On August 5, feast of Our Lady of the Snows, the island of enchantment was dressed in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity to this land so dear to so many sisters who sowed the seed of the Vedruna charism.
In 1959, the first Spanish sisters—Sisters Irene and Anita González-Quevedo, along with Dolores Aguado—arrived on our soil, as we would say today, with backpacks in hand, full of love and enthusiasm, at the invitation of Fr. Quevedo, to establish the University of Ponce.
In 1961, the island was touched by God when the famous Vedruna School was built—a school that contributed so much to Puerto Rican families—and where the Sisters dedicated themselves to sowing and nurturing the seed of Joaquina Vedruna’s teachings. They began their work with 64 students, and their enrollment grew to more than 900. This island—small in size but with giant hearts—was blessed by the presence of these energetic sisters, who were determined to work toward the formation of women through a Christian education.
Today we celebrate with great pride, remembering with such fondness each of the sisters who helped shape us into unique women, lighting the way forward. Four are with us today—Iris Rivera, María del Carmen Robles, Virgenmina, and Ada Mirian Rivera—while the others are in the heavens, illuminating our paths.
We began the celebration in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a Mass at the very site where the Vedruna School once stood. For the former students, it was a magical place, full of memories and brimming with life. The Mass was presided over by Fr. Feliciano Rodríguez and concelebrated by Friar Moisés, a Capuchin, and Fr. Jorge Amber, SJ, with a letter of brotherhood. The readings focused on love—that love which Joaquina said “never says enough” —and, as Puerto Ricans say,“TRUE LOVE,” like the love we received from the sisters, who brought us closer to the love of our God. Also present were Sisters Epifania de la Cruz (Dominican Republic), Carmen Migdalia (U.S.), and Marisol Sánchez (Provincial Team), as well as many former students. In a special gesture, the General and Provincial Teams sent letters of greetings to the entire family for this momentous occasion. (You can read them by downloading the PDFs at the end of this article.)
They say that the festivities are known by the vespers, so on August 3, the community of Aibonito, founded in 1979, a small community of insertion in a popular environment, with welcoming people, prepared an emotional Eucharist in gratitude for the legacy of love to our communities.
Sr. Iris Rivera, CCV encouraged us to take part in the celebration and reminded us that “Today is a day filled with joy and excitement. It serves as a reminder of how precious the time we share is and how important we are to one another. Through this celebration, we reflect on how we got here and how we’ve responded to current realities, because we want to continue with the closeness and simplicity that have defined us. It is a fitting moment to remember the sisters who are no longer with us physically, but whose influence endures. Each of us has walked our own path, facing challenges and celebrating achievements. Today, those paths cross once again, and it is as if no time has passed. The joy of seeing their faces, hearing their laughter, and feeling their affection is indescribable.
We take this moment to be grateful for every moment shared and to promise that, no matter what the future holds, we will always find a way to meet again as a Vedruna family.
Some of our experiences
Marisol Casas, alumna
“It was a time for sharing, toasts, songs, cake, more songs, and even ‘pleneros’ (a percussion instrument). We felt nostalgia, love, friendship, and camaraderie—and above all, a deep sense of gratitude toward the sisters for dedicating their lives to the well-being of Puerto Ricans without expecting anything in return.”
Sr. Mirian Rivera, CCV
The celebration meant a lot to me. It was an expression of gratitude for the affection and participation shown, a gift to the congregation from all of us sisters who remain (four of us) and from those who have gone before us, as well as a source of joy for the alumni of Vedruna School and for representatives from nearly all the communities where the Vedruna Carmelites have been present.
Sr. Virgenmina Rivera, CCV
I am deeply grateful for these 75 years of the Vedruna presence in this land. I want to reflect on the history we have lived in the various communities where we have been and shared our lives. Aibonito, Ponce, Caguas, Narajito, Río Piedras, Caimito, and the work carried out at the Vedruna School, the Crea Re-education Center, C.E. Joaquina de Vedruna, the University Residence, in pastoral ministry, in biblical and liturgical formation, living out the Gospel, and sowing the Vedruna charism. We thank the alumnae who organized the celebration, and we give thanks for the fruits sown by so many sisters who walked this earth, whose harvest we now reap.
Sr. María del Carmen Robles, CCV
The celebration in Aibonito was a truly memorable experience for me—seeing the warmth with which they welcomed us that day, even though we no longer live there, and everything they had prepared for us. The Mass was very moving and full of thoughtful gestures, kisses, and hugs. I also enjoyed spending time with the people—not to mention the cake, gifts, and thoughtful gestures. I’ll never forget the years I spent in Aibonito; we were a community of four sisters: Nieves de la Rubiera, Eneida Torres, Haydée Rodríguez, and myself, among others who came and went. A mission embedded in that welcoming and simple town. We devoted ourselves to teaching in the public school, visiting the sick in the hospital and in their homes, providing biblical formation, forming communities… in short, we participated in the life of the parish with deep commitment and a strong sense of community. After so many years in this land of Borinquen, I can say from the bottom of my heart that I feel like a Puerto Rican born in Spain.
"THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR MAKING THIS REUNION AN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT. MAY THE JOY OF THIS DAY BE WITH US ALWAYS!"
Lizzie Corujo, alumna, and Sister Marisol Sánchez, CCV
