The Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV)** **and the *CEU San Pablo University* held the third edition of Family Week on June 29 and 30, 2026, an initiative linked to the UFV · CEU Master’s in Marriage and Family that brought together experts in the fields of philosophy, education, psychology, and family studies in Madrid.
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Under the theme “The Family: A Gift to Society”, the event took place at both universities and featured lectures, roundtable discussions, and testimonials open to the general public. The sessions addressed issues such as the social value of the family, balancing family and professional life, and the importance of human relationships in a context marked by hyperconnectivity and new forms of isolation.
The first session took place at the Colegio Mayor Universitario de San Pablo, while the second was held at the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, on its Madrid campus.**
La familia como don y fundamento de la sociedad
The event began with an official welcome from Carmen Fernández de la Cigoña, director of the CEU Institute for Family Studies; Carmen Sánchez Maíllo, deputy director of the CEU Institute for Family Studies; and Ondina Vélez Fraga, academic secretary of the CEU Institute for Family Studies.
This was followed by a panel discussion titled “The Family as a Gift: Lives Filled with Gratitude”, moderated by Teresa Díaz Tártalo, a professor at CEU San Pablo University.
The session offered an experiential exploration of the family’s role as a place of welcome, devotion, and gratitude. Through various personal accounts, participants reflected on the power of family ties to transform people’s lives and contribute to a more cohesive society.
The family was presented as an essential setting for personal and community development, where bonds are formed, people learn to care for one another, and relationships are built that contribute to the common good. This perspective served as the framework for a week of educational activities aimed at fostering a broad and open reflection on the challenges families face today.
The presentation “Family, Work, and the Good Life in a Performance-Oriented Society”, delivered by Teresa Pueyo Toquero, a professor at Universitat CEU Abat Oliba, addressed some of the challenges families face in the face of professional demands, the accelerating pace of life, and the difficulty of balancing work, caregiving, and personal development. The presentation invited participants to reflect on what it means to live well in a performance-oriented society and on the role that family relationships play in building a fulfilling life.
El valor de las relaciones en un mundo desconectado
On June 30, the Third Family Week moved to the campus of Francisco de Vitoria University in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid).
The event began with opening remarks by Olivia Eugenia Núñez, coordinator of the Razón Abierta Institute at Francisco de Vitoria University, and Eduardo Navarro Remis, academic director of the Development and the Person Institute at UFV.
Next, Fabrice Hadjadj, a philosopher and essayist, delivered a lecture titled “The Value of Connection in a Disconnected World”. The lecture addressed the importance of rediscovering the value of face-to-face encounters and personal connections in a society characterized by constant digital connectivity and, at the same time, by new forms of distance and isolation.
Following Hadjadj’s lecture, a roundtable discussion titled “The Power of Relationships from a Psychological and Educational Perspective: Keys to Providing Support” took place.
The event featured Clara de Cendra, executive director of the UFV Psychology Counseling Center; Antonio Sastre, educator and professor of philosophy; and Sonia González, a consultant specializing in cultural transformation and coaching. The speakers analyzed the role that relationships play in the processes of education, coaching, and personal development.
Una iniciativa vinculada al Máster en Matrimonio y Familia UFV · CEU
In 2026, Family Week marked its third edition as a forum for education, dialogue, and fellowship centered on marriage, family, and human relationships.
The initiative was part of the UFV · CEU Master’s Program in Marriage and Family, a programme jointly by Francisco de Vitoria University and CEU San Pablo University that addresses the realities of marriage and family from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The program concluded with the presentation of diplomas by Eduardo Navarro Remis and the official closing ceremony, in which Olivia Eugenia Núñez and Carmen Sánchez Maíllo participated.
Through this initiative, which was open to the public, both universities encouraged a rigorous reflection on the value of the family and its contribution to the holistic development of the individual, the strengthening of bonds, and the pursuit of the common good.
