The road towards the Bicentenary of the Vedruna Congregation (1826-2026) is traveled with hope, joy and community spirit throughout the Province of Vedrun America. In schools, communities and different works, the charism of St. Joaquina de Vedruna continues to inspire simple gestures, fraternal encounters and commitments of service.
Walk “With Joaquina de Vedruna, we walk with hope”.
One of the proposals from the team in charge of animating the Bicentennial in the Province was the realization of a walk, under the slogan “With Joaquina de Vedruna, we walk with hope”.
On September 22, the community of the Vedruna School in the Dominican Republic walked with hope and for peace. The walk was attended by the students of the second cycle of primary school, accompanied by their teachers and parents, who walked through the streets surrounding the center with songs, slogans and much joy.
In Maringá (Brazil) the same was done in what was a living expression of the commitment to peace, hope and the values that St. Joaquina taught us. In a world that needs so much unity and harmony, this activity was a reminder that education also walks for peace, sowing hope in every step. The Vedruna youth of Salgueiro, also in Brazil, were co-organizers of another walk that had several stops on the way to the top of a mountain. One of the stops had Joaquina as the protagonist, reflecting and praying for an example that is still alive.
In Melo (Uruguay), the Vedruna community experienced a day of joy and celebration of the charism during a walk towards the Bicentennial held during the last days of October.
The Vedruna laity and the Sisters together with educators and students of the Colegio Agustín de la Rosa marched with Joaquina with hope, faith and joy.
In Peru, even with the political and social problems that the country is going through, there was room for the walk with Joaquina through the neighborhoods of Lima, with a great impulse from the Vedruna Youth Mission.
There is still much to celebrate
But as there are still a few months to go before the main celebration of the continent, which will take place on February 28, 2026 in Suipacha (Buenos Aires, Argentina), many communities are already planning future activities. The Santa Joaquina de Vedruna School in Puente Alto (Chile) has started a campaign to raise funds for the purchase of materials for the creation of a community mural that will seek to reflect the history and values of an educational community that always has the guidance of Joaquina.
In Suipacha, directors, teachers and students of Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen will participate in the parade of the town’s anniversary, representing (with flags and colors) each of the countries of the continent in which the Congregation has presence in the continent.
We are facing a continent on the march towards the Bicentennial. From north to south, the Vedruna communities of America live this time of preparation as an opportunity to renew faith, strengthen bonds and project together the future.
Every gesture, every prayer and every meeting are seeds of the same tree: love made service, sown by Joaquina two centuries ago.
Francisco Jáuregui, Team Communication, prophecy and care of creation, VedrunAmerica
