The thirteen Benedictine sisters, aged between 65 and 102, have left the Puiggraciós sanctuary (Vallès Oriental) due to aging and lack of generational change. The space will be managed by laity.
The Puiggraciós sanctuary, a historic place of prayer in the Cingles del Bertí, has lost its last guardians. In mid-July, the thirteen Benedictine nuns who had lived there since 1973 returned to the monastery of Sant Pere de les Puel·les in Sarrià (Barcelona). The decision is due to the natural aging of the community —with ages ranging from 65 to 102 years—, the lack of vocations, and the difficulty of maintaining activity in two locations.
The day-to-day operations of the sanctuary will be taken over by the Associació d’Amics de Puiggraciós, a group of laity created two years ago to provide support. The diocese of Terrassa has assured that the sanctuary will remain open and maintain its pastoral function, although the management model still needs to be defined. On Sunday, July 19, a farewell mass was held, presided over by the sanctuary's priest, Jordi Vilà, in a very emotional atmosphere.
“Puiggraciós is not the sanctuary of the nuns, but of the people,” declared Roser Caminal, the prioress, during the ceremony. Caminal expressed pride in the journey taken: “We have given a lot and received a lot,” she stated. “We have all spent time in Puiggraciós and we see that it has been a mandatory stop in the lives of many people.”
Maria Teresa Botey, 91 years old and in an electric wheelchair, is one of the most beloved nuns. She lived in the sanctuary from 1973 for several years and returned in 2019 until her final departure. “The female community of Sant Pere de les Puel·les is more than a millennium old, is very united, and what we have experienced in the sanctuary is very beautiful,” she explained. “There has always been a lot of closeness with the towns. The sanctuaries of the Virgin Mary always have something special; she is a mother to all.”
Sister Isabel Vivancos, 80 years old, also fondly remembers the “closeness and everyday nature of the visits. I take away many beautiful connections.” The sanctuary has hosted baptisms, weddings, exhibitions, readings, and concerts, in addition to the Eucharists and prayers.
Returning to the monastery in Sarrià means going home, but also a change of life. The Barcelona building, with high walls that hide a garden of tomatoes, onions, and zucchinis, and a cloister surrounded by orange trees, remains open to believers and those seeking a spiritual oasis. “We have a guesthouse that can accommodate up to 25 people. They come from all over: Valencia, Andorra, Badajoz… and even from abroad,” the nuns explain.
Nun Conxa Adell asserts that this is an urban monastery that “has its doors open to all laity who thirst for God. With creativity and love, we have an opportunity to connect with the community.” For her part, Griselda Cos describes her monastic life as “a permanent prayer in the heart of the city. We feel very committed to Barcelona and Catalan identity.”
The diocese of Terrassa hopes that the Associació d’Amics de Puiggraciós will ensure the continuity of the sanctuary as a place of worship and gathering. Details of the new management will be known in the coming weeks.
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