Our trip to Spain 2013

Three of us set off from England. Bridget, Ann and I set off for the meeting in Madrid very early on Friday 1st November 2013, full of excitement and anticipation. Our weekend was to be a truly special one that we won’t be forgetting.

We were met by German, who drove us to our Hotel and gave us directions back to the School where we would all be meeting later at 4.00 pm. This gave us time for a lovely lunch and our first glass of wine!!

Our experience was such a positive one of everyone’s kindness and support and of fabulous translating at every talk or group discussion. It became all too clear to me that the essence of the Lay Claretians is about how we live out our lives, rather than what we do. Many of the groups we met from the North and South regions had gone to Claretian Schools, and had the flavour of what it was to be a Claretian from quite an early age. We felt similar in that we had grown up around our wonderful Claretian Parish Community and felt we had been immersed in it because of that. One of the group asked me why I had joined, and I said it was because we had been invited to think about creating a group and because we felt a part of something even before we conceptualised what it really was. 

We were quite ashamed to hear that most said they had no English and actually very quickly proved themselves well able to translate from Spanish to English and back again.leaving us very envious and in awe of their skills. 

We had the initial meeting, Mass and Supper and were then off to meet with Fr Paul who was able to join us, which was lovely, and we found ourselves walking towards an Irish pub in the vicinity that he had heard about before. 

The weekend was a packed one full of talks, group work and on the Saturday an afternoon tour of the famous landmarks in Sol where Anthony Mary Claret had worked, lived, said Mass and been Confessor to the Queen. We were rather glad to get back after it though as we were four hours walking and listening on that occasion – but wouldn’t have missed it for the world. One of our group from England didn’t join us – I won’t say who, but she had to get a rather large glass of wine ready for our return!! 

That evening we had Dinner and a fabulous Concert. They really did think of everything and because it was such a lovely group that spanned all ages, this ticked all the boxes for keeping everyone happy from our youngest little ones, to the eldest octogenarians. 

There were testimonials that were very inspiring from a Politician, a Nurse, and a devoted couple, about their journeys in life and what inspires them to keep doing what they are doing, be it in the family or in their work and home environments. Without speaking about being a Lay Claretian they spoke about living a life that centred itself in Christ and in doing what was right for themselves and those around them. 

The main speaker was an Economist who spoke about being real and not being frightened of being ourselves and standing up for our beliefs when that was warranted. We each had a translator sitting beside us during the talks, which made it great for us, but of course it meant that they had a job to really take on board what was being said for themselves. It was hard sometimes to take it all in, but we are so grateful for the time taken by the group to do this for us and allow us to feel such a big part of the whole experience. 

Even on our “walk about town” in Sol, we had three wonderful translators who spent their time translating for us, which after four hours was really something!! We always found at meal times too, various group members would come up to us and include us in their conversation making sure they had a translator nearby if they didn’t feel able to translate what had been said themselves. Often shy to come forward feeling they didn’t speak English that well, yet totally under-estimating their own skills in that area. 

On the last day of the meeting we were invited up to the front of the Hall to talk, and with translators nearby, we thanked everyone individually for making it such a wonderful and memorable few days and shared our delight at being able to be there with them. We have each in our own way determined to join them next time and to perhaps have a little Spanish under our belts the next time we meet everyone. 

Thank you Tino so much for inviting us and making it such a fabulous few days. It’s been a real journey in our understanding of what it is to be a part of the International Movement and to get the flavour of what it is to be a part of something so special. Thank You 

Jo Farrell