Author Archives: Victoria O'Donnell

A short contemplation for your Holy Week. I want to share with you some statues of Jesus’ Passion and death that I have come across during my short time in Spain. Below are the images (and a song) with the … Continue reading →

It was a moment that all of us had secretly been waiting for since August; the moment when the “American directors” came to Spain for their formation course in February. Oddly enough about half of them are not American- God … Continue reading →

There was a period in my life when my siblings and I were homeschooled. This short stint did wonders for me academically and was ripe with moments that marked me for life. A common activity for the homeschooling group we … Continue reading →

And that is just what they have done. One pair of boots can see a lot during a short 5 months in a foreign country. “Take with you no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals or … Continue reading →

Dear Spain, why must you thwart my every move?! Sound dramatic? Yeah…it is…. I have recently come to the point in my transition to life in Spain where certain items I brought with me from the States are running out. … Continue reading →

…And to dust you shall return. (And if for any reason you forget, everyone who stares at your forehead today will remind you). Our Lord has been leading me to contemplate my creature-ness for the past few weeks. And it … Continue reading →

“I want to greet all the grandmothers and grandfathers to thank them for their special place in families and for their importance to the new generations.” (Pope Francis, July 26, 2015) The photo is of the 11 am daily Mass … Continue reading →

January was the month of birthdays here in Cerro del Coto. There were a total of five this month only days apart (and three of whom are named Maria…coincidence?). With that many different people, the initial excitement of being a new community … Continue reading →

The Year of Consecrated Life closed pretty quietly here in Cerro Del Coto. The Apostolate Community went to a diocesan gathering at La Catedral de l’Almudena and the formation community had a normal solemn rosary. It has finished slightly eclipsed, … Continue reading →

“What is that?” The German girl who sits next to me in my Spanish class pointed to the top of my paper where I had written a particularly pretty “TKC!” “Oh. Well, you remember I’m a Catholic missionary, right?”  She … Continue reading →