On the Camino de San Miguel, in Montserrat, last Thursday, May 21, a new sculpture of St. Joaquina de Vedruna was inaugurated, created by the artist Jordi Coll, commissioned by the congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna in Europe and the Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació. The image joins the Route of the Founders, promoted by the Christian School Foundation of Catalonia, which highlights the contribution of various religious figures to the Catalan educational life.
Joaquina appears with her arms open in welcome, her face serene and her feet firmly planted on the ground, representing her humble attitude, closeness and willingness to help. The composition is articulated in two pieces, suggesting a door that opens, a word that awakens. Thus, Joaquina’s work is presented as a process to be continued: a legacy that future generations must make their own.
The inauguration took place with a solemn ceremony, beginning with a conventual mass in the basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat. Then, the nearly two hundred guests moved to the path of San Miguel, where the sculpture is located, for the second part of the inauguration. There, the sculpture was blessed by the Prior of the Monastery of Montserrat, Jordi Puigdevall.
There was also a space for various interventions, such as Sister General Maria Teresa Cuervo, who thanked the sculptor for having captured “the maternal closeness and the welcoming embrace, together with the dynamism of the mission, the openness of mind and heart and the transcendence” that marked Joaquina’s life. Also sharing a few words was the Sr. Montserrat EspinaltPresident of the Fundació Vedruna Catalunya Educació.
Joaquina appears before us as a woman, without the veil covering her head and with her feet on the ground, without a pedestal, showing us her closeness and humanity. Her arms, always open, as a symbol of welcome and shelter. Her figure appears taking a step forward, to receive us with total cordiality and love. […]
Each blow given must have sufficient and precise force to break the stone, but at the same time, care must be taken not to break more than necessary. It is necessary to discover and respect each break, each shape, before striking again.
Strength and care were the words that came to my mind, while I contemplated how the face, hands, knees, etc. were appearing. These words became reflections on the art of educating, teaching and accompanying. Strength and care.
Words by Jordi Coll, sculptor of the work
Finally, a group of 5th and 6th grade students from the Vedruna Vall de Terrassa school performed two musical pieces to close the inauguration: “Cançó dels 200”, with lyrics by Joan Rial and music by Jordi Domènech, and “Nostra Catalunya”, by Vedruna sister Mabel Burgell.
