Both the directors and their territorial councils are at the service of their entire territory and seek to develop the apostolic work of the Legionaries of Christ

I will give you shepherds after my own heart (Jer 3:15)

Territory of Spain

Father John Connor, general director of the Legionaries of Christ, announced the appointment of Father Javier Cereceda for a new three-year term as the territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ in Spain, starting August 1, 2023.

The appointment of Father Pedro Castañera as territorial vicar for a new term is also announced, along with the designation of the other members of the territorial council: Fathers Mario López, Edwin Pereira (second term), and Nathan Wayne.

In his letter, Father John recalls that, “The authority of the territorial director is a service in favor of all members of his territory, but it is also a heavy burden that falls on the shoulders of one person who, on the other hand, is not exempt from errors. Thanks to the council, territorial directors do not feel alone in carrying that burden, and the talents of the counselors compensate for their possible shortcomings.” Finally, Father John thanks Father Florencio Sánchez and Father Jorge Ranninger for their service and support in territorial governance over the past years.

Father Javier Cereceda, L.C.

Father Javier Cereceda was born on June 13, 1970, in Madrid. He was a student at Everest School Monteclaro, a member of ECYD and the youth section. Before entering religious life, he completed his degree in Medicine and Surgery at the Complutense University of Madrid. In 1996, he collaborated with Regnum Christi in the youth section in Rome. In 1997, he entered the novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in Salamanca. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He was ordained a priest in 2007. He has participated in several General Chapters of the Legion of Christ and in General Assemblies of Regnum Christi.

From 2007 to 2010, he was community superior in Valencia. From 2010 to 2013 and from 2015 to 2016, he was superior of the La Cota community, Madrid. His apostolic work has mainly focused on youth, accompanying married couples, and in the field of education. He was director of the youth section of Regnum Christi in Valencia and has been director of Everest School Monteclaro from 2010 to 2020. From 2013 to 2020, he served as territorial counselor of the Legionaries of Christ in Spain, and in 2020, he was appointed territorial director for a three-year term. He is a member of the Territorial Board of Regnum Christi, of which he is the president.

Father Pedro Castañera, L.C.

Father Pedro Castañera Ribé was born in Barcelona, Spain. In 1984, he consecrated himself as a layperson to God in Regnum Christi, in 2004 he entered the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, and in 2009 he was ordained a priest.

He studied at the American School and began studies at the School of Industrial Engineering in Barcelona. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.

He was director of Cumbres Bugambilias Institute in Guadalajara, Mexico, for four years, and of Cumbres San Javier Institute for six years. He has been the delegate of the territorial director for over 80 Regnum Christi educational centers and later delegate for apostolate in northern Mexico. He has served as a Legionary counselor in the territory of northern Mexico and has extensive experience as a marriage, family, and adolescent counselor.

He has been superior of the Legionaries of Christ community in Barcelona since 2017 and director of Highlands School Barcelona since 2018. In 2017, he was appointed territorial counselor of the Legionaries of Christ for three years, reappointed in 2020 for another three years, serving as territorial vicar, and was renewed for a third time in 2023 as counselor and vicar.

Father Mario López, L.C.

Father Mario López was born on October 20, 1958, in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. He graduated from Cumbres. He consecrated himself to God in Regnum Christi on January 6, 1977. He entered the Legion of Christ on September 15, 1980. He made his perpetual profession on October 8, 1984, and was ordained a priest on January 3, 1991, by Saint John Paul II, on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Legion of Christ. From 1991 to 1994, he was director of the Cumbres school in Caracas, Venezuela, and director of the men’s section of Regnum Christi in that same city. From 1994 to 2004, he was director of the adult sections of Regnum Christi in Barcelona.

Since 2004, he worked at Cumbres School Valencia. From 2015 to 2021, he served as territorial counselor. In 2017, he was appointed superior of the Valencia apostolate community, and in 2021, he was assigned to Madrid as delegate for Regnum Christi schools in Spain.

Father Edwin Pereira, L.C.

Father Edwin Pereira López was born on September 23, 1985, in El Salvador. He entered the novitiate of the Legion of Christ on September 15, 2007, in Monterrey. He took his perpetual vows on July 13, 2015, and was ordained a priest on December 16, 2017, at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. Between 2012 and 2014, he worked in the Prelature of Cancún-Chetumal. Since his diaconal ordination, he has been assigned to Barcelona, where he is a formation instructor and spiritual advisor at Highlands School Barcelona, and also director of ECYD at that school.

On October 10, 2022, he was appointed a member of the Territorial Council of Spain, replacing Father Mark Thelen, L.C., who received a new mission in Austria.

Father Nathan Wayne, L.C.

Father Nathan Wayne was born on May 3, 1988, in Syracuse, New York, United States. He joined the Legion of Christ on September 15, 2007. He made his perpetual profession on August 20, 2017, and was ordained a priest at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran on May 4, 2019.

Between 2012 and 2015, he served as assistant for the vocational promotion of minors in Cornwall, United States. After his diaconal ordination, he was assigned to work in ECYD at Everest School Monteclaro in Madrid, where he is also a formation instructor and spiritual advisor. He has also been national coordinator of Regnum Christi collaborators in Spain. Additionally, he is the coordinator of ECYD in Spain.

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