San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid) welcomed the International Meeting of Dehonian Schools from 10 to 16 September. It was an event that saw the participation of about 1,400 German students between the ages of 10 through 19 from the Collegio Ginnasio Leonino of Handrup, a school operated by the Congregation of Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
German students arrived in San Lorenzo on Monday, 10 September. During the week, divided by age, they were able to take part in various activities including visits to historical sites and museums.
From 14 to 16 September, 457 Spanish students, accompanied by 43 teachers, joined the German students to participate together in the International Meeting. The meeting started on Friday, 14 September, with a welcome party, dinner and a presentation of the various groups, each of which prepared a video to better share themselves with the others.
Saturday morning was dedicated to sports and games for the children, as well as various workshops in areas such as sports, cooking, Zumba, German and Spanish cultures, and cartoons. The day ended with a party accompanied by music.
On Sunday, 16 September, the participants were able to visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real of Almudena. At 12:00 there was a Eucharist presided by Cardinal Carlos Osoro, archbishop of Madrid. At the end of the ceremony, the participants at the Dehonian Meeting took a group photo and then visited the center of Madrid, ending the meeting.
During this meeting the German students had an opportunity to share of themselves with the young Spaniards, and together, have a sense of belonging to the Dehonian project.
