Bishop Arellano: “At the heart of the Church of Barbastro-Monzón, Torreciudad stands as a true beacon of hope”

The Dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota and Plenipotentiary Commissioner for Torreciudad, Monsignor Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, presided over the 34th Marian Day for Families in Torreciudad, which drew a crowd of some 7,000 people. 

The event also takes place against the backdrop of the complicated process that this Marian complex has been undergoing since 2023 with the Diocese of Barbastro–Monzón—a process that has been marked by various disagreements over this period. The most recent of these, just 24 hours before the event takes place. However, the tension reflected in the latest statement from the Diocese of Barbastro was not evident during the event, in which those present even applauded when Bishop Arellano Cedillo has appointed the bishop of Barbastro Monzón. 

A day much like the previous ones 

The day began at noon with prayer and the traditional offerings from families and various local organizations. In his homily, Bishop Arellano referred to the presence of the Regional Vicar of the Prelature in Spain, Ignacio Barrera, “whose presence honors us and strengthens the bonds of our ecclesial communion” and greeted “the Rectors of this church, Mr. Ángel Lasheras and Mr. José Mairal,” making a gesture of unity between those appointed by the Prelature and those appointed by the Bishop, the root cause of the current situation in Torreciudad.

“Faith is not an isolated experience”

Arellano delivered a “bridging” homily, in which he placed the work and spirit of Torreciudad within the context of the universal and local Church’s mission. In this regard, he recalled “the pastors who guided the Diocese of Barbastro-Monzón” and expressed gratitude for the example set by “St. Josemaría Escrivá, a son of this land, who knew how to discover in ordinary life the place where God comes out to meet us and, through His grace, transforms our daily existence.”.

The family and its role in the life of the Church were the focus of the homily delivered by the Dean of the Tribunal of the Rota, who reminded the congregation that “faith is never an isolated experience or an adventure we undertake alone: each of us receives a story, bonds, a family, and a calling that are part of a greater History—one that God guides with infinite wisdom and mercy.”. 

Thus, he emphasized, “Christian families, you are part of a living chain of faith and grace, in which what you have received becomes a gift for those who come after you: parents who teach their children to pray; spouses who patiently cultivate the art of forgiving and starting over; grandparents who sustain family life through their prayers; young people who sincerely seek God’s will. All of you are building up the Church.”. 

Bishop Arellano also emphasized that “in Nazareth, divine love took the form of a home. But Nazareth was also the home where love learned the language of a faith tested by trials. It is precisely in the midst of trials that the truth of that enduring love is revealed.”. 

In this vein, he continued, “the family is undergoing a true turning point,” and he referred to the most common problems facing families today: “the loneliness that creeps into so many hearts, the difficulty in building an indissoluble love, the wounds that are so often suffered in silence, and the temptation to live as if God were not necessary.” “In this context,” he emphasized, “Pope Leo XIV’s call to give special pastoral attention to families, accompanying them in their joys and difficulties, resonates with particular force.”. 

A Beacon for Families 

Bishop Arellano praised the work of Torreciudad, noting that “at the heart of the Barbastro-Monzón Diocese, Torreciudad stands as a true beacon of hope for families.”. 

He also spoke of the thousands of people who, every year, visit the Virgin at the new shrine in Torreciudad: “In this shrine, Mary welcomes her children with the tenderness of a Mother who understands, comforts, and remains close to them. Here, every family can learn from her to preserve the faith amid difficulties, to trust when the path becomes arduous, and to remain under the merciful gaze of Christ.”. 

Finally, the plenipotentiary commissioner for Torreciudad asked “Our Lady of the Angels of Torreciudad to grant us the grace to understand that holiness is not a legacy reserved for the past, but a living call that God addresses to each one of us today, here and now.”.

«We're waiting for the Pope in Torreciudad»

At the end of Mass, Rector Ángel Lasheras expressly thanked Bishop Arellano for attending the event and conveyed a message to Pope Leo XIV: «We love him very much and look forward to welcoming him to the Shrine so he can get to know it.».

Pope Leo XIV, for his part, has sent his apostolic blessing to the participants in this event.

50 Years of Torreciudad, as We Understand It Today

With this event, the Marian complex marks the 50th anniversary of the new shrine—founded by St. Josemaría Escrivá and inaugurated on July 7, 1975, with a Mass offered for the repose of the soul of the founder of Opus Dei, who had died a few days earlier in Rome. 

This year, the speakers at the conference will be the influencer couple Quique Mira and María Lorenzo, founders of Aute and Proyecto Caná, who will lead discussions with attendees on topics such as family, young people, and love and marriage today. 

During the event, basic hygiene products were also collected for vulnerable families; these will be distributed in collaboration with Cáritas Diocesana de Barbastro-Monzón. 

Testimonies of Faith: Quique Mira and María Lorenzo

After Mass, the families spread out across the Shrine’s esplanade to have lunch. Later, right there, Quique Mira and María Lorenzo—family content creators and founders of Aute and Proyecto Caná, a digital evangelization initiative—shared their testimony of faith in a conversation about dating, marriage, and family. The young married couple spoke before the nearly 7,000 participants at the Marian Family Day at the Torreciudad Shrine, where they shared their personal experience of faith and recounted their journey of conversion. 

“I was disappointed in myself because I had drifted so far away that I was no longer the María I used to be. Watching the movie – Supernatural Passion of Christ, ”, and through His sacrifice, my heart was awakened and I understood God's love,“ said María Lorenzo, who emphasized that ”living one's faith is a concrete relationship with a specific person, who is Jesus Christ.". 

Quique, for his part, confessed: “The moment I began to find silence in my life and let the Lord into it was when this new definition of Love found a place within me.”. 

For both him and María, the key to a successful marriage lies in a “three-way relationship.” Quique explained this using a phrase his spiritual director once shared with him: “Mery may be the woman of your life, but God is the Love of your life.” The young Catalan man has stated that his mission is to lead his wife to Heaven, and that “only by welcoming the Lord into our lives can we live a marriage of three, with God, because He is the one who enables us to love.”.

Through their testimony, Quique and María aim primarily to reach younger generations—a goal that has been pursued for the past two years through this event, as noted by José Alfonso Arregui, director of communications at Torreciudad: “We’re looking to give the event a fresher feel, since this is the direction we want to take—one focused on the family.”.

One big family

Arregui noted that the number of visitors to the Shrine on this date typically ranges from 6,000 to 8,000, and that this year there are about 7,000 people. Some of them are visiting Torreciudad for the first time, but for some families, setting aside a weekend in September for this purpose has already become a tradition. Mercedes Valdecantos, from Madrid, is one of them: “I’ve come to all 34 retreats; I haven’t missed a single one,” she said. The main difference she noted this year, compared to previous years, is that the atmosphere is “calmer, more serene, and deeply devout.” She added, «I feel right at home.”.

Like Mercedes’s family, Pablo Fraile’s family has attended the event for several years in a row. “As always, I love the family-like atmosphere here and the devotion to the Virgin,” he said. Although he came with his wife and their five children, they usually get together with the other families from the Montealto and El Prado schools in Madrid.

The Work of Volunteers

Fraile also highlighted the dedicated work of the more than 200 volunteers who are working hard to ensure that everything goes perfectly. Oriol Saló, a Catalan college student and volunteer, has paid special attention to one detail: “People are very cheerful; they try to create a good atmosphere and show their gratitude.” He explained: “We are the hands-on team supporting the people who have spent an entire year preparing this event.” Both he and his colleagues have been responsible for monitoring the entrances to the Shrine, organizing the offerings brought by the faithful, and carrying out practical tasks. 

There are also many veteran volunteers. Take Marcela Ruiz, for example, a Venezuelan who has come all the way from Barcelona, convinced that it’s always a good decision: “Volunteering is a fantastic idea; it’s great to see both what goes on behind the scenes of the event and how the families enjoy it. You can really feel that we’re close to the Virgin. You’re here working, but you get so much from the people.”. 

Cristina Gracia, also a volunteer, emphasized the more apostolic nature of the Day: “It is an opportunity to share the charism of the Work by carrying out our work with as much joy as possible, striving to earn our place in Heaven.”.