The Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació organized on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Tarraco Arena in Tarragona a multitudinous and symbolic act around the Vedruna education in Catalonia.
The event brought together some five thousand people linked to the educational world of Vedruna, including educators, students, families, political authorities and representatives of the cultural sphere.
This great event was not only a festive celebration but also an occasion to present the new educational project that will guide the 39 schools of the Vedruna network in Catalonia from the 2026-2027 school year. The project, the result of a formative process called “Perfer”, incorporates the value of service as an essential attitude to transform the environment and expresses the fundamental values of the Vedruna educational model, such as welcome, commitment, joy, proximity and solidarity. In this sense, the emphasis was placed on education not only as the transmission of knowledge, but also as the integral formation of people committed to society.
One of the most outstanding visual elements of the celebration was the symbolic construction of a house, which represented in a plastic way the values and the educational style that the Foundation wants to continue promoting. This metaphor of the house brought together the pillars of Vedruna education: a family atmosphere where children and young people can “grow with their own identity”, discover their vocation and learn to transform the world with criteria and a sense of belonging. The house also symbolized the idea of welcome, of a safe and communitarian space, where human values are intertwined with academic learning.
The event was conceived as an authentic major celebration, with artistic and cultural interventions. A dozen artists participated , including musicians, singers, dancers, actors and poets, as well as local entities such as dance groups and the giants of the city. All the interventions evoked the figure of Joaquima de Vedruna, founder of the congregation in 1826, highlighting her transformative educational vision and her legacy of love and service. The artistic program was designed to convey emotion, identity and sense of community, connecting the history of the congregation with the current experiences of the educational community.
Sister General, Maria Teresa Cuervo, wanted to highlight in her speech the importance of preserving and projecting the legacy accumulated over two centuries with “renewed vitality”, pointing to an education that not only transmits knowledge, but also forms people with solid values that contribute to a more just society. He stressed the need to continue adapting to the times without losing the essence of the Vedruna charism, oriented to service and attention to human and social needs.
For their part, the political authorities present highlighted the historical and social importance of the institution. It was pointed out how, in difficult moments in the history of Catalonia, the figure of Joaquima de Vedruna was able to offer hope and purpose through education. The congregation’s ability to adapt without losing its identity was also highlighted, underlining its commitment to language, identity and integration.
During the morning and afternoon of the event, the Vedruna educational community experienced exciting moments with testimonies of students and educators, as well as with the participation of families, reinforcing the perception of Vedruna schools as places of welcome, growth and transformation.
200th Anniversary Cantata
One of the most emblematic moments of the day was the performance of the cantata “Kim-A de Mart” by a thousand 4th, 5th and 6th grade students from the Vedruna schools, who acted as representatives of the entire educational network.
This cantata was presented as a transplanetary piece for soloist, children’s choir and small orchestra, composed by Jordi Domènech and Joan Rial, and was integrated into the event as a key artistic and symbolic element. Through nine songs, the work presents an imaginary story on a journey to the planet Mars where, through the main character, universal values that are still relevant 200 years after the founding of the congregation are explored. These themes include acceptance of diversity, the importance of caring for others, reflection on social challenges such as climate change and solidarity, as well as other dimensions of daily life such as school, family and health.
The cantata combined music, narration and educational values, and featured musical direction, soloists and instrumental accompaniment that enriched the event, underlining the commitment of the Vedruna community to an education that integrates meaning, creativity and values.
As part of the program of activities for the Bicentennial in the Province, this cantata will be presented in the schools of Catalonia between March and June 2026.
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