Where is Jeff? June 29

The Rev. Jeff Bower is following the Ignatian Camino in Spain from June 2-30. Jeff started this week in Igualada, a city located on the left bank of the Anoia River and western end of the Igualada-Barcelona Railway. It is a rich agricultural and wine producing region. The city consists of an old town, founded in the 11th century with narrow and irregular streets and the remains of a fortress and ramparts, plus a new town surrounding with wide streets and fine houses. Next he was on to Manresa which is located in the central region of Catalonia. It is an industrial area with textile, metallurgical and glass industries. The houses of the town are arranged around the basilica of Santa Maria de la Sue. St Ignatius stopped here on his way back from Monserrat in 1522. He also read in solitude in a cave near the town for a year which contributed to the formation of his spiritual exercises. Manresa has a humid subtropical climate with cold winters and hot, moderately dry summers. Next, was Montserrat! It is a multipeaked mountain range near Barcelona, and the site of the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat. Montserrat means serrated which describes the peculiar aspects of the rock formations which are visible from a great distance. It was designated as a national park in 1987.
Jeff will spend his remaining time in Barcelona before returning home. Barcelona is the largest city of Catalonia located on the north east coast of Spain; it is home to 5.3 million people. Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is an important cultural center. The contemplation for the fourth week of the pilgrimage is on how Christ, our Lord, appeared to our Lady.