The Pedro Poveda School in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has unveiled a mural of Our Lady of Covadonga as they continue to celebrate the centenary of the pontifical approval of the Teresian Association.
On Saturday 7 September, the educational community of the Pedro Poveda School in Buenos Aires gathered to inaugurate and bless the mural of the image of Our Lady of Covadonga. It was constructed on Family Day in May by children, young people, parents and staff of the School to give thanks for the Teresian Association on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Covadonga.
United in Voto
On a particularly sunny and warm afternoon in an atmosphere of joy and family gathering, they decided to join from afar in the upcoming celebration of the Voto de Covadonga being held at the end of September. They also wanted to give thanks and to make an offering to Mary of the lives of everyone in this educational community.
First of all, some primary school children read from the writings of Father Poveda that speak of Covadonga and the votive offering. An explanation was given about this TA tradition and the custom of representatives from every continent being present for the offering.
Then the children, young people, parents, former students and teaching staff all broke up into groups. They wrote down what they wanted to offer, what they wanted to ask of our Blessed Mother and the reasons for which they wanted to give thanks. After that, each group walked in pilgrimage to the mural and made their offerings at an open-air Mass in the school courtyard.
Along with the offering of bread and wine, the life of the whole community was offered. Gratitude was expressed for the charism of the Teresian Association, the possibility of education, the shared faith, the love and care of the families and the atmosphere that is alive in the school, the good that Poveda has done for so many people for so many years, the wonderful community atmosphere and the witness given by TA members and co-workers. The fact that Poveda’s ‘good idea’ was so well established in Argentina and in this neighbourhood was also recognised.
We prayed with Mary to God for peace and health, for those who suffer, for families without work, for people living on the street, for vocations to the TA, for teaching vocations; that the Poveda School may always be an open and supportive community; that all in the community may be witnesses and multipliers of the ‘Povedan spirit’ that has left its mark on the lives of so many people and on so many families.
Blessing
Before the end of Mass, Fr. Diego Díaz Pumará, the priest who accompanies the pastoral ministry of the school, invited the children to bless the mural. Then everyone said a prayer of personal and family consecration to Mary.
FThe Mass ended to the sound of the Rumba a Poveda and then, in an atmosphere of joy and gratitude, we shared some traditional refreshments.
An emotional closing to this latest celebration in Argentina of the centenary of the pontifical approval of the TA took place with expressions of gratitude and emotional embraces. All were moved by the gathering and all that was experienced.
Nora Colombo, former student, mother of students, artist and designer of the mural and the ‘community building’ on Family Day 2024.
Marta Olmedo, Buenos Aires.
TA Translation Team.
Published in News