La Conferencia de Provinciales Jesuitas en América Latina has some new members.

The new Jesuit provincial of the Venezuela Province takes office tomorrow. Fr. Arturo Ernesto Peraza Celis, SJ is all of 44 years old and he’s been busy working in formation (rector of the Filosofado Ignacio Ellacuría), communications (director of the review SIC), and serving as a provincial consultor. If that weren’t enough, he’s also found time to complete a PhD in political science, this on top of his earlier studies in law. He’s been a priest for 10 years and tomorrow he will find himself chief discerner of the Jesuits in Venezuela.

Although we first in arrived in the territory that is today the Republic of Venezuela way back in 1628, it wasn’t until the relatively late date of 1740 that our Jesuit ancestors founded the town of Cabruta on the Orinoco River.

Fr. Miguel Cruzado Silveri, SJ is the new provinicial of Jesuits in Perú. A graduate of el Colegio Jesuita San Ignacio de Loyola in Paita, la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, la Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya y Teología en el Centre Sèvres de Paris, and Georgetown University, Miguel is just 39 years old and fresh from his tertianship experience.

The Jesuits have been active in Perú since 1568 and today we sponsor some 58 institutions, not including the vast number of Fe y Alegría schools, which are centrally administered.

Prayers for both men as they begin their new missions.