In the afternoon, on Monday, January 14, the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa arrived in Valencia on the Turia river on the coast of the Mediteranean Sea.
On the way to the city the Mother of God stopped at the school of “el Vedat” in Torrente (9 kms from Valencia). The students had an opportunity to meet Her and pray for a while.
In the evening at 5.30PM the “Life Mobile” with its lights on drove along the main streets of the city with the city police escort, which lasted about one hour. The people on the streets had a possibility to meet the Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, and She attracted the eyes as it was beautiful with the lights which were flashing with golden colour.
At 6.45 PM the Mother of God came to Casa-Cuna Santa Isabel (the house of St Isabel), which is the home of single mothers run by the pro-life movement in Valencia. Here Our Lady of Częstochowa, who is after all the Queen of Poland, was awaited by a group of Poles in traditional Polish folk costumes. To welcome the Icon they sang Marian songs in Polish, and also known in Spain “The Black Madonna”. The Icon was carried to the chapel and placed on a podium covered with the Polish flag and surrounded with white and red flowers, heart-shaped at the portrait of the Holy Father, blessed John Paul II.
The Mother of God was welcomed by Fr Czesław Piela, the chaplain of the Polish Catholic Community of John Paul II in Valencia, run by the Missionaries of the Society of Christ for the Polish Emigration. First he spoke in Polish and next in Spanish, explaining the idea of the peregrination “From Ocean to Ocean” in defence of life and the contribution of the Częstochowa Icon to the history of Poland.
At 7PM the Holy Mass was celebrated. In the homily the preacher spoke about the significance and role of pro-life movements and associations. He stressed the immense role of lay people in carrying out these works.
At 10PM a prayer vigil started. It was organised by the Polish Community. There was the exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament and prayer throughout the night. Father Czesław prayed in two languages, Polish and Spanish.
In the morning of the 15th of January the vigil finished at 6.45 by saying the Matins together with the Sisters – the Servants of the Passion of the Lord. Next the school children from the neighbourhood came to pay homage to the Mother of God.
At 1.30 PM the Częstochowa Icon was driven to the University Church – Temple, where an individual adoration was held first, and later, at 7.30 PM the Holy Rosary for the defence of life and family was said and next the Holy Mass was celebrated.
At 8.30 PM, after the ceremonial farewell Our Lady of Częstochowa in Her Icon went by ferry to Majorca and Ibiza.