Celebration of a special retirement
On Saturday, April 5, a large group of deacons and aspirants in the Diaconate, accompanied in some cases by their partners, met in a festive atmosphere in the Cottolengo del Pare Alegre, located in Barcelona, to participate in a retirement day with the aim of receiving plenary indulgence.
A Dinar of Community
The day began with a lunch in the main room of this emblematic center, founded by Jacinto Alegre a century ago. Attendees enjoyed a meal that encouraged the camaraderie with each other before moving to the scheduled activities.
A vision of community service
After lunch, the Jesus sisters presented a video that showed their dedication to work with people suffering from severe disabilities and are often found without the support of their family. This presentation served as a reminder of the importance of service and compassion in the community.
Visit I Reflections
The second part of the meeting included a visit to the Cottolengo facilities, where participants were able to interact with the residents, many of whom are Radio Estel listeners. This interaction enriched the experience, highlighting the human connection created in these spaces.
Eucharist and spiritual reflections
The day culminated in a mass, chaired by the auxiliary bishop of Barcelona, Javier Vilanova, who was present throughout the afternoon. In his homily, he emphasized that Cottolengo is an example of a continuous retiree, a space where generosity and joy combine to create an atmosphere of gratitude and love.
The importance of spiritual poverty
Vilanova emphasized that ‘living this poverty allows us to see the greatness of God and experience his love’, a reflection that resonates with the mission of Cottolengo.
The message of the diaconate
Josep Vidal, a diocesan delegate of formation and accompaniment of the clergy-Diaques, took the floor to remember that the mission of the diaconate goes beyond the proclamation of the word and the liturgy; It is also a commitment to the neediest, following the example of the first diacons.
Final reflections
During the meeting, many attendees agreed that the Cottolengo represents ‘a piece of heaven on Earth’. In addition, it is one of the eight retirement temples of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, where you can obtain plenary indulgence, highlighting its social function as a space for reception and generosity.