On January 11, 2026, with deep emotion, we lived as a community of the General House the moment of the opening of the reliquary of our Holy Mother Joaquina de Vedruna, for its cleaning, restoration and, at the same time, protection and conservation of the relic.
From the chapel, where the reliquary is located, we went in procession, accompanying the relic and singing, to the designated room. In addition to the community, we were joined by the Dehonian Fathers who had come home that morning for the celebration of the Eucharist: Ramón Dominguez Fraile and Nhat Nguyen Van. The atmosphere was overwhelming. We remained united, in silent prayer and filled with an emotion difficult to express, during the entire procedure.
In the room, with great dignity and care, D. Luciano Griggio, a deacon expert in this field, began his work, while we were witnesses, in silence and with our hearts closed. Finally, when he opened it, not without difficulty that required expertise, he cleaned the relic -the brain and the cerebellum- with delicacy and skill. The expert commented that it was very well preserved . Sensing our feelings and desires, he allowed us to hold this venerable treasure in our hands for a few brief moments. It was an endearing and deeply mystical moment. Each one, in the silence of her heart, keeps this experience forever.
In this climate of recollection, we thanked God for our Holy Mother, a simple woman of deep faith, but already a luminous figure in the Church, for the fruits that our Vedruna Family has received throughout these two hundred years, and we asked for strength and grace to continue in fidelity, giving answers to the cries of humanity in our environments, as she and the communities throughout our history did. This gesture was a privilege for our community, in which we also had present all the Family in the different continents.
Once the conservation process was completed, D. Luciano temporarily deposited the relic in a glass container to be placed back in the chapel for the duration of the cleaning and restoration of the reliquary . The relic was put back in its place in the chapel.
A few weeks later, on February 17, when the reliquary arrived home after restoration, we met again to place the relic, which had been there since the beatification in 1940. The appearance of the reliquary had changed: it shone with a renewed light that enhanced the vividness of its colors and the delicacy of its inlays.
After placing the relic inside and sealing the reliquary, Sister General, M. Teresa Cuervo, read before the whole community the “Act of Delivery and Reception” which explains the process followed, and then signed by those who had to certify the act: the Sister General and her team, D. Luciano Griggio and P. Ramon Dominguez Fraile. . General, M. Teresa Cuervo, and Sr. Lucy Mhatara, secretary general, signed on a separate piece of paper, which was kept in the base of the reliquary.
Finally, We went together to the chapel singing hymns to St. Mary. Joaquina. Our hearts overflowed with joy at this unprecedented event. The reliquary was placed in its usual place by Sr. Maria Teresa. It was as if Joaquina’s voice whispered to us: “All for the glory of God. I send you with my blessing so that you may continue firm in the commitment to be “Born Again” in this Bicentennial and in the years to come.”
We thank God for this event, lived with so much grace in our Bicentennial. May what we have lived remain as a living memory that unites us, strengthens us and encourages us to continue walking together with hope and dedication.
