Last Saturday, October 25, on the occasion of the Bicentenary of the Congregation, 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 slogan “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.
In an exemplary atmosphere of family, community and fraternity, more than 300 people participated: students, families, former students, personnel of the educational centers and of the Vedruna Residence of Puerto Real, collaborators and friends of the Vedruna Family.
The route covered a total of 41 kilometers: starting from the Colegio Vedruna of El Puerto de Santa Maria, at 8:30 am, then passing through the Residence Santa Joaquina de Vedruna in Puerto Real, then the Colegio Vedruna of San Fernando, ending at the Colegio Vedruna of Cadiz at 20:30 pm. The route had refreshment points, where to charge energy and stamp the passport of the activity, but also where prayers and gestures were made. In addition, welcome activities were organized in each Vedruna center. Each participant could choose which stretch to walk, thus participating according to his or her possibilities.
Vedruna School of El Puerto de Santa María
As the starting point of the route, everything began in the school chapel, with a moment of prayer. The participants placed themselves in the hands of Jesus: with his help and company, the journey was very exciting.
From the Sacred Heart School of El Puerto de Santa Maria the experience has been wonderful; teachers, students and alumni joined to share this route with members of the Vedruna community of the Bay. Especially moving was the stop in the community of Puerto Real where we received so much affection.
Francisca Jiménez Díaz, director of the Vedruna School in El Puerto de Santa María.
Vedruna Puerto Real Residence
With great joy, the elderly of this residence joined the tour welcoming the walkers who arrived from the Vedruna School of El Puerto de Santa Maria. The sisters and elderly residents, as well as the staff of the residence, made this stop along the way a significant intergenerational meeting.
The Brotherhood of Soledad, the Jesús Armario castanet group, many volunteers, families, friends, Vedruna Laity and the community of Carmelite Sisters, as well as the staff of the residence, collaborated with them. Carmelite community, as well as the staff of the residence.
The seniors really enjoyed seeing so much Vedruna life!
Vedruna School of San Fernando
Located at the halfway point, the stop at this center was very symbolic. In the ceremony held in the school courtyard, with songs and words of welcome, the “gesture of the stone” was performed: each participant wrote their name and commitment on a stone that, when united, formed the “Vedruna of the Bicentennial”, symbol of community and shared faith. With these stones, in the future, they will form a sculpture or shield that will be displayed on one of the walls of the school, as a reminder for posterity of the passage of the pilgrims who celebrated the Bicentennial.
Last Saturday we lived a precious experience the four Vedruna communities of the Bay: the College of El Puerto de Santa Maria, the residence for the elderly of Puerto Real, the College of San Fernando and the College of Cadiz: the Vedruna Route or Path.
Personally, I can say that the beautiful coexistence between teachers, students, families and alumni far exceeded our expectations.
In my school specifically, San Fernando, architect of the initiative, we welcomed the walkers who came from Puerto Real with applause and cheers and then we gathered in the courtyard to carry out a dynamic with stones nominated as a symbol of the charism that unites us, that of Joaquina de Vedruna, who was always on the road.
It was an experience that families ask us to repeat next year.Yolanda Coto, director of the Vedruna San Fernando School
Vedruna School of Cádiz
The route concluded, at the end of the day, at the Colegio Vedruna Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in Cádiz. There, the walkers were able to stamp the last box of their Vedruna Green Path passport.
It was lived as a day of celebration, coexistence…of testimony. With great joy for the participation of the whole Vedruna family of the Bay of Cadiz, their involvement, effort and generosity, especially on a Saturday.
Juan Nicolas Ortiz Cano, director of the Vedruna School of Cádiz.
It was very exciting to finish the tour, and to see how it has taken root and how we continue to be a witness in our cities and neighborhoods! The moment of arrival was a moment of great joy, cheers and excitement at the door of the school.
