A life dedicated to others
Viqui Molins y Gomila, born in Barcelona in 1936, is a Teresian sister and tireless activist. From a very young age, she has given her life to the sick, drug addicts, people at risk of social exclusion and the most disadvantaged.
For almost four decades, Viqui lived in the Raval, a historically marginalized neighborhood of Barcelona, until in 2022 he had to move to Gràcia due to health problems. However, his commitment remained intact. Today she continues to dedicate herself to the Santa Anna Field Hospital, a parish in the center of Barcelona that offers food and assistance to hundreds of homeless people. She is also involved in the “opportunity floors”, an initiative to welcome young undocumented migrants.
An awakening of vocation
Viqui was born into a wealthy, religious family with many siblings. From a young age she was trained in the Teresian order, until an inner call prompted her to dedicate herself to the poorest. In the 1980s, she began taking her students to visit people living in precarious situations. She even traveled to Angola and Nicaragua with young people to do volunteer work, experiences that reinforced her vocation.
Discernment
After his return from Nicaragua, Viqui decided to do spiritual retreats in Asturias to discern his path. There, with absolute clarity, he understood that his mission was to be with the most marginalized. This led her to found a house in the Raval in the eighties, when the area was marked by degradation and poverty.
The street nun
Viqui’s wish was to be the nun of those forgotten streets. She started in a shelter for AIDS patients and little by little she became involved in creating spaces for young people without education. In 2022, health problems forced her to leave the Raval, but her devotion continued to manifest itself in the events that occurred.
The birth of the Field Hospital
The initiative to open the Field Hospital arose during a wave of extreme cold in 2017. Peio Sánchez, a priest who knew Viqui well, decided to open the doors of the Santa Anna parish to the homeless. With a few improvisations such as mattresses and benches converted into beds, the parish became a shelter. This initial gesture, although chaotic, marked the beginning of what is today the Field Hospital.
The attendance of hundreds of people
Over time, community support grew. Today, the Field Hospital offers three meals a day to more than two hundred people and has more than three hundred volunteers. A social worker helps select those most in need to ensure proper distribution of resources.
Floors of opportunities
The pandemic revealed the need to provide a home to the homeless, especially unaccompanied minors who, upon reaching the age of majority, were left on the streets. Thanks to an anonymous donation of one million euros, real estate was purchased to offer them a safe place. This is how the ‘opportunity floors’ emerged, where young people can stay for two years until their situation is regularized.
The Viqui Molins foundation
In January, Viqui announced the creation of the Viqui Molins Foundation to ensure that his work endures beyond his life. The foundation seeks to continue its mission of supporting the most disadvantaged in society.
Society’s relationship with poverty
According to Viqui, although there are many institutions dedicated to helping those in need, sometimes he trusts more in divine providence than in government aid. He assures that in Catalonia there is a great associative network and highlights the generosity of companies that, for example, donate food to the Campaña Hospital.
The responsibility of the administration
Viqui believes that administrations could do more to address poverty. He points out three key areas: budget policies, the Immigration Law, which forces young migrants to live without papers for two years, and the problem of access to housing. Many people who attend the Field Hospital have a home, but cannot afford both rent and food.
Charity and love
For Viqui, where there is charity and love, there is God. Although the intention behind the actions of others cannot be fully known, what matters is that it is done with love. Over the years, he has experienced very hard but also wonderful moments alongside those marginalized that many avoid.
Quoting Saint Paul: “I know in whom I have trusted.” Faith and a sense of humor are the pillars that support it. Prayer, especially in the darkest moments, has always been a firm foundation for her.
A legacy of love
Viqui’s most valuable memories are those in which he accompanied his ‘our’ during the difficult years of the AIDS epidemic and drug abuse. He has saved cards with the names and dates of death of the 21 young people who died in his arms, a treasure that he keeps close. The Viqui Molins Foundation was created to ensure that, when he is gone, his mission continues.
A desired death
When asked how he would like to die, Viqui answers clearly: in the midst of activity, on the street, working with those he loves. His desire is to continue helping until the last moment, faithful to a life dedicated to the service of others.