homily the readings of the day, in which Jesus tells us that “the only way to life is radical forgiveness, unconditional love, generosity that surpasses all ethical pretensions.”
“Calasanz did not found this school to compete,” explained the new Father General, “but to transform, and he did so knowing that there would be resistance, criticism, attacks, even betrayal. And he chose to remain alongside those whom the world had discarded.” “We, lay people, religious, Piarists, all of us, are not called to succeed according to the world. We are called to be faithful to Jesus. The rest will come by grace,” he shared at the Assembly.
Fr. Carles thanked his predecessor, Fr. Pedro Aguado, Sch. P., Bishop of Huesca and Jaca, for his work. “You have helped us to grow not only in number, but above all in hope, in communion, in openness to what is new and essential,” he said. “Let us not be afraid. Let us not close ourselves off in old, sterile securities. Today is a favourable time to live the Gospel with the radicalism of Jesus,” he shared in his homily. During the celebration, Fr. Carles proclaimed his profession of faith before the Assembly as a gesture of assuming his new responsibility as Superior General.
Biography of Fr. Carles
Fr. Carles was born in Barcelona, Spain. He was Provincial Assistant in Catalonia and served in the Province of West Africa, specifically in Dakar, where he was Provincial Assistant. He has also worked as: Coordinator of the “Pious Schools Going Forth” team since its creation in 2018. Coordinator of the Alumni Group. Coordinator of the Secretariat of Economy. General Treasurer of the Order of the Pious Schools. He was also elected Assistant General for Europe at the 48th General Chapter.
