Romana

Founded at the initiative of St. Josemaria and attached to the Complutense University, more than 3,000 residents have passed through this university residence and thousands of other students have attended activities organized there.

Colegio Mayor Moncloa opened in September 1943, in continuity with the university residences of Ferraz (1934-1936) and Jenner (1939-1943), which were begun by the founder of Opus Dei. The spirit that St. Josemaría imprinted on these first residences has led to the birth of hundreds of university institutions throughout the world.

On February 16, the main event for the 75th anniversary was held for residents, former residents and their families. The celebration began with Holy Mass presided over by Msgr. Ramón Herrando, Vicar of Opus Dei in Spain; Rev. Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, Vicar of the Madrid-West Delegation of Opus Dei; and former chaplains or residents who have been ordained priests.

In his homily, Bishop Herrando stressed the need to be grateful to God for all that has been accomplished there in the 75 years of its history. He said they should also be grateful to many other people who made all this possible, beginning with St. Josemaría, and so many others who worked at the Moncloa residence, including the first two chaplains, Rev. José María Hernandez Garnica and Rev. José Luis Múzquiz, whose processes of beatification have begun. He said their gratitude should also extend to the first women who worked in the Administration and who strove to give it its characteristic family air, including Dora del Hoyo, whose processes of beatification has been opened, and Guadalupe Ortiz de Landázuri, who was beatified on May 18, 2019.

At the end of the Mass, Pablo Martínez Ávila, the current director of the residence, read the letter that the Prelate of Opus Dei had sent on the occasion of this celebration.

More than 600 people attended the ceremony. It concluded with words from Daniel Arenas, head of the board of trustees, who announced the creation of the new association of former residents: MAR (Moncloa Antiguos Residentes).