Caminem Junts en la Diversitat 2025 – A Convivencia for a Noble Cause

A quick glance at yesterday’s Convivencia 2025 activity, held on October 19, might have given the impression of a simple caravan of seven Mercedes-Benz tourist buses traveling from Barcelona to Tortosa and back. More than half of the 330 passengers were Filipinos, while the rest came from China, Brazil, Italy, Ukraine, Latin America, Guinea, and other smaller groups of five to ten people.

In truth, however, it was much more than just a trip. It was a religious journey with a noble purpose, organized by the Diocesan Secretariat of Pastoral Care with Migrants of Barcelona. For years, the Secretariat has celebrated “World Migrant and Refugee Day” through its Convivencia (Coexistence) activities.

The real goal of this initiative is to build an ecclesial community that promotes an intercultural, open, and inclusive pastoral care — a collective that stands in solidarity with migrants and refugees who are often deprived of the freedom to decide whether to migrate or remain in countries torn by war, hunger, and inequality. For the local communities of Catalonia, Spain, it is also a heartfelt call to nurture a culture of hospitality.

The Convivencia began in Barcelona, leading the participants to the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria de Tortosa, where a solemn mass was celebrated by Bishop Sergi Gordo Rodríguez. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the spacious dining halls of the Diocesan Seminary of Tortosa to share lunch and fellowship.

Following the meal, participants were given free time to explore and appreciate the beauty of Tortosa, a town that graces the banks of the Ebro River. Known for its medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and modernist architecture, Tortosa’s timeless charm, serenity, and cultural grandeur perfectly complemented the day’s message— one of peace, reflection, and shared humanity.

Perhaps the most touching sentiment of the Convivencia was captured in its statement:

“Many people who have left their homeland remind us that life is a journey, that faith is a quest, and that hope is stronger than fear. Those we welcome are not only recipients of our help, but also ‘missionaries’ who challenge us.”

Indeed, Caminem Junts en la Diversitat—Let us walk together in diversity—remains a living testament to faith, compassion, and the power of coexistence.

by Felix Capili
https://www.filbarcechurch.es/