Spiritual Retreat for Priests of the Vicariate

The Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat traces its origins to the hermitage of Santa Maria, donated by Count Guifré el Pelós to the Monastery of Ripoll in 888.

In 1025, Abbot Oliba, also Bishop of Vic, founded a new monastery at the site. It quickly became a pilgrimage destination, known for miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary.

Today, Montserrat continues to welcome pilgrims, a thousand years after its foundation.

The retreat was guided by Fr. Antonio Pérez de Mendiguren Cros, a priest of the Archdiocese of Tarragona. He is:

• Canon of the Cathedral of Tarragona (since 2018)
• Dean-President of the Cathedral Chapter (since 2021)
• Parish priest of Constantí
• Diocesan catechumenate coordinator
• Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University
• New Testament professor and Vice-Director at INSAF (appointed June 2025)

Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to:

• Fr. Antonio for his spiritual guidance
• Fr. Manel Gasch i Hurios, Abbot of Montserrat, for his hospitality
• The monastic community of Montserrat
• Fr. Victor, for his assistance during the retreat