A GLOBAL CELEBRATION.
A CHARISM CALLED TO GIVE LIFE AND HOPE.
THE DAUGHTERS OF CHRIST THE KING CLOSED THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY.
With hearts overflowing with gratitude and a deep spiritual renewal, the Institute of the Daughters of Christ the King has put the finishing touch to the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of its foundation (1876-2026). What began as the dream of the venerable José Gras y Granollers in the 19th century has been consolidated today as a living and vibrant work that spans three continents: Europe, America and Africa.
The closing celebrations, lived in schools, residences, parishes and mission communities around the world, have left evidence of the universality and validity of a motto that continues to move boundaries: “Christ reigns, forever in our hearts”.
A thanksgiving on three continents
The closing celebrations have been characterized by a deep liturgical and festive harmony. In every corner of the world where the charisma of the Institute lives, religious communities, educational teams, families and students gathered to give thanks for a century and a half of dedication to the service of truth and good.
- Solemn Eucharists: Cathedrals and local churches welcomed the members of the charismatic family who were grateful for the indelible mark that the Daughters of Christ the King leave in society through education and the proclamation of the Gospel.
- Cultural and artistic celebrations: The patios and halls of the educational centers were filled with music, choreography and the recreation of commemorative human mosaics. The students, as bearers of the future of the charisma, were the great protagonists, expressing the joy of belonging to this great global family.
- Gestures of solidarity: Faithful to the spirit of service of the congregation, many communities decided to close this time of grace with solidarity missions and projects to help the most vulnerable, making visible the reign of God's love.
The International Pilgrimage: Walking in the footsteps of a pilgrim
One of the most moving and intense milestones of this final stretch of the jubilee has been the International Pilgrimage, an event that has brought together representatives from all latitudes of the Institute on a spiritual and fraternal journey walking in the footsteps of José Gras, apostle of the Sovereignty of Christ.
Pilgrims coming from different cultures and languages came together to visit the holy and significant places that marked the life of the founder. The itinerary included moments of deep prayer in his native land, the reunion with the first steps of his vocation and, in a very special way, the visit to the birthplace of the Institute, where the remains of the venerable José Gras rest.
This pilgrimage has not been a simple historical journey, but an authentic recharge of spiritual energy to continue making Christ reign.
Looking to the future with hope
With the closing of this jubilee year, the Daughters of Christ the King and their entire lay family do not close a stage, but rather open the doors to the next 150 years. The great mosaic of faces, languages and cultures that has given life to this anniversary demonstrates that the project of the venerable José Gras continues to be an urgent and necessary response to the challenges of the contemporary world. The jubilee ends, but the mission of “making Christ reign” continues because He is King beyond creation and the centuries.
