From Suipacha, we will celebrate as a community the beginning of the Bicentennial: 200 years of a charism that gathers us, encourages us and sends us.
In 1826 in Vic, Barcelona, Spain, Joaquina de Vedruna founded the Carmelite Congregation of the Vedruna Charity. For this reason, next year the Congregation will celebrate its Bicentenary, whose opening in the Province of Vedrun America will take place on February 28, with a main Eucharist, celebrated from Suipacha (Argentina).
On this continent, the Congregation is present in twelve countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, United States, Haiti, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The Vedruna Sisters, with Mother Leonor Maturana among them, arrived in Argentina in 1913, and on April 23 they were already in Suipacha dedicated to education and the service of the most needy, where they founded the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen, growing along with the development of the city.
The town of Suipacha, where the charism of St. Joaquina is deeply lived -especially in the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen and in the Casa Madre Leonor Maturana de Hermanas Mayores- will be the venue of the celebration that will be transmitted to all America. Although the meeting point is Suipacha, it is a commemoration that involves all the Vedruna presence in Argentina -including the works of Santa Fe (Carcarañá) and Capital Federal (Cramer and Ayacucho)- and the Vedruna family of the whole continent.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Congregation in Suipacha is a recognition of the road traveled following the teachings of Saint Joaquina, a woman who, moved by the desire to respond to the needs of the people and give glory to God, began a project that united dedication, faith and service.
The organization began last September, when Sr. Marisol Sanchez, from the Provincial Team, visited the locality to accompany the first meetings of the team in charge, made up of lay people, teachers and religious. Sisters Mirta Paoletti and Ana María Raventós, referents of Argentina and Suipacha, lead this work group.
The organization team seeks to involve the entire population so that Suipacha dresses up in celebration of this Bicentennial. During the weekend there will be recreational, cultural and artistic activities, and the visit of Vedruna representatives from most of the countries of the continent is expected, among them Sisters Alicia Zanichelli (Argentina), Marita Garcés (Peru) and Marisol Sánchez (Dominican Republic), who currently lead the Provincial Team.
Francisco Jáuregui
Communication, Prophecy and Creation Care Team
Note: We are happy to share that the international media ACI Prensa is reporting this event:
