With the first light of dawn last Wednesday, pilgrims arrived throughout the day at the sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows to fulfill the tradition. Some came to thank the Virgin, and others to ask for help. However, this year the requests were practically unanimous: just as she stopped the volcanoes, now let her stop this pandemic so that we can recover the long-awaited normality.
As on this occasion the Solemn Eucharist could not be celebrated in the square as it was customary in previous years, the parish priest of San Roque, Juan Antonio Artiles scheduled three Eucharists. These were held at 09:00, 10:30 and 17:00 hours, so that the pilgrims could participate in them, as the capacity inside the sanctuary was greatly reduced and thus comply with health regulations.
At 19:00 the Solemn Eucharist began, presided for the first time by the new Bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, Monsignor José Mazuelos Pérez, assisted by the Vicars General, Cristóbal Déniz and Hipólito Cabrera, as well as the priests of the island. The songs for the celebration were enlivened by the collaborators of the parish communities of Teguise, Guatiza and Tinajo. In the homily, the new bishop encouraged the parishioners present not to lose hope, and now more than ever, to face the current situation, because "a man without hope does not advance nor has the strength to continue forward".
The bishop also thanked the important role of the authorities and volunteers, attending to so many families who have had, and are having, a very bad time due to the current situation. In addition, he also highlighted the extraordinary help they provide to migrants who arrive on our islands.
Before the end of the celebration, the Vicar General, Hipólito Cabrera, introduced the new priests who from now on will be in charge of the parishes of San Ginés, San Bartolomé, Tinajo, Tías and Yaiza, thanking those who are going to other parishes of Gran Canaria for their work and dedication during the years carried out in Lanzarote, with words of gratitude and blessing to those present.
The Band 'Peña de San Roque' put the musical finishing touch to the day
The bishop, José Mazuelos Pérez, concluded the Solemn Eucharist, which was also attended by the island authorities, which were presided over by the president of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, the president of the Cabildo María Dolores Corujo, the mayor of Tinajo, Jesús Machín, and other political representatives of the island.
Next, the image of Our Lady of Sorrows went out in procession to the portico of the sanctuary where she was received with applause and cheers by the crowd that was in the surroundings of the sanctuary. Immediately afterwards, the music band Peña de San Roque de Tinajo, directed by Professor Orlando Morales, which also had the collaboration of fellow musicians from the municipal bands of Yaiza, Tías and San Bartolomé, performed two processional compositions: "Niceto Mateos" and "Saeta".
With this musical finishing touch, the festival in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows came to an end, with the illusion and the hope that next year it can be celebrated with total normality.
