A large group of TA members with family and friends made a pilgrimage to the Covadonga Shrine in Asturias, Spain, on 1st and 2nd October. They went for the Voto de Covadonga 2022, an annual event when results and outcomes of the Teresian Association mission are offered in gratitude to Our Lady.
Sunday morning arrived with a clear sky and almost summer temperatures for the enjoyment of those who are accustomed to seeing this place as a beautiful cloudy and humid landscape. In the basilica, in the presence of pilgrims from different parts of Spain and some from other countries, those making the Voto de Covadonga 2022 offering spoke about their missions. These were samples of how the charism flourishes in places where the TA is present.
Fidelity
“The promise to come every year to Covadonga arose from Pedro Poveda's desire and commitment to keep alive the origin, the ideal, the dream of his life,” we were told by Maite Uribe, president of the Teresian Association. “He was faithful to his intuition, to the ideal of his life, to the call that arose and crystallised by gazing at the Santina.”
The first pilgrim
“The first pilgrim was St Pedro Poveda” said the Archbishop of Oviedo, Jesús Sanz, in the homily during Mass. He addressed the TA and welcomed those attending this “family get-together and renewal of the charism”. The Archbishop reviewed some moments of Poveda’s life and pointed out how his life story demonstrates the passion of a man who trusted in God.
The moment for our thanksgiving came at the end of the Mass when the chosen representatives pronounced the Voto or “pledge” to Our Lady. Thus the solemn promise made in 1934 by the founder, Pedro Poveda, with Josefa Segovia, then TA president, and the whole Association, at the conclusion of the “Assembly of Trust” held in Oviedo, was once again fulfilled.
Some areas of our mission
That same morning, the representatives presented the areas of mission that they were placing at the feet of the Santina.
(In the pilgrimage booklet accessible below, you will find the words spoken by the representatives as well as Maite Uribe’s talk translated into English and French.)
Bernadette Moreau came from Kinshasa to bring Africa before the Blessed Mother with all the people and TA groups and projects in Equatorial Guinea and DR Congo. She prayed that they may contribute to making life more humane and to bringing about more solidarity. She also referred to the challenge of enculturating the charism, and prayed especially for “young people full of vitality” and for justice and peace to reign in Africa.
Lucille Abad came from the Philippines to represent Asia. She said that it was a great privilege to stand before the Santina to dedicate the fruits of her labour as a research scientist. She spoke of her experience of study and research, the words of Poveda that have inspired her since she was young, and her findings, which are improving the lives of farmers by protecting crops from typhoons.
Marisa Bengoa placed the American continent before Our Lady of Covadonga, in particular its rural and indigenous communities. She emphasised that the only way to be of help to these people is to sit down and listen to them, to accompany their deep thirst for recognition and equality, and always to accept their right to be different.
Renate Wolf, a German teacher representing Europe, spoke about her mission in a state school with pupils of 37 nationalities. She also spoke about the Solidarität und Kultur association founded in 1990 by TA members as well as their work with former students of the Theresianum University Residence and their accompaniment of people in everyday life.
Carmen Cobo, Advisor of ACIT in Spain, thanked those who accompany and have accompanied ACIT associations and groups. She particularly expressed her appreciation for all the work and creativity in supporting the activities of the associations during the pandemic.
Joaquín Campos from Madrid, Spain, represented the members of ACIT Associations. He highlighted how the charism of the TA helps us to be open to the Spirit and to dialogue with society and culture from a Gospel perspective. He asked the Blessed Mother for guidance for the Association in these times of uncertainty.
Cristian Figueroa has been involved with the TA through his work in Tejeredes. He told us how he came to know about the Association and what it has meant for him. He mentioned Pope Francis’ call to us to be active in looking to the foundations of Christianity. He also said that we need many more Povedas and their good ideas to change the system, and we need the energy that is at the source and charism of the Teresian Association.
Nerea Devesa, from the Padre Poveda University Residence in Madrid, Spain, represented our young people. She recalled her years as a schoolgirl and all that they have given her. She spoke of how she gradually integrated into her life the values of the Teresian Association and those of St Pedro Poveda for university students: faith-science dialogue, study, solidarity, and a transcendent perspective of reality.
The evening before
A good number of pilgrims had already arrived in Covadonga on Saturday afternoon. They joined together to pray and, once again this year, to listen to Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman. In silence and before Mother Mary, they asked themselves: Where do we look for living water? What well do we go to in order to find the answer to our deepest longing for happiness, love, hope and joy?
They also quoted some phrases written by Pedro Poveda in 1934 in which he defined the meaning of the Voto de Covadonga. It expresses confidence that we will obtain guidance and help from the hands of Our Lady in remaining faithful to the founding charism. It is a fervent petition that the Association may never forget its Marian origins.
TA Info.
TA translations Team.
