Following Mass on the feast of St Pedro Poveda, a recital was given by the singer-songwriter Luis Guitarra. He performed 13 of his compositions. Mar Solanes, director of the Santa María de Los Negrales Centre, provided a narration and introduced the songs chosen by the performer.
‘Sal de tu tierra’ (Go forth from your homeland)
She began by presenting the singer-songwriter, and then she explained the expression ‘Sal de tu tierra’. The phrase was borrowed from one of Flavia Paz Velázquez's booklets. It seemed appropriate for this occasion as it expresses the priority of the Teresian Association for this five-year period that has been underway for a year – ‘Teresian Association, a people reaching out, share the charism that you have received.’
She said that “we need to be willing to reach out and to open up our minds, hearts and wills. We need to be ready to place what we are and what we do on the same frequency and to put it at the service of the common good.”
After the singer entertained those present with his voice and guitar, Mar Solanes spoke about aspects of Pedro Poveda’s life that “transmitted goodness and wisdom”. Examples include the way he always searched for God, his humility in responding to the inspiration of the Spirit, and how he was eager for new ideas and concrete action.
She also noted that Poveda knew well that “you will never see new lands if you do not leave your home ground. It is out there that we show our commitment to the challenges of the world.”
Ways of existing and of being
She went on to say that Poveda invites us to always be prepared to interact with society and not simply when the topic arises in occasional conversations. She stressed that he never lost sight of the need for discernment in viewing situations when bringing the good news of the Gospel closer to contemporary culture.
To conclude, Mar Solanes said that “for 100 years and in each of the places where the charism of Poveda is present, the Teresian Association has opened roads and left footprints so that others can walk on them. Tracks have marked out trails that have come and go through countries and continents for 100 years, crossing oceans and borders ... from Spain to America, returning to Europe, then to Africa and then back to America, again to Europe and from there to Asia. As it crossed the globe, like sunflowers, it allowed itself to be inspired by the light of the Spirit.”
The recital ended with the whole audience standing and singing with enthusiasm and joy ‘Sois la sal’ (you are the salt). The festivities continued with refreshments in the garden where greetings were exchanged and conversations shared in the pleasant surroundings of the Santa María de los Negrales Centre.
TA Info.
TA Translations Team.
Published in News