On the International Day of Refugees, the Vedruna Family joins the global call for solidarity, from its profound identity as an open door house. house of open doors. June 20 is the date set by the UN to “pay tribute to the courage and resilience of refugees, to listen to their stories and advocate for durable solutions to displacement”. In 2025, the theme of the year is “Solidarity with Refugees,” and is a strong call to action and empathy at a time of great global uncertainty.
Solidarity, an essential feature of the Vedruna charism, impels us to welcome, care for and accompany those who are forced to leave their homes because of war, persecution, poverty or climate change.
The Chapter Document “Born Again” reminds us that our mission is to walk alongside the most vulnerable people, especially those who migrate and seek refuge, weaving networks of tenderness, protection and justice. This is not an isolated gesture, but a missionary lifestyle, a daily and consistent way of being in the world, building spaces where all people can find dignity, care and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
As the Congregation prepares to celebrate 200 years of life, the spirit of solidarity takes on even greater strength and centrality. The Bicentennial is not only a commemoration, it is a renewed invitation to continue to make our communities places of real welcome, where hospitality is translated into concrete actions .
In this line, we share below some experiences and solidarity projects that, from the Vedruna Europe Province, accompany and support migrants. Although these are distinguished from refugees by certain aspects, we invite you to read these testimonies because they are living signs of Vedruna solidarity, which continues to be a committed response in the peripheries of our time.
Deusto: support for migrant women
Since 2020, the Sisters of Deusto, in Bilbao, have been developing a project to welcome migrant women who are in the process of legalizing their papers and looking for work and housing. They are sent there by the Lagun Artean Association (which means “among friends”) when they need a place to stay until they can have resources and fend for themselves.
We invite you to read this article where the project is presented and how they want to be a family with the women they welcome:
To enter into direct contact with his experience, the testimony of M. José Laña Apodaka is very moving:
Barcelona: foster home
After a process of discernment based on the Chapter Document “Familia Vedruna Casa de Puertas Abiertas”, and motivated by the availability of space and the social urgency they observed, the community on Mallorca Street in Barcelona became a shelter for migrants.
The testimony of the community reveals that the experience not only benefits the guests, but profoundly transforms the Vedruna Sisters: it opens their eyes to the reality of pain and injustice, sensitizes them to the suffering of others and encourages them to become more actively involved.
Ceuta: Elín Association
Last year marked 25 years of Vedruna presence in Ceuta, a Spanish city nestled in Moroccan territory, which is the gateway for many people who migrate in search of a better life.
The sisters, who arrived in 1999, with the intention of being a welcoming presence, raising awareness and defending the human rights of migrants, joined forces with volunteers from the city and created the Elin Association, whose work is based on three pillars:
- Welcoming all people on an equal footing
- Raising awareness, helping to transform the narrative about migration and sharing its richness.
- The denunciation, through various activities, marches and documents.
We invite you to read the testimony of Sister Paula Domingo in this interview,
Also this article on the 25th anniversary of Vedruna presence in Ceuta:
To learn more about the projects of the Vedruna Province of Europe, we invite you to visit their web page and consult the article compiled by the Vedruna Province of Europe:
