On November 5th, Father Cipriano Sánchez García, LC, took his oath as the new Rector of the Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, before members of the university community, alumni, institutional authorities, and special guests.

Father Cipriano received the “Rectoral Medal” and exchanged the cap of his new position with Father Jesús Quirce Andrés, LC, outgoing Rector, in the University’s Exhibition Hall.

Father Cipriano Sánchez, LC, spoke during his speech about the formation of Leaders of Positive Action: “leadership as we understand it at Anáhuac is a dimension of the logic of service, not of the logic of power,” and affirmed that “only those who serve as leaders are truly leaders.”

In this regard, he spoke about the importance of exercising leadership within the community, a leadership aligned with the university’s Catholic identity, a leadership of community, social, and ecclesial commitment, as well as an academic leadership as a result of the greatness of the human person.

Furthermore, he spoke about the strategic plan “which, with a comprehensive vision, we will carry out as a university community and which will mark our path in the coming years,” based on four axes: Catholic identity and comprehensive formation, recognized and accredited academic quality, institutional development, and effective management. The full speech of Father Cipriano can be read here.

The ceremony was led by Father Ricardo Sada Castaño, LC, Territorial Director of the Legion of Christ for Mexico and Central America and President of the university’s governing board; Dr. Sonia Barnetche Frías, Vice-Rector of Academics; Dr. Bernardo Rangel Sada, consecrated layperson of Regnum Christi and Vice-Rector of Comprehensive Formation; Engineer Dermot Tennyson Doyle, also a consecrated layperson of the Movement and Vice-Rector of Finance and Administration; as well as Master Eduardo Sánchez Mejorada, Executive Secretary of the Anáhuac University Network.

Master Sánchez Mejorada was responsible for reading the appointment act of Father Cipriano as the new Rector. Father Cipriano served as the university’s Vice-Rector of Academics, a position he held from December 2014 until October 31st of the past year.

Father Cipriano Sánchez García, L.C., was born in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, in 1958. He has been a member of the Legion of Christ since 1975 and was ordained a priest in Rome in 1988.

He earned his Licentiate in Philosophy, with a specialization in Philosophical Anthropology, at the Gregorian University in Rome; a Master’s in Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome; and a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Universidad Anáhuac México Sur with the thesis: “Participation according to Karol Wojtyła, anthropology for community in the postmodern society.” He also holds a diploma in Classical Humanities from the Center for Humanities and Sciences in Salamanca, Spain.

Within the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi, he has served as Prefect of Studies at the Vocational Center in Ontaneda, Spain, from 1979 to 1983; Vice-Rector of the Vocational Center in Moncada, Valencia, from 1988 to 1989; member of the Territorial Doctrinal Committee of the Legion of Christ in Mexico, from 1991 to 2007; member of the Study and Permanent Formation Commission of the Congregation since 2014; assistant to the Studies Prefecture of the Mexico Territory from 1992 to 2009; Director of adult sections of Regnum Christi in southern Mexico City from 1990 to 2004; and Director of the women’s section of the Movement from 2004 to 2007 in the western zone of Mexico City.

Likewise, Father Cipriano Sánchez has specialized in family topics, which has led him to hold the position, since 2006, as Director of the CENYELZTL Foundation, A.C., Unidos por la Familia, dedicated to promoting the family with a focus on social responsibility.

In 2009, he organized the World Family Meeting in Mexico City, and from 2004 to 2013, he hosted the weekly radio program “New Man Building the Family” on 1030 AM, from Grupo Radio Centro. Additionally, he has collaborated on religious and values topics on various programs of Televisión Azteca since 1999, where he periodically offers a capsule on values and has also served as the main commentator during the programs covered by the broadcaster during the visits of the last Popes to Mexico.

Furthermore, Father Cipriano Sánchez has published various works, including books and audios on spirituality such as: “The Truth Will Set You Free,” “Lenten Paths,” “Advent Paths,” “Way of Damascus,” on the occasion of the Year of Saint Paul; “Certainties to Hope,” on the encyclical Spe Salvi by Benedict XVI. On marriage topics, he published “The Story is of Two,” in two volumes; Premarital Formation Manual “Building the Future” PPC, and Family Pastoral Manual PPC, among others.