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Pere Tarrés i Claret was born in Manresa on May 30, 1905 and died in Barcelona on August 31, 1950.
In only 45 years, he accomplished a very meaningful task, an intense and fruitful ministry in/ relating to the three most important aspects in his life: medicine, leading young people and priesthood.
From 1926 to 1939, he became a renown doctor and a keen expert in human nature, able to easily connect body and spirit, valuing people, whom he always treated kindly.
During Spanish Civil War he acted as a field doctor for the Republican Army, seeing a large number of wounded men at different battles, such as the battle of Valadredo, where the tragic circumstances and precarious means available made of his work as a doctor a heroic act.
From 1931 to 1936, he was one of the leaders of the Catalan Federation of Young Christian (FJOC), where he did a remarkable job of leadership and training at public events and meetings with members. During the time when priests were being executed in Barcelona and as a result of his active militancy he was persecuted and this fact forced him to remain hidden for a year.
FJOC's ideals are embodied in Dr. Tarrés' articles in Flama magazine, ideals which he shared and did much to transmit to young people. His writings cleverly spread Human and Christian values, in a vivid language.
Pere Tarrès was ordained priest in May 1942 and he accepted with great humility and spirit of service all the priestly duties entrusted to him. He was Vicar of Sant Esteve de Sesrovires where he worked to renew A.C.'s aspirantship.
He was always able to combine prayers and deeds. Thus, he lead an extraordinarily dynamic and meaningful life, a life full of enthusiasm and confidence which he transmitted to all those who knew him.
Together with his friend Dr. Gerard Manresa, a renowned and highly competent specialist in tuberculosis, he founded the hospital Clínica Sanatori de la Mare de Déu de la Mercè in 1947, placed in the building which nowadays is the headquarters of the Pere Tarrés Foundation and in which many families without resources affected by tuberculosis and other infectious diseases were treated.
In 1949, he was appointed Member of the Board of the Catholic School of Social Workers, where he also worked as a teacher.
