Photos: Sergio Betancort
The residents of Tao honored Santa Rita de Casia once again on her saint's day with a mass and subsequent procession that toured the streets surrounding the town's church.
The church opened its doors from the early hours of the morning so that all the pilgrims who arrived from various points of Lanzarote could come, some to thank her and others to ask for a wish, since we must not forget that Santa Rita is the patron saint of the impossible.
At 7:00 p.m., the Holy Mass was celebrated, presided over by the parish priest of Yaiza and Archpriest of Lanzarote, Sixto Álvarez, assisted by Rafael Tejera, parish priest of San Bartolomé. In the homily, Sixto Álvarez recounted in great detail the life of Santa Rita, a woman to whom life did not smile, but who, despite this, dedicated herself body and soul to helping those most in need. The songs for the celebration were interpreted by the parishioners who packed the two naves of the church.
After the Mass, the image of Santa Rita went in procession through the streets surrounding the church, accompanied by the faithful who, throughout the tour, sang songs to the Saint. Upon returning to the church, amidst applause and cheers, the image of Santa Rita crossed the portico of the church.
Next, in the square next to the church that bears the name of the folklorist Juan Quintero, the Cuartero Jaira, formed by José Vicente on the timple, Adrián Níz on the guitar, Ayoze Rodríguez on the clarinet and Carlos Almaguer on the percussion, offered a varied repertoire of Latin and Canarian compositions, while the board of directors of the Sociedad El Fomento de Tao, presided over by the neighbor Rita Martín, served hot chocolate with churros to those present, thus ending the day dedicated to Santa Rita de Casia.
