The Basilica of the Mare de Déu de la Mercè, on the Ample street in Barcelona, was the place chosen for the celebration of the Eucharist, recalling that the first Academy had its location at number 23 on that same street.
Feast of the heart, we are Church, we are witnesses of Christ.
The choir, directed by Joan Gas, accompanied the celebration, creating a climate of prayer and thanksgiving for God’s presence in the history of each person and of the Teresian Association in Catalonia, which has made and continues making possible the incarnation of the Charisma on this region.
Thanksgiving for the multitude of life events that, like the links in a chain, have been transmitted from generation to generation.
Grateful memory for the life and the mission carried out here; loving gratitude to those who have made it possible. Lots of people have come from afar away to accompany us on this day, many of them joining us through their messages, as well as those who are looking at us from heaven.
I surrender. Lord I surrender my life. Give it all to You. Jo em rendeixo. Jo em rendeixo, Déu meu. Tot t'ho dono a Tu.
We want to continue welcoming the challenge to respond to the new social and ecclesial realities in Catalonia with enthusiasm, commitment, and hope.
Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.
The Pere Casaldáliga room, of the Claret library, hosted again the centenary exhibit that has provided the opportunity for more people to be able to journey through the history of the Association in this region.
A closer encounter with Victoria
In the evening we all met at the Sant Vicent de Sarrià Cultural Center to attend the representation of the Monologue "Victoria Díez."
It is difficult to put ourselves on someone else’s shoes, especially when we haven’t met that person. We only have a told story created with symbols, with some writings, and the empathy from belonging to the same family.
The interpretation made by Raquel Vicente of the original idea and script by Luis A. Giménez Alamán, which premiered last November in Teruel, brought us closer -using words from Victoria, Poveda, Lorca, the Song of Songs and with today's words- to Victoria's life, to her history marked by desires and realities, to the discovery of her vocation as educator through her teaching profession, to her encounter with Pedro Poveda and with the Teresian Association which gave direction and meaning to her personal searching and surrender to Jesus and to others.
Enthusiasm, doubt, fear, surrender, words of encouragement to her peers... so many sentiments...
Marius Domil, with an urban dance, expressed beautifully the last moments of Victoria's life. The dry sound gave way to the bright light of the victory over death.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one and come with me.
Sucession of commemorative events
The celebrations of the 100 years of TA presence in Catalonia have taken place over several months.
The Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona hosted the inaugural Act on the afternoon of January 11, 2019. It consisted of a cultural event with interventions by several members of the Association addressing aspects of the educational presence and the transformative social action of the TA during all these years in Catalonia through individual involvements and collective projects. The vocal group Lotus Octet, accompanied the event musically.
In February, the meeting point was the photography exhibit entitled “A walk through history. New challenges, new answers,” displayed in the Casaldàliga room of the Claret Library.
On January 27, the magazine Catalunya Cristiana published a supplement presenting the history and current presence of TA in Catalonia with the various activities and projects carried out and sustained by its members.
The pilgrimage to Montserrat on Sunday May 12, and the closing Eucharist at the “Basilica de la Merced” on Saturday September 28 have been a central part of this grateful and celebratory experience looking towards the future.
Teresian Association in Barcelona.
Translation: C. Zabalegui and R. Cameron.