“I have worked in many parts of the world, but never in my life have I seen such abandonment by the authorities”. This is how the parish priest of Guatiza summarizes the situation that the town's church is experiencing, which on Sunday suffered another collapse of part of a wall. “With the cement that fell, we survived by a miracle”, he says.
Now, after years of suffering from leaks that are damaging the structure, and a last month in which they have already had several incidents, he warns that he will close the parish if necessary. “I don't want to do it, but if the time comes to do it, I will. I am already half desperate and what I want is for people, who come to church with their children, to be calm and without scares like these”, he says.
Matías Gula arrived at this parish three years ago and there were already problems with humidity and leaks. “I had to put a plastic”, he recalls. Since then, and especially in the last year, he began to address the Teguise City Council, but regrets that he has only received promises. “That they give you a positive answer like 'count on me' is not an answer. Someone who respects me and wants to help me asks how, where, at what time, who has to come, what do they have to do...?".
In addition, the parish has also contacted the Heritage area of the Cabildo, but they did not receive solutions either. “They said that when things calm down with the pandemic, we'll see”, he explains, lamenting that “everyone tells you yes, but then they don't do anything”.
Meanwhile, the situation has worsened in recent weeks. A little over ten days ago, crystals from the tower fell on the altar - “first they came off and then the wind finished everything”-, and this Sunday, just after mass, a piece of wall. “Luckily it didn't fall on the other side, because the violinist and singer were still there”, says the parish priest.
“I can't touch anything”
“I could ask people of good faith to help me repair it, but I can't touch anything”, he emphasizes, recalling that they need permission from Heritage for any intervention.
According to him, they tried to do it “officially” some time ago, but they asked them for 7,000 euros just to write the project, which is what they should present to Heritage to receive authorization. “I am not going to hire someone to make me a budget that may not be accepted later”, he points out, also noting that they do not have their own resources. “That parish has 1,500 euros in the account. Now with the virus, we are paying for the gel and little else to maintain the church”.
Regarding the Diocese of the Canary Islands, which is actually the one listed as the owner of the property, the parish priest says that he already spoke with them in his day, “but then things were not so serious”. Now, he points out that they are going to get involved. “The vicar invited us to do it on our own. Make a budget and process it through the Diocese”, he explains, pointing out that an architect is going to go this Tuesday to evaluate the work that would be necessary, to do it “urgently before the rains begin”.
However, he believes that public administrations “should collaborate”. “If they consider it heritage, it is the responsibility of both the Cabildo and the City Council to maintain it. This belongs to the people. The church belongs to the people, it is not mine. If I leave, I'm not going to take anything. It is something of historical value for a town, whether you are a believer or not”, he defends, questioning that politicians only go “to take the photo” on the day of the festivities.
After the last episode on Sunday, the parish priest decided to send a message to his parishioners informing them of the situation. “For three years I have been knocking on all the doors and no one helps us or does justice. In case something more serious happens (God forbid), I want you all to know what is happening”, he says in that letter, in which he also warns of the possibility of “having to close the church” if the situation is not resolved.
