With the proclamation of María del Pino Pérez, the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Las Nieves officially began in the mountains of Teguise. These festivities bring together many Catholic believers every year to participate in the praying of the Holy Rosary, Mass and Procession to honor the Virgin of Las Nieves, who also holds the title of Patron Saint of Lanzarote since 1725.
The proclaimer María del Pino Pérez, a woman very committed to the church, began her proclamation describing the important role that the Virgin Mary has had since creation as the mother of Jesus and mother of all Catholics who have followed in her footsteps. The proclaimer spoke of "The Mountain in Festivities", the festival with a meaning as a contrast to the ordinary rhythm of life, as a playful and joyful counterpoint after the hardness of work and the efforts of daily life. The festival, certainly, is a necessity of the human being and a vital necessity of the peoples. Pérez also recalled when in times of drought and other plagues, the image of Our Lady of Las Nieves descended in procession passing through the hermitage of San José until reaching Teguise. Place where the novenas were offered to ask her to make the rains appear and cease the plagues that plagued the fields and the sick recovered their health.
Mª del Pino, born in El Tablero de Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, moved to Lanzarote in 1986 to work as a teacher. She was always very clear from her student days to settle in Lanzarote and make it possible in Teguise. A dream that came true. In Teguise she is very integrated, considering herself one more among her neighbors and friends. In the reading of her proclamation, María del Pino had her parents, siblings and grandparents very present, also mentioning some of the colleagues with whom she shared during her studies from the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, of whom she has very good memories.
The proclaimer in her extensive proclamation, told many anecdotes and experiences that at the end the public that completely filled the capacity of the hermitage rewarded her with a strong and warm applause. At the end she was presented with a bouquet of flowers.
Next, the celebration of the Holy Mass began, presided over by the parish priest of Teguise Matias Gula, who was assisted by Miguel Ángel Sosa. The songs for the celebration were interpreted by the parishioners accompanied by the musical chords of Fefo Pérez on the guitar and Diego on the violin. At the end of the Holy Mass, the parishioners were able to enjoy the performance of the "Dúo Pasarellas", formed by Melba Ártiles on the piano and Iya Zmaeva on the violin, who performed several compositions of the sacred genre.
On Monday, August 5, the feast of Las Nieves, there will be Mass of Pilgrims at 8 and 10 in the morning and at 12.00 noon Solemn Eucharist presided over by Miguel Hernández Suárez Archpriest of Lanzarote and parish priest of San Ginés and later procession with the image of Las Nieves.
