Province of Spain – Meeting of Associates in Aranda De Duero

On Saturday, 18 June, the associates of Madrid and Aranda de Duero gathered at the seminary-school of La Aguilera for a day of conviviality before the end of the academic year. About 60 participants, brothers and laypeople, attended the meeting. As the day is long, there was time for everything. After greetings, hugs and catching up with those who, because of distance, are not always able to meet, a beautiful topic was presented, prepared by Brother Alejandro Martínez and presented by the zone coordinator, Dani Cebrián: WOMEN IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.

Luke’s Gospel devotes attention to women that we do not find in the other Gospels in the same proportion. Luke highlights, in a very special way, the attention, delicacy and compassion that Jesus has for women who are sick, possessed by evil spirits or who are widows. And in this relationship that Jesus has with the women, HOSPITALITY, that is to say, welcoming the marginalised, the foreigner, the woman, the children, shows us a virtue that is so necessary in the times in which we live: welcoming those who are different from us in culture, race, beliefs, ideology, customs, etc.  Hospitality requires, first of all, recognising the other as a human being, respecting their dignity as a person and accepting them as they are, as long as they do no harm to anyone.

After a rich debate, the Eucharist was celebrated, presided over by Brother José María Vicario, who is characterised by his interaction with the participants, favouring a pleasant and familiar celebration. After lunch, the rest of the day was enjoyed, in good company, under the shadow of the trees and in the swimming pool of the seminary school. The weather and the location were inviting to do so. 

We will meet again next year.