The Catholic Church in Russia obtains its first property in St. Petersburg
The Catholic Church now owns its first property in St. Petersburg thanks to Spanish priest Aleksander Burgosof the diocese of Valladolid.
In 2021 he obtained the Vatican's approval to build the first shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima in Russia and, at the beginning of the year, he managed to close the purchase of the house in which he was renting. In this way, after the communist revolution of the early 20th century, this house became the first property owned by the Catholic Church in Russia.
With more than 15 years of pastoral work in St. Petersburg, Fr. Aleksander Burgos, known in Russian as Otests Aleksanderhas worked tirelessly to carry out these projects and continues to seek resources for the construction of Russia's first shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
Trained in Rome to minister to Catholics of the Byzantine rite, Father Aleksander is currently pastor of a Byzantine rite church in St. Petersburg. After registering the parish and presenting the initiative, the Holy See gave the green light for the construction of the shrine.
The Bishop Joseph WerthThe Vatican, apostolic administrator of Novosibirsk and primate of the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church, informed the Vatican about the project, which received its approval in 2021.
The sanctuary will be of Byzantine Catholic rite, but will be open to all Christians, regardless of their rite, and to people of good will interested in participating in Marian pilgrimages.
Construction of a Fatima shrine in Russia
On July 13, 1917 in Fatima, during the third apparition of the Blessed Virgin to the little shepherds, Our Lady told them about Russia. He said that Russia would spread its mistakes all over the world, but that in the end it would become and his Immaculate Heart would triumph.
He added that he would return to ask for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart, which he did a few years later: the June 13, 1929 appeared to Sister Lucia in Tuy, and asked that the Holy Father consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart.
Image of Our Lady of Fatima of St. Petersburg.
As is already known St. John Paul II made this consecration on March 25, 1984 Since then, more than 20,000 churches have been built in Russia, and more than about 70 percent of its inhabitants have been baptized.
Although the consequences of atheistic communism are still enormous and the percentage of practicing believers is small, it can no longer be said that it is an atheistic country, but a religious country that favors the practice of religion. In this sense we can say that Russia has becomealthough not to the fullest extent.
In order for the Russians themselves, especially Catholics, to be able to thank the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to help the triumph of that Heart become complete, there is this project of building a Fatima shrine in St. Petersburg.
The project was authorized, after consultation with the Holy See, by Bishop Joseph Werth, Ordinary for Eastern Rite Catholics throughout Russia.
For more information about the Fatima Shrine in St. Petersburg, you can access the official website here: fatimarus.com
Photograph by Father Aleksander Burgos.
Interview with Mr. Aleksander Burgos
Alejandro Burgos-Velasco was born in Valladolid, Spain, but is now better known as Otests AleksanderAlexander in Russian, because he has been living in St. Petersburg for the past twenty-two years.
It is a transfer that he himself requested, when he was told that priests were needed to go to Kazakhstan: "I offered to go to Kazakhstan. But that didn't work out. As I had discussed it at length with my bishop, don José [Delicado Baeza], from Valladolid, I told him: "This didn't come out, so what do I do now?". Then we agreed to go to Russia.
In this simple, but at the same time impressive way, this priest exchanged the sun of Spain for the snow of Russia. Before landing in St. Petersburg, Alexander made a short stop in Rome to receive a blessing from John Paul IIfor this adventure.
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday before the Easter Triduum. We also call it Passion Sunday.
This is a Christian feast of peace. The branches, with their ancient symbolism, remind us now of the covenant between God and his people. Confirmed and established in Christ, because He is our peace.
In the liturgy of our Holy Catholic Church, we read today these words of profound joy: the sons of the Hebrews, bearing olive branches, went out to meet the Lord, crying out and saying, "Glory in the highest!
While Jesus As he passed by, St. Luke tells us, the people spread their garments on the road. And when they were near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the disciples in great numbers, overcome with joy, began to praise God with a loud voice for all the wonders they had seen: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
"By works of service, we can prepare for the Lord a greater triumph than that of his entry into Jerusalem." Saint Josemaría Escrivá
History and origin of Palm Sunday
On this day, Christians commemorate Christ's entry into Jerusalem to consummate his Paschal Mystery. For this reason, two Gospels have long been read at Mass on this day.
As Pope Francis explains, "this celebration has a double taste, sweet and bitter, it is joyful and painful, because in it we celebrate the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, acclaimed by his disciples as king, while at the same time the Gospel account of his passion is solemnly proclaimed. So our heart feels that painful contrast and experiences in some measure what Jesus felt in his heart on that day, the day when he rejoiced with his friends and wept over Jerusalem."
It is on Palm Sunday, when our Lord begins the decisive week for our salvation, that St. Josemaría recommends that "we leave aside superficial considerations and go to what is central, to what is truly important. Look: what we have to pretend is to go to heaven. Otherwise, nothing is worthwhile. To go to heaven, fidelity to the doctrine of Christ is indispensable. In order to be faithful, it is indispensable to persevere with constancy in our struggle against the obstacles that oppose our eternal happiness...."
Palm leaves, writes St. Augustine, are a symbol of homage, because they signify victory. The Lord was about to conquer, dying on the Cross. He was going to triumph, in the sign of the Cross, over the Devil, the prince of death.
He comes to save us; and we are called to choose his way: the way of service, of self-giving, of self-forgetfulness. We can follow this path by stopping during these days to look at the Crucifix, the "Chair of God". Pope Francis.
Meaning of Palm Sunday
Bishop Javier Echevarría, makes us see the Christian meaning of this feast: "We, who are nothing, are often vain and arrogant: we seek to stand out, to attract attention; we try to be admired and praised by others. People's enthusiasm does not usually last. A few days later, those who had welcomed him with cheers will cry out for his death. And we, will we let ourselves be carried away by a passing enthusiasm? If in these days we notice the divine fluttering of God's grace, which passes close by, let us make room for it in our souls.Let us spread our hearts on the ground, more than palms or olive branches. Let us be humble, mortified and understanding with others. This is the homage that Jesus expects from us."
"Just as the Lord then entered the Holy City on the back of the donkey," says Benedict XVI, "so the Church always saw him arrive again under the humble appearance of bread and wine.
The Palm Sunday scene is repeated in a certain way in our own lives. Jesus approaches the city of our soul on the back of the ordinary: in the sobriety of the sacraments; or in the gentle hints, such as those that St. Josemaría pointed out in his homily on this feast: "live punctually the fulfillment of your duty; smile at those who need it, even if your soul is in pain; dedicate, without stint, the necessary time to prayer; come to the aid of those who seek you; practice justice, extending it with the grace of charity.
Pope Francis points out that nothing could stop the enthusiasm for the entry of Jesus; let nothing prevent us from finding in him the source of our joy, of authentic joy, which remains and gives peace; because only Jesus saves us from the bonds of sin, death, fear and sadness.
Whoever receives Jesus with humility and simplicity, then carries him everywhere.
Palm Sunday in the Bible
The Palm Sunday liturgy puts this canticle on the lips of Christians: Lift up your lintels, O ye gates; lift up your lintels, ye ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
First Gospel of Palm Sunday (Luke 19:28-40)
Having said this, he walked ahead of them going up to Jerusalem. And when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, by the mount called the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples, saying: -Go to the village opposite; when you enter it you will find a donkey tied up, on which no one has yet ridden; untie it and bring it to him. And if anyone asks you why you are untying it, you shall answer him, "Because the Lord has need of it." The envoys went and found it just as he had told them. When they untied the donkey their masters said to them: -Why do you untie the donkey? -Because the Lord needs it," they answered. They took him to Jesus. And they threw their cloaks on the donkey and made Jesus ride on it. As he went on, they spread their cloaks along the road. And as he drew near, as he was going down the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples, filled with joy, began to praise God with a loud voice for all the wonders they had seen, saying: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! Some Pharisees from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples. He answered them, "I tell you, if these keep silent, the stones will cry out.
Gospel of Palm Sunday (Mark 11:1-10)
As he drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, by the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them: -Go to the village opposite you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a donkey tied up, on which no one has yet ridden; untie it and bring it back. And if anyone says to you, "Why do you do that?" answer him, "The Lord needs him, and he will bring him back here at once." They went away and found a donkey tied by a gate outside at a crossroads, and they untied it. Some of those who were there said to them: -What are you doing untying the donkey? They answered them as Jesus had told them, and allowed them to do so. Then they brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their cloaks on it, and he mounted on it. Many spread their cloaks on the road, others the branches they cut from the fields. Those who went before and those who followed behind shouted: -Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, blessed is the coming kingdom, the kingdom of our father David, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest! And he went into Jerusalem into the Temple; and when he had carefully observed everything, as it was toward evening, he departed for Bethany with the twelve.
"There are hundreds of animals more beautiful, more skillful and more cruel. But Christ looked to the donkey to present himself as king before the people who acclaimed him. For Jesus does not know what to do with calculating cunning, with the cruelty of cold hearts, with showy but hollow beauty. Our Lord values the joy of a young heart, the simple step, the voice without falsetto, the clear eyes, the attentive ear to his word of affection. Thus he reigns in the soul".
St. Josemaría
Palm Sunday processions
The tradition of celebrating Palm Sunday is hundreds of years old. For centuries, the blessing of the olive trees has been part of this feast, as well as the processions, The Holy Mass and the recounting during it of the Passion of Christ. Today they are celebrated in many countries.
The faithful participating in the Jerusalem procession, which dates back to the 4th century, They also carry palm branches, olive trees or other trees in their hands, and sing Palm Sunday songs.. The priests carry bouquets and lead the faithful.
In Spain, a cheerful Palm Sunday procession commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Gathered together we sing hosanna and waves his palms as a gesture of praise and welcome.
The olive branches are a reminder that Lent is a time of hope and renewal of faith in God. They are attributed to be a symbol of the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.. They also recall the Church's faith in Christ and his proclamation as King of Heaven and Earth.
At the end of the pilgrimage, it is customary to place the blessed palms next to the crosses in our homes as a reminder of Jesus' Easter victory.
These same olive trees will be prepared for the following Ash Wednesday. For this important ceremony, the remains of the palms blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year are burned. These are sprinkled with holy water and then scented with incense.
Songs for Palm Sunday
Brief list of recommended songs for Palm Sunday celebrations
Processional song: YOU WILL REIGN
Entrance chant: HOSANNA, HOSANNA
From Psalm 21: MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
Acclamation before the Gospel: HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU, LORD JESUS
Verse: CHRIST SUBMITTED HIMSELF FOR OUR SAKE
Offertory song: LET US BRING THE LORD
Saint: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY - Alberto Taulé.mp3
Lamb of God: LAMB OF GOD
Communion song: LORD, WHERE WILL WE GO?
Song of reflection: IN YOUR CROSS YOU STAND TODAY
Departure song: AL PIE DE LA CRUZ (AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS)
Friday of Sorrows: a journey of faith during Holy Week
In the portico at the entrance to the Easterthe Friday of Sorrows marks a profoundly spiritual anteroom that invites us to contemplate the silent and loving suffering of our mother, our mother, the Virgin Mary. This day, celebrated on the Friday before Palm Sunday, becomes an opportunity to approach the heart of a mother who accompanies the way of the cross of her Son. In many parishes the Way of the Cross is replaced by the Via Matrix that contemplates the sufferings of Mary.
The so-called Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary are a centuries-old devotion that invites to meditate on the most painful moments that Mary lived with Jesus. Through this meditation, the faithful find a bridge to connect their own suffering with Christian hope.
The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary
1) The prophecy of Simeon
When Mary presents Jesus in the temple, Simeon announces to her that a "sword will pierce his soul". This first sorrow opens Mary's heart to an uncertain future, full of trials where everything in her is Faith and Hope in her Son as she did in her first great yes in the Incarnation.
Teacher of charity. Remember that scene of the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The old man Simeon "assured Mary, his Mother: "Behold, this child is destined for the ruin and resurrection of many in Israel and to be the target of contradiction, which will be for you a sword that will pierce your own soul, so that the thoughts hidden in the hearts of many will be revealed". Mary's immense charity for humanity makes Christ's affirmation true also in her: "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".
In the midst of Holy Week, this passage reminds us that faith does not always mean certainty, but trust in the midst of darkness.
2) The flight to Egypt
Mary and Joseph must flee to Egypt to protect the child Jesus from the threat of Herod. This scene speaks to us of the pain of instability, of abandoning one's own land and of fear for the life of a child. The Virgin Mary becomes the image of all mothers who must leave everything for love.
After he had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Arise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt; stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to seek the child to destroy him." He arose, took the child and his mother by night and went to Egypt. There he stayed until the death of Herod, so that what the Lord announced by the prophet would be fulfilled when he said, "Out of Egypt I called my son" (Mt 2:13-15).
Mary cooperated with her charity so that the faithful could be born in the Church, members of that Head of which she is effectively mother according to the body. As Mother, she teaches; and, also as Mother, her lessons are not noisy. It is necessary to have in the soul a base of refinement, a touch of delicacy, in order to understand what she manifests to us, more than with promises, with works.
3) The Baby Jesus lost in the temple
For three days, Mary and Joseph search for Jesus, who had remained in the temple. The anguish of loss and helplessness in the face of what is not understood are human emotions that we have all experienced. The Virgin Mary takes them on with faith and humility.
The Gospel of the Holy Mass reminded us of that moving scene of Jesus, who remains in Jerusalem teaching in the temple. Mary and Joseph went the whole journey, asking relatives and acquaintances. But when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him. "The Mother of God, who eagerly sought her son, lost through no fault of hers, who experienced the greatest joy in finding him, will help us to retrace our steps, to rectify what is necessary when, because of our lightness or sins, we fail to distinguish Christ. We will thus attain the joy of embracing Him again, to tell Him that we will not lose Him any more (Friends of God, 278).
4) Mary meets Jesus on the road to Calvary.
On the Via Dolorosa, Mary meets her Son carrying the cross. She cannot stop the suffering, but she is there. This scene, so representative in Holy Week processions, speaks to us of the value of presence, of being with the suffering even if we cannot change their destiny.
Hardly has Jesus risen from his first fall, when he meets his Blessed Mother, beside the road through which he is passing.
With immense love Mary looks at Jesus, and Jesus looks at his Mother; their eyes meet, and each heart pours into the other its own sorrow. Mary's soul is flooded with bitterness, in the bitterness of Jesus Christ.
O you who pass by on the way, look and see if there is any sorrow comparable to my sorrow (Lam I, 12).
But no one notices, no one notices; only Jesus.
Simeon's prophecy has been fulfilled: a sword will pierce your soul (Lk II, 35).
In the dark solitude of the Passion, Our Lady offers her Son a balm of tenderness, of union, of fidelity; a yes to the divine will.
Hand in hand with Mary, you and I also want to console Jesus, accepting always and in everything the Will of his Father, of our Father.
Only in this way will we taste the sweetness of the Cross of Christ, and embrace it with the strength of love, carrying it in triumph along all the roads of the earth. Station IV Way of the Cross.
5) Jesus' crucifixion and death
Mary's heart breaks as she watches her Son die on the cross. This pain sums up the greatest sacrifice, that of love that holds nothing back. The Virgin Mary remains standing, firm in faith. On Friday of Sorrows, this image takes on a special force, reminding us that Christian hope is born on the cross.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son. Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her to himself. After this, when Jesus knew that all things were accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, "I thirst." And there was there a vessel full of vinegar; and tying a sponge soaked in the vinegar to a branch of hyssop, they put it to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, "All is finished." And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost (Jn 19:25-30).
In the scandal of the Sacrifice of the Cross, Holy Mary was present, listening with sadness to Those who passed by blasphemed, shaking their heads and crying out, "You who tear down the temple of God and in three days rebuild it, save yourself; if you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross. Our Lady listened to the words of her Son, joining in his pain: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? What could she do? Fuse herself with the redeeming love of her Son, offer to the Father the immense pain - like a sharp sword - that pierced his pure Heart.
6) Jesus is taken down from the cross and handed over to his mother.
Mary receives in her arms the dead body of Jesus. It is a moment of silence, of deep mourning. She embraces him with the same love with which she received him at birth. In this gesture is all the tenderness of a mother who continues to love even in death.
Now, as we stand before that moment of Calvary, when Jesus has already died and the glory of his triumph has not yet been manifested, it is a good opportunity to examine our desires for Christian life, for holiness; to react with an act of faith to our weaknesses, and trusting in the power of God, to resolve to put love into the things of our day. The experience of sin should lead us to sorrow, to a more mature and deeper decision to be faithful, to truly identify ourselves with Christ, to persevere, whatever the cost, in that priestly mission that he has entrusted to all his disciples without exception, which urges us to be salt and light of the world. (Christ Is Passing By, 96). Christ is passing by, 96
7) They bury the body of Jesus
Finally, Mary accompanies her Son to the tomb. The stone closes, and everything seems to be over. But hope beats in Mary's heart. She knows that God keeps his promises, even though now all is silence and darkness.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to remove the Body of Jesus. Pilate granted it. So he went and removed the body of Jesus. Nicodemus also came, the one who had gone to him before by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with linen cloths and spices, as the Jews were accustomed to bury. And there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. Since it was the preparation of the Jews, and because of the proximity of the tomb, they laid Jesus there (Jn 19:38-42).
Let us now ask the Lord, to end this time of conversation with Him, to grant us to repeat with St. Paul that "we triumph by virtue of him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor virtues, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord".
The Virgin Mary as a companion in sorrow
To meditate on the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary is not to remain in suffering, but to discover a way to live it with meaning. Mary is not a distant figure, but a mother who knows us and who has experienced human pain. During Holy Week, her pierced heart becomes a refuge for those who are going through trials.
The Friday of Sorrows is a special occasion for pray the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows or simply to make a prayer from the depths of the heart. The sword that pierces Mary's heart can become a light for our own wounds.
Holy Week: time to open the heart
To live Holy Week is to enter into the mystery of God's love. And Mary, with her wounded but faith-filled heart, is the best guide. Her discreet and courageous presence in each step of Christ's passion reminds us that pain is not the end, but the beginning of a transformation.
This Friday of Sorrows, let us place our hearts close to Mary's heart. Let us listen to her silence, learn from her strength, and let her faith inspire us to live this Holy Week with a new spirit.
And Palm Sunday arrives
Palm Sunday is like the portico that precedes and disposes the Paschal Triduum: "this threshold of Holy Week, so close to the moment when the Redemption of all humanity was consummated on Calvary, seems to me a particularly appropriate time for you and me to consider by what ways Jesus our Lord has saved us; to contemplate his love - truly ineffable - for poor creatures, formed from the clay of the earth". (St. Josemaría, Friends of God, n. 110.)
Under the name of Notions of Medicine for Priests the course is organized, for the fifth consecutive year, under the guidance of the chaplain of the University of Navarra ClinicVicente Aparicio, and with the sponsorship of the CARF Foundation.
Approximately fifty priests participated in this activity, which took place on January 11 and February 8, 2025.
In an interview with the digital platform OmnesCUN chaplain, Vicente Aparicio, explained the objective of this conference: "it is not about priests acting as doctors, but to help us act as what we are, but with a little more training on complicated issues that we often face.
AI image of a priest in a doctor's gown.
He also pointed out that, in general, patients and their families deeply value the presence of priests in such difficult moments close to death. Visits and spiritual accompaniment are perceived as a fundamental support, since they provide comfort and strength to both the patient and their loved ones.
This accompaniment not only provides a space for prayer and reflection, but also generates an atmosphere of peace and hope in the midst of distress. The priests' words of encouragement and blessing are seen as an emotional and spiritual refuge, creating a connection that transcends the physical and helps patients and their families to face the disease with greater serenity.
Session 1: Medicine for Priests, Health and Family
This session addressed solutions to family problems. Dr. Francisco Leal Quiñones, specialist in Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Pain Unit, emphasized the importance of leading an orderly and familiar lifestyle, with spaces for conversation, games, shared trips and contact with nature.
This kind of life, he noted, promotes the development of children, improves communication and understanding between parents and children, and contributes to the well-being of all.. There is also scientific and empirical evidence to support these benefits.
Dr. Montse Erostarbe also spoke, offering proposals to ensure that family life follows the most appropriate guidelines during childhood and adolescence, thus ensuring an integral development for children.
Second day: care for the chronically ill and degenerative diseases
During this day, guidelines were offered for the care of patients with chronic and long-term diseases.
Dr. Borja Monteroa specialist in Family and Community Medicine, provided guidelines on the spiritual care and accompaniment of these patients.
Dr. Maria Die Trilla specialist in clinical psychology, shared strategies to support both the patients and their families.
Beatriz LuquiThe social worker explained the assistance available to cover the needs of these patients, detailing who offers it, the requirements for accessing it and other key aspects.
The relationship between medicine and pastoral work has deep roots in the history of the Church. St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, had a great love for the sick and a deep admiration for health professionals.
In his teaching, he emphasized the importance of a job well done and service to others, fundamental values in both medical practice and priestly work. In addition, he promoted the creation of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Navarra in 1954, with the aim of training doctors with "great scientific category and high professional level".
Through initiatives such as the course Notions of Medicine for PriestsThe connection between medical training and pastoral work is strengthened, allowing priests to provide a more complete and empathetic accompaniment to the sick and their families.
In the interview granted to Omnes, Vicente Aparicio stressed the importance of this training for priests: "who are not only there to impart the sacraments, but also to accompany, listen and console. Many times we find ourselves in complex medical situations and having basic notions allows us to be a more effective support for the sick and their families".
Marta Santín, journalist specializing in religion.
5 steps to include the CARF Foundation in your solidarity will
A joint and several will is a type of legal document in which a natural person or legal entity assigns part or all of their inheritance to an institution of the Church, a charitable cause, non-profit organization (such as the CARF Foundation), NGO or social aid institution.
Its objective is to contribute to an altruistic cause after his or her death. This type of solidarity will allows the testator to leave a legacy with social impact, ensuring that his or her assets are used to support initiatives that reflect his or her values and religious or ethical commitments.
Include the CARF Foundation in your will. is a special way to support the formation of diocesan priests and seminarians around the world, ensuring that they can continue their preparation to take the Gospel to all corners of the earth, helping to maintain the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra, as well as the seminaries and colleges where the seminarians and priests who benefit from your generosity reside. If you are considering this possibility, here we explain how to do it in five simple steps.
1) Reflect and inform yourself about institutions that make your solidarity will responsibly rendered.
Taking time to decide what to do with the goods accumulated throughout life is an act of responsibility and generosity.
Sharing this reflection with family members or people you trust will help you make the best decision. At the CARF Foundation we can advise you so that your will faithfully reflects your wishes and contributes to the universal mission of the Church.
Remember that a joint and several will does not affect the rights of your legitimate heirs, but allows a portion of your estate to go to a cause you believe in.
2) Go to the notary: what information should I bring with me to make my joint and several will?
The notary will make sure that your will be drawn up in accordance with the law and accurately reflect your wishes. To make the whole process simple, it is convenient to carry:
Identity document (DNI, NIE or valid passport).
List of assets you wish to include in your will.
Clear decision on the beneficiaries, indicating the part of your estate that you want to leave to the CARF Foundation.
Correct data of the CARF Foundation to avoid administrative errors. The identifying data necessary to include the CARF Foundation in the will or solidarity bequest are: CENTRO ACADÉMICO ROMANO FUNDACIÓN. CIF: G-79059218. Calle Conde de Peñalver, 45. Mezzanine, Office 1. 28006 Madrid.
Specific instructions, if you want your bequest to have a specific use within the foundation's mission.
If you decide to include the CARF Foundation, the notary will ensure that everything is properly formalized and that your generosity translates into a real and sustained impact over the course of the year. time.
3) Keep a copy: how can I make sure that my will is accessible when needed?
Once the joint and several will has been signed, it is important that you keep a copy in a safe place and that you reports to someoneof confidence about its existence and location.
You can also choose to digitalize the document, always remembering that the legally valid document will be the original signed before a notary.
4) Tell the CARF Foundation: why is it important to inform us?
Involve CARF Foundation of your decision allows we can guarantee the fulfillment of your will in the future. In addition, we can advise you on the best way to channel your charitable legacy and maximize its impact.
This communication helps us to better plan the use of resources, ensuring that your bequest or solidarity will is used effectively for the formation of diocesan priests and seminarians around the world.
5) Share your decision: who should know and why?
Telling your decision to someone you trust is key so that, when the time comes, it can be executed without difficulties. This makes it easier for your will to be carried out according to your wishes and for your generosity to translate into real opportunities for those who need it most. Talking to an executor or your family about your decision avoids confusion and helps ensure that your will is respected.
Thanks to your solidarity will, your commitment to the formation of seminarists y diocesan priests will live on, and your generosity will become a permanent legacy that will transcend time.
If you need more information or advice, we are at your disposal.
March 25, Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord
The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25, a crucial moment in the history of salvation. This feast recalls the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Her "let it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38) represents a model of faith and total surrender to the divine will.
The meaning of the Annunciation and the incarnation of the Word
The mystery of the Annunciation is inseparable from the Incarnation, since it is the moment in which God assumes human nature. St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of the Opus DeiHe emphasized the greatness of this event, affirming that "God calls us to sanctify ourselves in ordinary life, as Mary accepted her mission with humility.
Mary, model of vocation and dedication
Our mother, the Virgin Mary, is an example for all Christians, especially for those called to the priesthood. Her trusting and unreserved response is a reflection of the disposition that all Christians must have in order to become priests. seminarian and priest should have before God's call.
The Annunciation and the defense of life
In Spain, the Episcopal Conference celebrates on March 25 the "Day of the Bishops".Day for Life"recalling the sacred value of human life from conception. In 2025, the slogan is "Embracing life, building hope," a call for the protection of life at all stages.
The commitment of priests and seminarians
For diocesan priests and future pastors supported by the CARF Foundation, this feast has a special meaning. The defense of life is part of their mission, being witnesses of the Gospel in a society that often relativizes the value of human existence.
The commitment of priests and seminarians is not only based on the defense of life from conception, but also in their pastoral work to accompany people at every stage of their lives. Their theological and spiritual formation prepares them to be guides in faith and counselors in difficult moments. Inspired by Mary's yes, they are called to be heralds of hope, promoting a culture of life and Christian love.
In addition, this holiday invites them to deepen their vocation, reaffirming their commitment to evangelization and the teaching of Christian doctrine.
In times when human dignity faces multiple challenges, their witness takes on special relevance. The Annunciation is for them a reminder of their mission to be Christ's living presence in the world, transmitting the message of salvation in word and deed.
Living Mary's yes: a commitment for all Christians
The Feast of the Annunciation invites us not only to meditate on Mary's yes, but also to renew our surrender to God with trust and joy.
Mary, with her humble and courageous acceptance, teaches us that every Christian, regardless of his or her state in life, is called to give his or her own yes to God in everyday life.
For seminarians and diocesan priests it is a day of special reflection on their vocation and on their commitment to be defenders of life and faith.
However, this call is not exclusive to them. Each member of the faithful, from his or her own reality, can make Christ present in the world by his or her acts of charity, Christian witness and trust in God's providence.
The Annunciation reminds us that each of us, as part of God's people, can be an instrument in his hands, bringing hope, love and faith to those around us.
