There are 48,690 women and 15,445 men consecrated to God in Spain, a number that is declining but that still remains high. Among the European countries with the highest number of religious, Spain is in fact second only to Italy. On the occasion of the Day of the Consecrated Life, collaboration was intensified between the Spanish Episcopal Conference and male and female religious orders, confederated in CONFER (Spanish Conference of Religious). According to CONFER data, the 64,135 religious in Spain (only those of active life, i.e. not counting the contemplatives who have their own Pro Orantibus Day) are mainly dedicated to education, healthcare, social work, pastoral work in the parishes and vocational apostolate. According to Sister Leonor García Rodríguez, general secretary of CONFER, “consecrated life cannot remain cut off from life, but is called to be an active presence in society, sufficiently attentive and free to hear and respond to the cries for help of their fellowmen”. Hence the appeal to work in partnership between congregations and with the laity.
