The Teresian Association makes a pilgrimage to Covadonga, a Marian shrine in the Principality of Asturias (Spain), on September 26 and 27, fulfilling the desire of Pedro Poveda, its founder, to offer every year before the Blessed Virgin, popularly known as the Santina, the fruits of the mission wherever it is present.
In the letter for this pilgrimage in 2026, Gregoria Ruiz, TA president, stressed the need to pray for peace and be builders of peace: "I invite you to come to Covadonga as pilgrims. We are pilgrims in a war-fraught world who are encouraged by the Lord to be builders of PEACE."
Members, family, collaborators and friends of the Association will arrive at the sanctuary and the cave of Covadonga to accompany the group of presenters who represent the Association as a whole.
This year the presenters are:
- From Asia, Maribel Bombeo, a Filipino, who works with migrants at Caritas in Taiwan.
- Victoria Biribe Riloha, from Africa. She works as a teacher at the Colegio Español of Malabo.
- Luz Alba Santoyo, a Colombian committed to peace and justice from the Inter-ecclesial Commission for Justice and Peace.
- Pilar Cachofeiro Ramos, from the Social Action Area of the TA in Spain, InteRed volunteer.
- Beatriz Díaz Tejero and Roxana Revetria Lugo, coordinators of the Commission that prepared the International Youth Encounter of the Teresian Association, Assisi 2026, with the slogan "Plántate por la Tierra y la Paz".
- Lorena Lampedecchia, teacher at the Teresian School in Dublin and part of the management team.
The events in which all the pilgrims will take part are scheduled as follows:
Saturday, September 26:
♦ Prayer, at 7:45 p.m. in the Basilica. Open to all.
Sunday, September 27:
♦ 9:00 a.m. in the Basilica, the act in which the offerers will present their different realities of mission. Open to all.
♦ 12:00, in the Basilica, the group joins the celebration of the Eucharist and at the time of thanksgiving the offering of the TA is made with a short prayer.
These events can be followed live on the Sanctuary's YouTube channel.
Gazing at the Santina
Pedro Poveda, who was Canon in Covadonga from 1906 to 1913, wrote in 1928: “Before the image of La Santina, prayers were said, plans were made, and the development of the Work was envisioned, so to speak.[…] In short, seven years of intense life in that blessed place gave me so much, and everything they gave me revolved around my life's ideal, which emerged and crystallized as I gazed upon La Santina.”
Year after year, without interruption since 1934, the Association has fulfilled the promise made by Pedro Poveda that a group of TA members would present and offer before La Santina the fruits of the whole year, in order to maintain awareness of its Marian origin and to acknowledge the gifts received through Mary's intercession.
Can you imagine that this Sunday, when we come down from the mountain of Covadonga, we receive news that at least one of the conflicts or crises has been resolved? Do you think it is possible for this to happen thanks to the prayer and action that animate us from the Gospel? It may seem like a simple dream or an unattainable desire... As Gregoria Ruiz says in her letter calling for the Voto de Covadonga 2026, “it is not surprising that many experience discouragement, confusion and a desire to close their eyes and ears. We may experience these same feelings, but we are given the gift of remaining at Jesus’ side, encouraged by his life and his words, “Blessed are the peacemakers”.
TA Info.
Published in News