Last Tuesday, the town of Tiagua, in the municipality of Teguise, paid tribute to its Patron Saint, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, on a day marked by devotion, tradition and a deep sense of belonging to roots that remain alive.
At 6:00 p.m., locals and visitors gathered in the small 17th-century church, the spiritual heart of the town. The Solemn Eucharist was presided over by the parish priest and son of the town, Rafael Tejera Parrilla, who accompanies this long-awaited celebration every year. As usual, the only nave of the temple was not enough to accommodate the multitude of faithful who came to share this special moment.
The liturgical chants were performed by the Parish Choir, whose dedication and sensitivity added solemnity and beauty to the ceremony. The emotion of those present could be felt in every prayer, in every gaze directed at the image of the Virgin, and in the collective recollection of a united town.
After the Eucharist, the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was carried on the shoulders of the locals themselves, along the main road of the town, near the church. On its route, it was received with respect and emotion by those present, passing under an arch adorned with palm trees, flowers and flags, carefully made by the members of the festival committee, in a gesture that recovers a tradition that their grandparents and parents once practiced.
Upon returning to the temple, the Virgin was awaited by an emotional musical tribute by the Guagime Folk Group, from the nearby town of Tahíche, who offered their particular offering by interpreting the most representative of Lanzarote folklore: folías, seguidillas and isas, which filled the atmosphere with identity and collective memory.
One of the most emotional moments of the afternoon was the recitation of a heartfelt and endearing poem by the neighbor Angelita, a woman with a prodigious memory who, as every year, dedicated her verses to the Virgin with words that touched the hearts of all those present. Her speech was widely applauded with loud applause and cheers, in a gesture of gratitude and admiration.
With great devotion and amid expressions of affection, the image of the Virgin returned to the interior of her house, thus closing a deeply significant day for the residents of Tiagua.
Once again, the town of Tiagua demonstrated its commitment to faith and traditions, keeping them alive with pride, so that they continue to pass from generation to generation as an essential part of their identity.