We visit the places where Saint Josemaría passed in 1937

On Saturday 26 June, the Association of Friends of the “Camí de Pallerols de Rialb a Andorra” celebrated the traditional Gathering of Saint Josemaría, commemorating the feast of the saint which coincided with the same day 26.

The celebration of this IX Aplec began at 14:00 in the picnic area -equipped with stoves- next to the Oratory of Canòlich, located near of the Borda del Gastó (Fontaneda). We had a good lunch with the things that people were bringing: salads, sausages, macaroni, ribs, chicken, … and for dessert, fruit, cake, coffee, etc, etc. There was nothing missing!

In total we were 35 people: families from Andorra with their children and other families who came from the provinces of Lleida, Barcelona and other places in Catalonia.

After lunch, stories were read written by the 1937 expedition and are included in the book “Camino de Liberación“. We read about the events that took place on the night of December 1-2, when St. Josemaría passed by this very place where we were now resting. In this way we were able to relive the moments when the escape expedition in which Saint Josemaría was going was walking – in the first light of day- in the direction of Sant Julià de Lòria where they arrived at around 9 in the morning on the 2nd of December.

At 18:00 a video was shown in the Rocafort auditorium, of the Lauredià Culture and Congress Center, in Sant Julià de Lòria, where we could follow a meeting that Saint Josemaría had at the Tabancura School, in Santiago de Chile, with many families and young people from Chile where based on questions and answers he transmitted the doctrine of the Church with anecdotes and practical advice, with an atmosphere of joy and endearing family.

Finally, at 7:30 pm, we celebrated the Eucharist in the parish church. It was concelebrated by the rector of the parish, Mn. Pepe Chisvert and Mn. Xavier Pont, priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei who came from Lleida to join all the acts of the Gathering. In total, about 100 people attended the mass. The relics of the saint were venerated as a farewell.

A very endearing celebration, which we were unable to celebrate last year due to the Covid pandemic and which we have begun to recover this year, waiting for a more complete celebration next year, as we had done in previous years.