The Junior Sisters in their Final Probation are visiting the places where Mother Cándida lived, prayed, and discerned her vocation. The second part of the Mother Candida Route in Spain took them to Burgos and Valladolid—cities linked to the years of waiting, the inspiration to found the Congregation, and the vocation of our Foundress—before concluding with a thanksgiving service in Salamanca.
Burgos: Years of Waiting and Reflection
The pilgrimage continued on to Burgos, where the Junior Sisters followed in the footsteps of Mother Cándida on her journey of seeking and discerning God’s will.
They arrived on September 20 and were warmly welcomed by the sisters of the community. They spent the afternoon together in a simple yet meaningful gathering that allowed them to experience the sisterhood that comes from belonging to the same charismatic family.
On September 21, they visited the parish of San Lesmes, where Mother Cándida and Doña Hermitas Sabater attended Mass every day, and the home where the Sabater family lived, on San Juan Street. This family played an important role during those years: they took her in, cared for her, and provided her with a place to work while she waited, with patience and trust, for God’s confirmation.
They also visited other parishes she may have attended and admired the Gothic art at Burgos Cathedral and the Chapel of the Holy Christ, where Mother Cándida used to go to pray. These days allowed them to reflect on her patience, perseverance, and determination: she knew how to wait for God’s timing, trusting that He would show her the way.
The Junior Sisters were accompanied by Sisters Inmaculada Viciana, Mercedes Vilas, Isabel García Garcimartín, and Ma. Jesús Torres, and they are deeply grateful for the warm welcome, the kindness, and the thoughtful gestures of affection they received from the community.
Valladolid: where Mother Cándida was inspired to found
On September 22, the Junior Sisters traveled to Valladolid, a city linked to decisive moments in the life and vocation of Mother Cándida. They visited the place where the Sabater family lived after moving from Burgos, motivated, among other reasons, by the desire to find a university for their eldest son, who was about to begin his college studies.
They also visited the Parish of San Felipe, where Mother Cándida met Father Herranz. She began studying Spanish with him and later continued her studies at the family’s home.
One of the most significant moments was the visit to the Church of El Rosarillo, the place where Mother Cándida received the inspiration to found a congregation called the Daughters of Jesus through the voice of the Virgin Mary. Being there, at the very site of that confirmation, led the Juniors to reflect with gratitude on how that event—experienced with faith and openness—marked the beginning of a story that continues to grow to this day.
Father Juan Pablo Hervada Puerta, who concelebrated the Mass with the archbishop during which the plaque honoring Mother Cándida was unveiled in this church, explained to them what the church was like in Mother Cándida’s time. Afterward, they prayed before the painting of the Holy Family, before which she used to pray during her stay in Valladolid. It was an opportunity to present to God each person’s own vocation, desires, and life’s path, remembering that every vocation is discovered step by step through listening, waiting, trust, and openness to God’s will.
The Junior Sisters were accompanied by Sisters Ana Bergareche, Belén Brezmes, and Milagros Santana.
The Altarpiece of the Holy Family
The long-awaited day arrived on September 23: the sisters contemplated the altarpiece of the Holy Family in the chapel, which had been dedicated on April 2, 2012, on the grounds of the Holy Family School and the community. It was a moment filled with grace and deep emotion. Sister Ana Bergareche’s explanation helped them appreciate its meaning and spiritual richness even more. They spent some time in prayer and then shared their reflections and the graces they had received.
Visiting the places where our Foundress lived, prayed, sought, and listened to God is not just a way to connect with history: it is an invitation to return to our roots, to give thanks for the journey we have made, and to renew our desire to seek God’s will with faith and openness.
Thanksgiving in Salamanca: End of the Route
The pilgrimage concluded with a Mass in Salamanca on September 27, 2026. At the end of the Mass, the Provincial Superior for Europe and Africa, María del Mar Domínguez, offered these words of thanksgiving:
“I am all yours, my God. Take my whole being—it is yours: my innermost being, my emotions, my thoughts, my actions, and my will; for You have given me everything, and I give it all to You and to Your Gospel. Give me Your love and Your grace—that is enough for me.”
“Sisters, after following in Mother Candida’s footsteps, I am sure your hearts are filled with greater joy as you walk in her footsteps and make an inner pilgrimage with her. Savor and treasure in your hearts what you have experienced these past few days as a precious gift: you have gone to the very root of our vocation as Daughters of Jesus. Let us give thanks to God!”
Thank you, Lord, for our sisters in their final probation!
