FR. GABRIEL CRUZ, NEW ANIMATOR OF PRIMARY ADMA
Dear friends of ADMA,
Receive my fraternal greetings at this time when the Church celebrates the Mystery of the Lord's Incarnation, contemplating with amazement how he is welcomed by Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi, who represent all men and women of good will.
With this communiqué, I bring you family news from our dear Rector Major. Fr. Alejandro Guevara had to return to his Province of origin, concluding his service as Spiritual Animator of our ADMA Association. He has appointed Fr. Gabriel Cruz as Animator to accompany the Primary ADMA, with the task of carrying out this service for the time preceding the celebration of the General Chapter of our Congregation, together with the World Coordinator, Mr. Renato Valera, and his council.
We thank Fr. Alejandro for his service during these years in which he has accompanied you with great enthusiasm and dedication. I ask you to welcome the person of Fr. Gabriel, who, in addition to his personal testimony, brings with him a rich direct missionary experience, collaborating with Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, the power of grace at work in the hearts of members of the Salesian Family who are walking towards ecclesial recognition of their holiness.
I know that he takes on this service with great passion, willing to involve himself, according to his possibilities, in the journey of the Association which is preparing, among other initiatives, the next World Congress in Fatima. I and the members of the Secretariat will also walk with him, with you and with the Provincial Delegates in all that is necessary to give continuity to the programme of ADMA, precisely at a time when the Association is progressively expanding. Fr Gabriel's e-mail address is
animatore.spirituale@admadonbosco.org as well as gcruz@sdb.org.
The Lord, who in Mary, has given us the Mother and Teacher, will guide us. To Her, we entrust ourselves, in Her we trust, and with Her we will enjoy the fruits which she sows in our hearts as an excellent educator.
After the celebration of Holy Christmas, living as a family, we can express our sense of Salesian Family in the month dedicated to Don Bosco by sharing with everyone the love for Mary that so identifies you.
With all my affection,
P. Joan Lluís Playà Sdb.
Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family.
Turin - Rome, 1 January 2024, Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary.
Short interview with ADMA's new spiritual animator
Fr. Gabriel was born in Mexico on 17th June 1977. He takes over as the new World Spiritual Animator of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), from 1st January 2024.
Here is how he presents himself to the members of the Association and to the whole Salesian Family.
Fr Gabriel, where are your human and Salesian roots?
Since 1997, I have been a Salesian of Don Bosco. Ordained priest on 30th June 2006.
Amongst numerous academic qualifications, I have obtained degrees in philosophy, university education, theology, missiology and theology of religions with a focus on Islam from the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Among the specialisations obtained, I recently completed ‘Advanced Training in the Causes of Saints’ at the Pontifical Lateran University, promoted in collaboration with the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints.
Within the Society of St. Francis de Sales, I have been involved in formation and teaching, as a formator, professor and Rector of formation houses and seminaries.
And how did you come to this position?
First in my homeland and then in Pakistan, I served as Vice-Postulator in the Cause of Beatification and Canonisation of the Servant of God Akash Bashir, and as Provincial Delegate and Councillor of the Southern Province of the Philippines, until 1st September 2022, the date from which - after being assigned to Italy - I collaborate with the Postulator General of the Salesians.
From 1st January 2024, I am appointed by the Rector Major as Spiritual Animator of the Association of Mary Help of Christians – ADMA.
