GUADIX, Spain.
On May 7, a group of the Rajab Project that welcomes Immigrants shared an experience with women from the Poveda Socio-Cultural Center in Guadix, a meaningful place for the Teresian Association.
At 9 A.M. a group of 90 people of various nationalities and the volunteers that work with them departed from Padre Poveda School in Jaen in two buses.
Upon arrival in Guadix, under menacing clouds, three members of the Teresian Association in Guadix led a tour. We walked the streets and squares Father Poveda walked on, so significant in his priesthood and in the background of his Good Idea.
We visited places like the cathedral, where he was ordained a priest; the house where he lived with his parents; the seminary and towers of the citadel. From there the young Poveda observed the caves and his desire to build bridges and roads grew within him. Bridges between the people of the town and the cave-dwellers.
After this route we went to the neighborhood of the Caves to visit the place where the young priest from Linares worked so much. Approaching the cave of Our Lady of Grace and feeling her gaze over her immigrant children was an experience of Light and Tenderness.
Mary, our Mother was there welcoming their hopes and joys, but also the pain and suffering of her children from Rajab. Veils and colorful saris of Moroccan women, Pakistani, and from Sahara gave a different aspect to that cave. Under the gaze of Our Lady of Grace, we could not forget those who have prayed in this holy place, full of humility and simplicity.
After lunch, we continued our visit to the neighborhood of the Caves and, again, it was a moment to feel what must have gone through the heart of Poveda.
Then we met with women from Poveda Socio-cultural Center in Guadix, who presented to us their art work: oil paintings, acrylics, cross stitch crafts, and costumes designed by themselves. Also the "Latin Fitness" group showed some exercises and participants joined in.
We sought to share goals, dreams, joys, and hopes. Also the challenges faced by the women of Guadix and by immigrants.
The meeting took place in a climate of trust, which guaranteed freedom of expression, respect and mutual listening. Both groups spoke the same language, the language of a prophet who lived there at the beginning of the 20th century in a land marked by economic and social differences.
We ended our encounter sharing food and a friendly conversation.
We end this account with the words of Pope Francis in his address to European institutions on the conferral of the Charlemagne prize on May 6:
"What has happened to you, the Europe of humanism, the champion of human rights, democracy and freedom? What has happened to you, Europe, the home of poets, philosophers, artists, musicians, and men and women of letters? What has happened to you, Europe, the mother of peoples and nations, the mother of great men and women who upheld, and even sacrificed their lives for, the dignity of their brothers and sisters?"
“The culture of dialogue entails a true apprenticeship and a discipline that enables us to view others as valid dialogue partners, to respect the foreigner, the immigrant and people from different cultures as worthy of being listened to.”
Rajab Prject (Jaén) and Poveda Sociocultural Center (Guadix)