Xavier: “We believe that the Lord gave us a special grace, and we're not worthy of it. But He has given us this blessing nonetheless. He gave us the grace to live in harmony: 3 families living together in normal life is impossible. But I think it's a grace from God to show that it is possible to live in community.”
Mercedes: “I wouldn't change my life for a family that had healthy children, but didn't have a relationship with Jesus. I'd never change it for that. These difficulties, for me personally, have made me feel very poor. And in this poverty, I have found the greatness of God. And in these kids I've found the tenderness of God in a very profound way. When I worry about something, because as you know life is full of many worries, I go to be close to the kids, especially to the little one, and I encounter the consolation of God, this tenderness, through them. And to me, it lifts me up and I find peace. For me, these are the blessings. I would like to have my children healthy, but after this reality of knowing the Lord's will, I wouldn't change my life for anything.”
Just outside of Barcelona, in the Spanish town of Granollers, a special ministry has blossomed. One that touches both heart and soul.
Mercedes: “At the moment of prayer with the Pope, I felt an overwhelmingly strong presence of God in my heart. After the Pope prayed, he said, 'These are the men that are closer to God.' And there I felt a new task, an inner challenge, and I felt a strong call to be close to the poor and the defenseless, always close to God.”
In our age, when many people would like to ignore, forget, or rid the world of those with handicaps, the Quincoces stand apart, because for them, and for countless others whom they have met, they know the special bond of love that so readily forms with people who suffer physical or mental anguish. Mercedes and Xavier have 2 handicapped children. For many years it was a burden to them. They did not understand why God had given them these children who suffered so greatly, and their lives seemed empty. But ironically, it was because of their first child, Claudia, that they came to experience a deeper understanding of God.
Xavier: “We were Catholic when we married, and we believed in God, but it wasn't a deep understanding of our faith. But through our daughter Claudia we met Christ in a strong way, because we met Him through the weaknesses of this small child. He's been manifested again through the weakness of the little ones. It's a reason to give thanks to God, even if it sounds strange. We can give thanks to God through these difficulties of our children. And to those fathers that have this heavy cross, this tough difficulty, for them it could also be the motivation of salvation, as it was for us.”
Another very unique aspect of their lives is the fact that they share their home with 2 other families: young newlyweds and a family with 6 children of their own — the ultimate experience in community living.
Mercedes: “I feel very happy in the sharing of our lives with other families. I have never felt unloved. We live here in harmony and that can only come from God. It's a way to support one another, and I feel companionship, and I think that with this we're fulfilling Jesus' call to us concretely.”
One common thread is their mutual Catholicity. The families pray together each morning and talk openly about problems and difficulties before they escalate.
Mercedes: “We feel the peace because we're giving our lives in this way. It seems that when the Lord calls you in a strong way, is to call you to give your life. And I feel happy in this. Nothing else is important.”
Once the family opened their hearts, and accepted the gifts He had given them, a whole new world blossomed. With their “open door” policy, they were soon assisting many other parents, who also had family members who were handicapped. From this, 12 years ago, they started a prayer group to bring everyone together. It soon grew into a community, and today is a parish. Their one special outreach is to handicapped persons, and, with the assistance of those who share their life, they organize camps for disabled children and retreats for the community.
Xavier: “Our house is the center where many get support. We're responsible for the community and many people come here for the experience we're having here. The results are evident, because through this door many have come to know God.”
Xavier Quincoces
“Through our daughter Claudia we met Christ in a strong way.”
Mercedes Quincoces
“I would like to have my children healthy, but after this reality of knowing the Lord's will, I wouldn't change my life for anything.”
Xavier Quincoces
“…through this door many have come to know God.”
