With grateful hearts and their eyes set on the future, the Company of Saint Teresa today, June 23, brought to a close the International Gathering through which it has celebrated , over the past few days , 150 years of Teresian life, mission, and presence in the world.
The final day, which took place in Tarragona, was a synthesis of everything we shared over the past few days: grateful remembrance, the experience of community, a renewal of our commitment, and a renewed sending forth on mission.
The morning began at the chapel in Tortosa with the Eucharist presided over by the Bishop of Tortosa, Monsignor Sergi Gordo Rodriguez. Afterward , we were able to enjoy a time of prayer under the theme “So that works may come to life… because time is running out and circumstances are pressing.” Through grateful contemplation of our own history and our shared history, we recognized that all faithfulness springs from a Love that sustains and accompanies us. Simple gestures, listening to the Word, silence, and singing helped us recall God’s presence throughout these 150 years and during every moment of the gathering.
The experience of community also played an important role throughout the day. Recognizing that “we are because we are with others,” we renewed our gratitude for being part of an international Teresian family that continues to weave hope into very diverse realities. The symbol of the world—received and shared among all of us—has evoked the call to continue being a prophetic presence wherever the Good News of the Gospel is most needed, committed to justice, peace, inclusion, and care for our common home.
The most special moment of the day took place in the Chapel of St. Paul in Tarragona, the place where the first Teresian sisters took their vows. 150 years later, the sisters of today have renewed their consecration, reaffirming their desire to continue responding with creativity, courage, and hope to the challenges of our time. They did so accompanied by nine candles: eight to symbolize the founders and one to represent Our Father. At the end of the celebration, each sister presented the dream of another sister—not her own—which they had been asked to write down beforehand. It was a beautiful gesture that helped us realize that the fabric of the Society is woven from shared dreams.
The celebration continued with a warm and festive gathering, during which words of gratitude were expressed for the journey taken and for the selfless lives of so many sisters who, generation after generation, have made it possible for Enrique de Ossó’s dream to remain alive today in so many corners of the world.
Back in Tortosa, the sisters have begun their journey home, but first they all pitched in to clean and tidy up the house. Together, in good company, everything is more enjoyable and easier to handle.
We conclude this section of special news reports marking the 150th anniversary with the words of Sister Ángela Cuadra:
Over the course of these days, the participants have visited key sites in Teresian history, shared experiences of mission, strengthened bonds between cultures and generations, and renewed their conviction that the Teresian charism continues to offer a meaningful message for our time. This International Gathering is coming to a close, but the celebration does not end here. On the contrary, everything we have experienced now becomesa driving force to continue bringing the legacy we have received to life. As the Teresian Family, we are sent out once again to our respective contexts to continue building community, kindling hope, and collaborating with others in transforming the world.
May everything we have shared over the past few days continue to bear fruit, inspire new responses, and make it possible—even today—for works to emerge that are capable of addressing the urgent challenges and needs of our time. Sister Ángela Cuadra, General Coordinator.
Happy day and happy 150th anniversary to the entire Company of St. Teresa of Jesus!
You can view the photos from this day here: International Meeting - June 22 and 23 | Flickr
