Gratitude made party and community!
This Sunday 18 was a day of deep joy, because in Lima we gathered as a grateful community to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Foundation of the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity Vedruna.
It has been two centuries since Joaquina de Vedruna embraced a new way of life, giving birth to our Charism: a gift of the Ruah not only for her and the Sisters, but also for the Church and the world.
The courageous and silent surrender of a shared mission was reflected in the large participation in the celebration. The Sisters were present together with the Vedruna Laity, the Vedruna Youth Mission (MJV), alumnae of the schools Vedruna (Lima), Santa Ursula and Fe y Alegria (Sullana), their educators, as well as representatives of the Network of Schools of Fe y Alegria Pucallpa. We were also accompanied by women from the soup kitchens, friendly congregations, priests and many people close to us, creating a deeply familiar atmosphere, where the Charism could be breathed in every corner. The chapel was full.
Sister Provincial, Alicia Zanichelli, explained the meaning of the celebration by sharing the Foundational Charter. She thanked the Sisters who preceded us and those who today continue to write this history, reminding us that the mission demands to know and love reality in order to connect with God’s desire in each person and in the world.
After the Eucharist, we lived a second moment entitled “The Vedruna Utopia”, in which each community of Sisters and Laity shared their beginnings, their historical journey and their dreams. This space was enriched with the joy of regional dances typical of the places where they are present.
Today we give thanks to the God of Life for this journey: a road full of joys, risks taken, surprises welcomed, difficulties faced and, above all, of life shared with so many sisters who have generously given their lives for the glory of God and the good of their neighbor.
Congratulations to all of us in the Vedruna Charismatic Family!
Gina Pardo Valdespino, Vedruna Laity
