“Carry yourselves with much gentleness to win their hearts.”
This phrase of St. Joaquina de Vedruna highlights sweetness as a characteristic trait that has always been present in the Congregation. As a tribute to this value, the Vedruna School of San Fernando (Cadiz, Spain), in collaboration with the City Council of the city, has organized the Vedruna Sweet Route: a gastronomic contest, which is part of the program of commemorative activities for the Bicentenary of the Congregation.
Between May 24 and June 8, 2025, more than 12 coffee shops, pastry shops and bakeries in San Fernando will prepare a symbolic sweet called “Vedrunito“. This elaboration will have almonds as its main ingredient, chosen for its deep meaning in the life of Saint Joaquina.
On Saturday, May 24, a jury of gastronomic experts from the region will taste all the sweets and award the prize for the best one, giving a plaque to the establishment that produces it. In addition, on June 8, the prize of the public will be published, who during the two weeks of the contest will be able to vote for their favorite through a QR code located in each establishment. With their vote, the public will also participate in a raffle with a dinner for 2 people in a restaurant in the city.
The director of the Vedruna School of San Fernando, Yolanda Coto, said at the presentation of the activity:
“We wanted to celebrate this Bicentennial in a way that was open to the whole city, uniting tradition, creativity and community. This Route is a gift to San Fernando in a tribute to the figure of Saint Joaquina de Vedruna.”
The Vedruna presence in San Fernando dates back to 1863, when four sisters went to take charge of the Asilo de Huérfanas of the city, just three decades after the foundation of the Congregation. With the passing of time, the sisters dedicated themselves more and more to the education of girls, overcoming the difficulties of convulsive times such as the years of the Republic and the Civil War.
Currently, the Vedruna School of San Fernando is part of the Vedruna Education Foundation, has more than a thousand students and offers training in kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. This center is a Vedruna presence, where the ideology and charisma of Saint Joaquina are kept alive thanks to the people who form it, through activities such as this Bicentennial Sweet Route.
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