JJack Valero, author and communication specialist, presented Opus Dei unfiltered in two meetings held at the Pilar and Cerrito headquarters of the Universidad AustralThe event in Pilar began with remarks from Dr. Fernando Iúdica, medical director of the Austral University Hospital, while the presentation in Cerrito was given by Arturo Fitz Herbert, director of the School of Postgraduate Studies in Communication at the Universidad Austral.
The meeting at the Pilar Campus featured With the participation of Agustín Garmendia, Anita Nellar, and Matheus Siqueira, protagonists of some of the stories compiled in the publication. The conversation was moderated by Fernando Ruiz, professor at the Faculty of Communication. Both activities were jointly organized by the Universidad Austral, the Austral University Hospital and the Communication Office of Opus Dei Región del Plata.
The book compiled eighteen testimonies from people of different countries, professions, and social backgrounds. Through these experiences, Valero sought to answer some of the questions and perceptions that existed about Opus Dei from the concrete lives of those who were part of the institution.
During the conversation, the author explained that writing the book had allowed him to connect with very diverse realities and understand how the same vocation had manifested itself in different ways. In that sense, he described the publication as a “mosaic of imperfect people” who sought to live their faith in everyday life “with freedom and love.”
Valero also noted that some stories had particularly moved him because they reflected experiences marked by pain, hardship, and the search for meaning. Learning about these lives had allowed him to discover how love and faith had been embodied in the concrete reality and imperfection of each person.
Meanwhile, during the meeting in Pilar, Agustín Garmendia, Anita Nellar, and Matheus Siqueira shared their personal journeys and recounted how their encounter with faith and Opus Dei had enriched their lives. Their testimonies reflected diverse experiences, marked by friendship, vocation, personal searching, and the desire to find a path capable of providing meaning and fulfillment.
Another central theme of the presentation was communication. Drawing on his experience as Director of Communications for Opus Dei in the United Kingdom and founder of Catholic Voices, Valero addressed the prejudices and filters that had often hindered direct understanding of the institution. In this context, he argued that controversies could also become opportunities to listen, engage in dialogue, and clearly explain one's beliefs.
In that regard, he emphasized the importance of speaking from one's own identity, without diluting one's convictions and with a genuine willingness to engage. "We need to talk more and talk better," he affirmed, referring to the challenge of communicating the faith, the Church, and Opus Dei both in the media and in everyday interactions.
This meeting offered an opportunity to learn more about Opus Dei through real, diverse, and imperfect stories. The conversation between the author, the people involved, and the moderator highlighted the importance of listening, personal testimony, and open communication as ways to overcome prejudice and foster deeper dialogue.
