Joint Assembly at El Escorial (Spain) (Bros & Sisters)

One hundred forty religious and laity of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts have gathered in the Casa de Espiritualidad San José of El Escorial (Madrid), from 26 to 28 August in the assembly which is held every two years. The Provincials, Nuria Arias and Enrique Losada, have been responsible to welcome and present the content of the meeting. Aurora Laguarda and Goyi Marin, from the General Government, have been present.

The first day has revolved around the Year of Faith, with presentations of Ángel Cordovilla,  professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Comillas, which has developed an approach to the theology of faith: context, action and content. 

Also this day has had a panel of testimonies on the path of faith of a sister, a secular ss.cc. and a brother: María del Mar Pérez, Natalia Vidal and Leopoldo Antolín. The Eucharist was presided by Ángel Cordovilla.

The second day, August 27, the commission of the Beatification of the Martyrs has prepared various events. After the morning prayer, has projected the movie "A forbidden God", directed by Pablo Moreno, about the Claretian martyrs of Barbastro. Then, in groups, has shared what this martyrdom story has meant for the attendees.

The evening began with a prayer that opened the “congregational and martyrdom corner” in the church of the Sacred Hearts of El Escorial. After the prayer, led by vicepostulator of our martyrs, Osvaldo Aparicio, the group went on pilgrimage, 3 kilometers from the residence of the Sacred Hearts of El Escorial, to approach the “Piedra del mochuelo” (the stone owl), where Father Teófilo was martyred. In this landmark was held a time of prayer and silence and each religious made the offering of a cross that was deposited on the monument to this martyr. The day ended with the celebration of the Eucharist, presided by Fernando Cordero, who has encouraged "to ‘make things up’[1] in our communities and works with the challenge has been thrown to us by our martyrs ".

We concluded our meeting on the morning of August 28, with a prayer prepared by Rosa María Ferreiro. Next we evaluate the assembly, culminating in the Eucharist, presided over by Angel de la Torre, celebrating the jubilees of religious profession and priestly of several brothers and sisters, who shared their testimony of faithfulness over the years. With the lunch, we completed these days of being together, prayer and fellowship.

08/28/2013