The residents of the Valterra neighborhood enjoyed, on the afternoon of this Saturday, the land procession in honor of the Virgen del Carmen.
The seaside neighborhood is celebrating this year the "50th Anniversary of the Creation of the Parish", and the residents already woke up at 7 in the morning with the ringing of bells, the singing of the Salve Marinera and the Rosary of the Aurora through the streets of the neighborhood.
At 7:00 p.m., the celebration of the Holy Mass was held in honor of the Patron Saint of the Sailors with the church packed by the parishioners, some of them, the earliest risers, managed to occupy the first benches, while the latecomers had to stay in the surroundings of the church. Different public figures attended the event, councilors from the Arrecife City Council and councilors from the Cabildo of Lanzarote, highlighting the presence of the mayor, Astrid Pérez, and the president of the Cabildo, María Dolores Corujo.
The Eucharist was presided over by Juan Carlos Medina, who is the parish priest of San Ginés, Archpriest of Lanzarote and Episcopal Vicar of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Graciosa, and was assisted by the seminarian Alejandro Carmona and two altar boys from Valterra. The songs for the celebration were directed by the titular parish priest of Valterra, Nicanor Bermúdez, enlivening them the neighbor Francis Martín, a true professional on the piano to which the Parish Choir and the entire Community also joined.
Once the Solemn Eucharist was finished, the image of Our Lady of Carmen, who was wearing a new mantle this year, went out in procession with the accompaniment of the Unión Musical de Pepe Artiles band, touring several streets of the neighborhood including the shore of the Charco de San Ginés.
Upon returning, in the surroundings of the church, the members of the murga Los Simplones and the members of the Coral Iris del Mar were waiting for her, the two groups united in one voice sang a very emotional prayer to the Virgin, which was greatly applauded by the public. With the chords of the Salve Marinera Ntra. Sra. del Carmen, the virgin made her entrance into the church.