“Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mc 10:42-45
Rev. Pedro Arteaga, MSpS, was elected as the new Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, Christ the Priest Province, by the Provincial Chapter in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, July 28.
As Provincial Superior, Fr. Pedro will oversee the work and welfare of the priests, brothers, and seminarians in the U.S. Province. He succeeds Rev. Roberto Saldívar, MSpS, who served as Provincial Superior for five years.
The U.S. Province carries out the vision of founder Venerable Felix of Jesus Rougier, to build God’s priestly people, foster in them a desire to be holy, and create a culture of solidarity with the most vulnerable through our ministries in the United States. In addition, the Province has apostolates in Mexico and Rome.
The Constitutions of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit give the Provincial Superior authority over all members and houses in the Province. He is elected by at least half plus one vote of the Chapter and confirmed by the Congregation's Superior General, Very Rev. José Luis Loyola, MSpS. The term of the Provincial Superior is six years.
A native of Karlsruhe, Germany, Fr. Pedro was born on September 16, 1964, and is one of seven children. He has a sister, Marilen, who is a Franciscan religious sister ministering in Germany. Fr. Pedro earned his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Instituto de Filosofía, Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1988. He entered the Congregation on September 1, 1988, professed First Vows on August 11, 1990, received his Baccalaureate in Theology from the Antonianum in Rome, and took Final Vows on May 25, 1996. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 10, 1997. Fr. Pedro also received his doctoral degree in Theology from Mt. Angel Seminary in Mount Angel, Oregon.
Before his election, Fr. Pedro was Director of Pastoral Formation and Professor at Mt. Angel Seminary. He formerly served as Pastor at St. Matthew Catholic Church, in Hillsboro, Oregon. He has also ministered in Germany, Italy, Congo, and Mexico.