As every year, we were able to enjoy the festival in the middle of nature and with a radiant sun

On Saturday, November 23, the traditional Rose Meeting Festival was held in Pallerols de Rialb, organized by the Association of Friends of the Path of Pallerols de Rialb in Andorra, together with the Rialb Foundation and the Association of Friends of the Path of Andorra.

The festival began at 11:30 with the screening of the documentary about the adventure of Saint Josemaría on his escape route to Andorra, due to religious persecution during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. You can watch this video at the beginning of our website.

After the video there was a guided tour with explanations by Monsignor Xavier Pont, where we could appreciate the architectural evolution of the rectory and the church, from the 9th century to the 18th century.

Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives arrived shortly before this guided tour and was received by representatives of the Association and by the Vicar of Opus Dei in Catalonia and Andorra, Monsignor Ignasi Pujol.

 

 

 

Then -at 12:30- the procession with the image of the Virgin Mary took place, singing the Goigs del Roser de Pallerols.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once in the church, the mass was celebrated in honor of the Virgin Mary, presided over by the Archbishop of Urgell Joan-Enric Vives and concelebrated by the following priests: Fr David Codina, secretary of the Lord Bishop; Fr Pere Jesús Morales, Rector of Ponts; Fr Jaume Mayoral, Archpriest of Urgell Mitjà; Fr Ignasi Pujol, Vicar of Opus Dei in Catalonia and Andorra; and Fr Xavier Pont, priest of Opus Dei, of Lleida. Pedro Júdez led the chants and Chema Mendive played the organ.

 

 

 

 

In his homily, the Archbishop praised Mary’s motherhood towards all of us, to whom we must turn in our needs with the certainty that we will always be heard.

After the celebration of the Eucharist, Jordi Piferrer -on behalf of the Association of Friends of Pallerols- thanked Archbishop Vives for all the favors he has done us during the 22 years that we have worked together, and as a sign of this gratitude he gave him a wooden carving of the Virgin Mary of Pallerols. The Vicar of Opus Dei, Monsignor Ignasi Pujol, also thanked Archbishop Vives for his esteem for Opus Dei, highlighting Opus Dei’s willingness to serve the diocesan church.

 

 

 

We then headed to the cemetery to pray for the deceased of Pallerols, ending the religious ceremony with the singing of Virolai.

 

 

 

For lunch, two groups were formed: about 30 people had lunch on the second floor of the rectory, where we gathered around Archbishop Vives, the representatives of the organizing associations. The lunch was prepared by Mercè Betriu, from Lleida, helped by other people from Andorra and Lleida.

 

 

 

 

Another 30 people had lunch in the vicinity of Pallerols, where they made a fire on the ground to make a rib roast. Paco Penella and Josep Maria Vila, from Lleida, prepared the fire. Others attending the party went to nearby villages and farmhouses or returned to their homes.

 

 

 

At 4 pm, the Trobada de la Rosa party ended with the prayer of the Rosary and the veneration of the relics of Saint Josemaría.

 

 

 

As every year, it was a lovely party attended by more than 100 people: a good group from Andorra, including a representation from Stella Mons, an association of Catholic women from Andorra; it is also worth noting the presence of many young couples with their young children, and people from different parts of Catalonia, as well as other people from Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia, Portugal, etc.

As is traditional, some residents of the Baronia de Rialb could not be missing: the deputy mayor Dolors Caelles, the families of l’Ampurdanès, of Cal Tonillo de Peramola, l’Agustí de Vilaró and others.