San Bartolomé takes to the streets in procession on the big day of its festivities

PHOTOS: Sergio Betancort.

The residents of San Bartolomé wore their best clothes this Friday to celebrate the Patron Saint on his Saint's Day. At 12:00 noon, as is tradition in the town, the celebration of the Holy Mass began, presided over by Juan Carlos Medina, parish priest of Siete Palmas in Gran Canaria, and assisted by ten fellow priests from different parishes. Juan Carlos Medina was also responsible for preaching the homily dedicated to the life of the apostle Saint Bartholomew, the liturgical chants corresponding to the celebration were sung by the municipal choir directed by Carmen Siverio.

As happens every year, the church facilities were too small to accommodate so many parishioners from different parts of our island. After the Holy Mass, the processional route began. When the image of San Bartolomé crossed the portico of the church, the public that crowded the square received him with a prolonged round of applause and at the same time a thunderous firecracker was heard.

The procession began its journey through the main streets of the town, headed by the municipal band followed by the image of the Patron Saint Bartholomew and after the image the officiating priests followed by the municipal, civil and military authorities headed by the mayor Mª Dolores Corujo and all the neighbors who accompanied the Saint until his return to the church where a peal of bells sounded while the image of San Bartolomé made its entrance back into the church.