The group of sisters in their final probation with the Daughters of Jesus has begun, with deep gratitude, the first days of a journey back to the roots of their Foundress, Mother Candida Maria de Jesus. During these days, they were guided by Sisters Maite Ortega and Rosa Romo, who took on this service with willingness and commitment.

Tracing the Roots of Mother Cándida

September 16 was a particularly meaningful day; it was a true blessing to be able to visit Andoain, the birthplace of Mother Cándida. There, they toured Casa Berrospe, celebrated Mass in the Berrospe chapel, and then visited the parish church of San Martín, where the Foundress was baptized.

They also had the opportunity to visit the fountain where Mother Candida used to go to pick flowers for the Virgin Mary and where, no doubt, her heart as a daughter found a place for prayer and communion with God.

On September 17, the pilgrimage continued in Tolosa, where they visited the San José School in Tolosa, a project that Mother Cándida worked very hard to found and develop.

The spirit is still alive in this place, especially when you see how people welcome one another and treat each other as true brothers and sisters. In Tolosa, one can also feel the presence of Blessed Antonia Bandrés in a special way, as it is her birthplace. It was very moving to see her image in the parish church and to discover that the baptistery where she received the sacrament of Baptism is still preserved.

On September 18, the sisters experienced another moment of grace while visiting Loyola, the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola. They toured the Shrine and Basilica of St. Ignatius, as well as the Chapel of St. Ignatius’s Conversion, where they attended Mass. They also visited the Chapel of Our Lady of Olatz, the home of Brother Francisco Gárate, and the Magdalena Hospital. Each of these places allowed them to draw a little closer to the history of faith that has profoundly shaped the journey of Mother Cándida and her Congregation.

On September 19, the tour continued to the birthplace of St. Francis Xavier. There, they visited the castle where he was born and raised, the chapel where he was baptized, and the basilica. A few kilometers away is the Monastery of Leyre, where they were able to visit the crypt and the Church of Santa María de Leyre.

An experience that touches the heart

Visiting the house and the places associated with Mother Cándida was a deeply moving experience. In every corner, you can sense her presence and spirit in some way. You can also feel the affection with which the people of her hometown remember her and the pride they feel for her.

It is deeply moving to be able to see with one’s own eyes and touch the places where she was born and where she began to grow in the faith that, over the years, would give her the strength to follow Jesus with generosity and confidence.

The visit to the Shrine and Basilica of St. Ignatius of Loyola also held special significance. This experience helped the sisters better understand the deep connection between St. Ignatius and Mother Candida, and to discover how Ignatian spirituality awakened in her an ever-growing desire to do more for God and to give herself generously to the service of His Kingdom.

In this Basque region, far from the big cities and the capital of Spain, the Virgin Mary touched the hearts of two courageous individuals: Saint Ignatius and Saint Candida, inspiring in them a deep passion for God and for the mission. From these humble lands, both were called to seek ways to preserve, proclaim, and nurture the faith in people’s hearts.

A pilgrimage that continues to bear fruit

After several days of exploring and experiencing firsthand the roots and history of Mother Candida, the sisters feel a deeper love for her growing within them and gain a better understanding of her desire to found the Congregation. She was a woman with a heart passionate for God, who longed to bring people closer to Him and to help them come to know and love Him.

Today, many years later, we can see how that passion for serving God continues to bear fruit in our lives. Her legacy lives on. This pilgrimage has not merely been a tour of historic sites. Above all, it has been a pilgrimage of the heart: a return to our roots to give thanks, to remember, to understand, and to renew our desire to continue walking in the footsteps of Jesus, with the heart of Mother Cándida.

The Final Probation group continues to follow in the footsteps of the Foundress. Recognizing that experiencing history firsthand will be of great benefit in helping them rediscover and appreciate their vocational stories and find new meaning in why, more than ten years ago, they felt the call to total consecration to God in this congregation.