Cascante, Spain, January 15, 2022.
Three cities, three encounters, the same path that goes deep into our roots. Significant places that speak to us of our saint, who made God’s plan possible in her life and continues to live in each of her daughters.
On January 11, 2022, when we arrived at the Mother House, we had the first community prayer in front of the tomb of Vicenta Maria. It was a really special moment where our feelings, emotions and petitions came together to live it in a grateful way and remembering in it our sisters, young people, relatives, MOLAVIM and all those people to whom this same spirit that makes us give our lives for others reaches.
The community welcomed us with open arms, they have shown us their love and joy in every detail, making us feel like family.
The following day H. Ma. Nieves Oriol, took us into some of the corners of the Palace where the saint lived; it was really moving. In the afternoon we visited the Almudena, Madrid’s cathedral, the main square and walked through some of the streets of the illuminated capital.
Our next destination was Segovia. We visited the beautiful cathedral, prayed before the tomb of San Juan de la Cruz and saw the aqueduct as we walked through the streets.
The community invited us to a delicious traditional meal of the region and we all had a very pleasant time: we sang, danced, shared experiences, which made for an unforgettable fraternal moment.
From there we went to the novitiate in Buitrago, where we had a multicultural meeting with all the sisters in formation and toured that beautiful house where the heart of the Religious of Mary Immaculate is born. We enjoyed the presence of M. Daría among us.
The fourth day began when we arrived in the city of Zaragoza, where the Virgin of Pilar awaited us and listened to all our petitions. We visited the “Crystal Rosary” that with delicate colorful artistic pieces, represents the different mysteries. We went to the SEO, the city’s cathedral and ended our visit at home, with a warm recreation set by the community.
And the long awaited moment arrived: Cascante, the land of the saint! the place where the life of a wonderful and unique woman began, where love was planted, where the mission germinated, where God called, and with her we who, like the shepherds, came to admire, know and feel the origin of the story, in order to go deep into our roots and from there love and continue this great mission that motivates us to give the best, for the girls.
So many faces, so many fruits, so many intertwined stories that make life a web of service and dedication, where the presence of God is felt and what really touches the heart, what the Lord is marking from our mission, takes shape.
“Let us thank God for everything,” for all that we are living, for so much love, dedication and prayer. They are all very present in our thoughts and hearts.
H. Susana Rivera, RMI