Bicentenary in the Province of Europe
Target
To raise awareness about the rich contribution of St. Joaquina Vedruna and to make visible what Vedruna has meant since its origins, the road traveled in 200 years and the updating of the Charism, with future projection.
All proposals are the result of the joint work of:
2026
Bicentenary Celebration
January 6, 2026 - Prayer in remembrance of Joaquina's profession of vows
The day of the Epiphany, for our Vedruna Family, is a great feast, especially in the year 2026, because it is the 200th anniversary of the morning in which Joaquina pronounced her vows before Bishop Don Pablo de Jesus Corcuera.
January 17 and 18, 2026 - Meeting "Grateful Memory"
In the Vedruna Center of Valladolid, this celebratory meeting is organized, which includes the sharing of various experiences of how the Vedruna charism is lived, the performance of musicians from the Eutherpe Foundation, and the presentation of the book “Living Years, Lasting Centuries”, written by Mabel Burgell, ccv, and Ramon Rial.
The book was originally published in Catalan in 2023 and, on the occasion of the Bicentennial celebrations, it has been translated into Spanish, thus broadening its scope and facilitating its reading to a wider audience.
February 19, 2026 - Webinar "Women who led the way, 200 years of Vedruna history".
Organized by the Vedruna Education Foundation, it will consist of a journey, making grateful memory, through the history of the congregation from the hands of the sisters who have served as generals of the Vedruna family.
By Rita Aragón López, ccv, and Loli Fernández Colmenarejo, ccv.
February 24, 2026 - Joint prayer "Joaquina's gift" - Fundación Vedruna Educación
Joint online prayer of all the sixth grade students of the Vedruna schools of the FVE. Details to be specified.
February 28, 2026 - Celebration 200 years, Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació
In the Tàrraco Arena of Tarragona, will take place this central event of the 200 years of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna, organized by the Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació. It is expected the participation of 5000 attendees.
Among them, 1,000 students will share the “Cantata dels 200 anys”, which will be replicated in 28 editions in different schools, between March and June 2026.
March to June 2026 - Cantata of the 200 years Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació
Students of the Vedruna schools of the Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació will share the “Cantata dels 200 anys”, originally presented at the event on February 28th. The cantata will be replicated in 28 editions in the different schools, between the months of March and June 2026.
April 16: online meeting "Weavers of our history"
A proposal from the Bicentenary Commission of the PVE, to celebrate the grateful memory of Joaquina’s birth.
This online meeting, entitled “Weavers of our History,” is a panel of experiences of different sisters who, through their writings and lives, have helped us to know Joaquina better.
- Ana Mª Alonso
- María Teresa Llach
- Maria Antonia Gilibets
- Yolanda Moreno
- Mabel Burguell
The meeting will be moderated by Sister Sisita Fiol.
It will be held through this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86132933820?pwd=JXGWnLRWwaSPwRnBg3pK1ehuDiO80z.1
May 9 and 10, 2026 - Charism Formation: Meeting of SEL Network Members
The face-to-face meeting of the SEL Network is a space to stop, meet and recognize ourselves as a network, sharing life, journey and mission. In this special year of the Vedruna Bicentenary, it invites us to return to the roots of the charism – Healing, Educating and Liberating – and to allow ourselves to be inspired together to continue accompanying with meaning and hope the realities where life is most threatened.
May 23, 2026 - Ain Karem Prayer Gathering, Vitoria, Spain
Details to be determined.
June 26 to 28, 2026 - Meeting of educators, Fundación Vedruna Educación
Details to be determined.
Other initiatives
November 2025 to May 2026 - PJV Clip Competition
On the occasion of the Vedruna Bicentenary we started the 1st short film contest with the theme: “Joaquina yesterday and today”: to recognize features of the life of Joaquina de Vedruna that can inspire us today.
The clip may be presented in two modalities: individual or group, with a maximum duration of 1min 10sec. Would you like to participate?
Deadline: October 26 to February 26, 2026 at 23:59h
Registration: comunicacion.pjveu@vedruna.org
Oral history videos: "Who is Joaquina for me? How the charism of the foundress is still alive today"
In the act of homage celebrated on May 17, 2025, testimonies were shared by sisters from the former provinces of Europe, now unified, who told what seduced them about Joaquina’s charism, what inspires them and how they envision the future of this charism.
Workshop for educators: "Caring for the Vedruna School", Vedruna Education Foundation
This workshop proposes to educators a space for reflection and action to review the present of the Vedruna School, of our center and to project with meaning its future. After 200 years educating for life, the current context challenges us with a question as necessary as it is challenging: “And now what?”
It is aimed at educators, called to care for and update the Vedruna pedagogical mission in the face of the challenges of the 21st century. This training invites to rethink, with a critical eye and active hope, how to remain faithful to the charism of Joaquina in a changing world.
The final conclusions of this work will be presented at the meeting of educators to celebrate the Bicentenary that will take place in Madrid (Villaverde and Carabanchel schools) from June 26 to 28.
Official Bicentennial events in Vedruna schools of Fundación Vedruna Education
The Vedruna schools of the Vedruna Education Foundation celebrate individually or jointly with other nearby schools an official act to present the Bicentenary .
Route through Vic and Barcelona
The Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació, together with the Tourist Office of Vic, has developed a tour of the city of Vic, where Joaquina de Vedruna founded the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna in 1826, two hundred years ago. There is also a tour of the places in the neighborhood where Joaquina was born in Barcelona.
Today, Vic has become a must-see for this religious family of ours, present in 25 countries around the world. present in 25 countries around the world, but also for all those who collaborate with its all those who collaborate in its educational, hospitaller and social mission.
Entering Joaquina’s heart
Through the leisurely reading of some of her letters. They are sent on the 12th of each month with the contextualization of the letter and some guidelines for prayer and deepening in the life of Joaquina to facilitate the
community sharing and making them our own.
February, 2025
March, 2025
April, 2025
May, 2025
June, 2025
July, 2025
August, 2025
September, 2025
October, 2025
December, 2025
January, 2026
February, 2026
March, 2026
April, 2026
2025
Preparing for the Bicentennial
February 22, 2025 - Vedruna Contribution to education, Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació
Past, present and future. Projecció de Joaquima de Vedruna. Organized by Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació.
February 25, 2025 - Inauguration of the Bicentennial in the Province of Europe
The Vedruna Province of Europe opens the acts of preparation for the Bicentenary with an online meeting, with the participation of Maria Jose Meira and Fatima Borges, representing the General Team.
May 17, 2025 - The figure of Joaquina de Vedruna and the Three Spirits
Acts celebrating in advance the Feast of St. Joaquina on May 22.
They included a Eucharist of Thanksgiving, in the church of the Mother House, which was presided over by the Bishop of Vic, Romà Casanova; and the Act of homage “Joaquina de Vedruna, light that inspires”.
December 19, 2025 - Back to the roots: two hundred years of the Founding Charter
We commemorated the 200th anniversary of the letter with which Joaquina de Mas y Vedruna, asked the Bishop of Vic, Pablo Jesús Corcuera, for authorization to found the Congregation, with a meeting-prayer led by Loli Fernández and Geraldyn Carrero, two leaders in youth ministry in the Province.
Other activities
Exile route
During Holy Week 2025, a group of sisters of the younger generations (GMJ), together with Sister Maria Antònia Gilibets, made the Exile Route.
This exile was the last of three that Joaquina lived through, along with 14 sisters, between July 3, 1840 and September 16, 1843, in the context of the first Carlist war.
The experience of following in the footsteps of Joaquina and those sisters, from Berga to Perpignan, and back to Vic passing through Béziers, was very emotional and profound.
Vedruna candy route in S. Fernando
The Vedruna School of San Fernando (Cadiz, Spain), in collaboration with the City Council of the city, organizes in May 2025 the Vedruna Sweet Route: a gastronomic contest, which is part of the program of commemorative activities for the Bicentenary of the Congregation.
S. Fernando Bay Hike
On October 25, 2025, on the occasion of the Bicentennial, more than 300 walkers walked the Vedruna Green Path through the Bay of Cadiz: a spiritual and symbolic route through the four centers of Vedruna presence in the area.
The pilgrims marched under the motto “200 years walking together”, covering more than 40 kilometers along existing trails between El Puerto de Santa Maria, Puerto Real, San Fernando and Cadiz. It was a way to celebrate the legacy of love, service and dedication of St. Joaquina de Vedruna, a woman who was always on the move.
Formations
October 2024 - June 2025: Itinerary of formation in Charism for young Pastoral Agents
Training given by PJV Vedruna to various agents of Pastoral Vedruna. With monthly online meetings, the topics are:
- Introduction. Charisms in the Church
- Joaquina and her spiritual experience: Who is God for Joaquina?
- The cross and pain in Joaquina’s life
- Joy in Joaquina de Vedruna
- The search for God’s will
- A way of understanding education: the pedagogy of love
- A way of understanding pastoral care: embracing young people
September 2025: Meeting of Pastoral Teams, Fundación Vedruna Educación
More than 130 people, including 11 sisters, who make up the pastoral teams of the 33 Vedruna schools, the Vedruna Youth Ministry, the Colegio Mayor, Sister Dolors Garcia of the FVE Board of Trustees and David de Frutos, coordinator of the Management Team, met on September 5, 6 and 7 in Madrid.
