Barcelona, March 8, 2025
Fraternity is a gift that is nurtured through daily sharing but also in special moments like this one. With this spirit, the sisters of the Province of Saint Raymond of Peñafort in Catalonia experienced a day of encounter, remembrance, and gratitude, visiting two places of great significance for our history and mission: Puig d’Olena and Manresa.
These places have witnessed the presence of our Congregation over the years and the dedicated service of many sisters. Walking through them, recalling experiences, and discovering their evolution filled our hearts with gratitude and hope.
A good group of sisters set off for Puig d’Olena. Not all could attend, as the day before, Sr. M.ª Ángeles Rodríguez, from the Navarcles community, had passed away. She was embarking on a different journey—one towards the Father’s house. We kept her and her community very much in our prayers.
The journey was filled with emotions and expectations, accompanied by rain and fog, which, despite everything, did not prevent us from enjoying this fraternal gathering.
Visit to Puig d’Olena
Upon arriving at Puig d’Olena, we were warmly welcomed by the director, Ernest, and the deputy director, Mireia. The children, along with their educators, had gone on an excursion.
After having a small breakfast, they both explained to us the mission of the center and how they carry out their work. They shared their experiences—days of joy and more challenging ones—but always with the conviction that they love what they do and continue forward with dedication and commitment.
We are all familiar with Puig d’Olena and the different stages it has gone through over the years. An extraordinary mission has been carried out here, with the presence of sisters and Mrs. María Planas, who was the soul of the sanatorium and its owner. It was very interesting to learn more about its history, how this project developed, and the lives of the people who lived here.
This beautiful place, located 800 meters above sea level in the municipality of Sant Quirze de Safaja (Barcelona), was founded in 1933 as a pioneering center for tuberculosis treatment in Catalonia and Spain. Later, between 1954 and 1985, it became a preventorium and family home, sheltering many girls. Today, Puig d’Olena is a CRAE (Residential Center for Educational Action), marking a new stage with a different but equally important mission.
We were deeply moved by the transformation made for the benefit of the children. The religious community no longer resides here, so the spaces have been adapted for them. Ernest and Mireia guided us through the house, showing us their work and the small museum they have been creating to remember the times of the sanatorium and preventorium.
We loved the project they are developing and the dedication with which they carry it out. The whole house was filled with life. As they told us, there are no fixed schedules here, and the commitment of the team is total. We left with grateful hearts, asking for the intercession of Father Coll to bless and accompany this work, as well as the entire team of educators and service personnel who so lovingly care for the children.
Gathering in Manresa
After the visit, we set off for Manresa. The rain continued to accompany us. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed, and a fraternal meal followed, filled with songs, toasts, gratitude, and laughter.
What can be said about Manresa? A place full of history, communities, and the memory of our Martyred Sisters. For the sisters who have lived in this area, it is not easy to forget their life and mission within the former Province “Mare de Déu del Roser”, which today is part of the unified Province of Saint Raymond of Peñafort. We expressed our deep gratitude for everything we have experienced in these places and for the mark they have left on our congregation.
After lunch, we visited the sisters’ house, which has been renovated to provide a more welcoming and functional space.
Prayer and Thanksgiving
We then went to the church to give thanks to the Lord. Sr. Rosa M.ª Picas prepared an emotional prayer, recalling “Puig d’Olena”, with the image of the Virgin of Puig and the Virgin of Valldaura, which is venerated in the church. Our prayer and singing helped us feel closer to our Martyred Sisters. With devotion, we kissed the relic of one of them and, with love, we once again turned to our beloved and holy Father Coll, singing:
“Sant i Fundador, Oh Sant Francesc Coll,
T’aclamem amb joia i amb immens amor…”
Happy and filled with gratitude, we said our goodbyes and set off back to our communities.
We wholeheartedly appreciate this fraternal gathering, which has allowed us to share, remember, and renew our mission with hope.
Sr. Juliana Mudarra, OP
