Your Welfare Fund XI

The convent of Santa Cruz de Vallacarca was built by Gabriel Brunet. An expert mason. It must have been completed during the year 1861. Main house for the congregation. The Founder's dream. The building was erected a short distance from the Sisters' home. Some close to the father. To the master. The presence of Father François brought them security, of course!

Once the chapel was built, it became the religious centre of the neighbourhood. Thanks to them the neighbours declared, the spiritual renewal of the surroundings. Desire and purpose of the community. A desired and well thought-out success. Sta. Cruz, the residence of Fr. Palau, when he was free from his ministerial duties. Clever!

The important battles against evil - our Founder declared - took place in the big cities. His battles would have this setting: Horta. He considered S. Honorato and Ibiza as deserts. In them he could live strong times of solitude. Of encounter with God. In rest and calm, yes. Barcelona is something else: a battlefield, that's how he saw it!

Father Palau described the dwelling: a room, six cells, a church with its choir and three altars. And he added: I live in the cave. Next to the hermitage, yes. Things are looking good here. Four years after its inception, the community became a centre of action. In favour of the excluded, Palau's dream and Calvary!

From 1865 onwards, the project encountered serious obstacles. These came, above all, from his work as an exorcist. From other private interests, too: the complex dels PenitentsNo wonder! For the place was very attractive and the foundation suffered a delicate mishap!

Later, the arrests of the inhabitants of the hospital took place. -At the end of 1870. This made it difficult for him to keep the place as he had designed it: the focal point of his founding work. A pity!

The Horta lands have always been a cause of contradiction and suffering. First for Father Palau. Then for his daughters. For one or the other, it was always a privileged place.

On the other hand, the new law on public instruction (1857) opened a decisive stage in the nation's education. It regulated the awarding of teaching qualifications. A new measure in favour of the country. Neglected in the field of education, as in others! Father Palau studied the new laws, his goal being the creation of Catholic schools. He directed his women's foundations towards them. This man was always on the frontiers!

The group in the suburb of Santa Catalina, Palma de Mallorca, was the first foundation of Brothers, open to religious education. At primary level. Four of them took this direction in 1865. For this purpose, the community of S. Honorato was broken up. Father Palau saw in this new proposal the practical solution to his deepest desires. It was what he was looking for at the time: the link between contemplative and apostolic life. Some had the title of magisterium. Others were in charge of it. The Founder encouraged them to do so. Let us applaud all those involved! This will be one of the most flourishing communities.

It followed the pattern of the previous one, that of the Vendrell -Tarragona-. The promoter of this community, it seems, was Ildefonso Gatell. Former companion of our Founder in the School of Virtue. Director of the "Revista Católica", later. Always a personal friend of the Founder. He was opposed by the local authorities. In 1869 there were already Brothers there. With the title of magisterium. The process of incardination accelerated. Produced by the foundation of the Sisters. In the same year, yes, they were always in the vanguard! This was one of the best-formed communities of the male branch.

Another foundation, of which we know little, took place in Mahon -Menorca-. In the orphanage. It was offered by a male group from Barcelona to the community of Palma. We do not know the rest of the information about it.

The Aitona was the culmination of the men's foundations, carried out during the lifetime of Fr. He wanted to offer his people a magnificent gift: to increase culture. With the foundations, he intensified it. Of course, an excellent gift for this man! The Brothers were preceded by a group of Sisters. They ploughed the roads. Their task: education of children. Father Palau, tireless in detecting the fundamental needs of the environment. To stimulate what was already good. To prolong, after him, this important ecclesial and social service.