In front of the image of the Virgin of the Rosary in Pallerols

We are a group from The Heights School, in the United States: 17 students from first and second grade, along with teachers Anthony Hadford and Bill Dardis, and Fr. Stephen Dardis from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Louisiana.

We are on a trip called “Following in the Footsteps of St. Josemaría,” a week-long journey from Barcelona to Pallerols, then on to Torreciudad, Zaragoza, and Madrid.

Our time in Pallerols was incredible: it was very moving to walk where a saint we feel very close to walked. Even more so, to celebrate Mass in the place where he received such a decisive sign to continue his flight across the Pyrenees.

Before the trip, the students read Pedro Casciaro’s short story “Dream and Your Dreams Will Fall,” so they were already familiar with many details of the story; but Ramón, our guide, brought the events to life by adding further details.

This has been a very moving experience for all of us. We hope to make it an annual tradition at the school.