The Teresian Association participated in the 2025 Vocations Congress in Spain. The topic was Who am I for? Assembly of people called for mission. It was organised by the Spanish Episcopal Conference.
The Vocations Congress was held from 7 to 9 February at the Madrid Arena. There were more than 3,000 congress participants from all over Spain. Representatives from many dioceses and more than 45 movements, associations, religious congregations and secular institutes attended.
The event was a space for reflection and discussion about vocation. It was attended by 13 TA members. Seven of them were representing the TA and three were there on behalf of the diocese of Barcelona -- Anna Almuni, Xavi Toda and Pepi Morros.
Laura Moreno is episcopal delegate for youth in Madrid, and she took part in a workshop together with Antonio Secilla and other members. Nieves Arce, from the pastoral department of Catholic Schools, led the workshop on Discover your path which was part of the section on ‘Mission Itinerary: School and Vocation’. She presented insights into how vocation is cultivated in the teaching sector by means of education in the faith.
Who am I for?
Philosophers, theologians and all sorts of people have often asked similar questions, for example, ‘Who am I? Where am I going? What is the meaning of life?’ Of these questions, perhaps the most important, the one that sums them all up and encompasses them all is the one that asks, ‘Who am I for?’ These words, taken from the final document of the Youth Synod, Christus Vivit, were at the heart of all the reflection and discussions carried out at the Congress.
Cardinal José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid, emphasised in his opening message that the question in the theme is the most fundamental and represents the need to redirect freedom towards a broader horizon.
For his part, the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and head of the Vocational Pastoral Service, Archbishop Luis Argüello, emphasised that the ‘I’ that appears in the congress theme is a new ‘I’ because now it is an “us”. It is an anointed self, because it is on the cross. On the Cross we see the Heart that gave itself for us. It is the inspiration for our desire to be saints’.
‘Itineraries’ and workshops
Saturday 8 February was a day of presentations, reflection and group work. Four ‘itineraries’ were offered to which participants could sign up. These were Word, Community, Person and Mission.
Participants shared vocational experiences in more than 65 workshops, and they emphasised the importance of welcome, service, mission and accompaniment of young people. The need for coherence between faith and life, and between life and witness, was highlighted, as well as the importance of teamwork and networking to respond to the needs of young people.
The liturgical celebrations were very well prepared, as were the prayers. The Toño Casado Choir was given the task of animation.
On Sunday 9, there was a ‘sending-forth’ Mass. Archbishop Argüello used the image of the Church as a boat that has an anchor of hope and a call to continue sailing towards the deep to attend to the needs of the world. He spoke of the need for solidarity and invited all to pursue on ongoing ‘liturgy of praise’.
Reflections
Some TA members who participated in the event shared their reflections. One of them, Alberto Sarabia, stressed that ‘the Teresian Association vocation and charism of Incarnation is enormously relevant in today’s world where the Church seems to be distant from society and where we are called as TA members to be immersed and involved.’
Maria Paz Cardona said that, ‘Participating in the Vocations Congress was a significant experience of being Church. I was able to experience that there is room for all of us in the Church. I am grateful that I could participate as a member of the TA, for having had such good rapport with others and for a renewed sense of mission’.
For further information, please visit the website of the Teresian Association in Spain.
The Teresian Association in Spain
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