The Brotherhood of Jesús Vivo, Nuestra Señora de La Paz and Nuestra Señora de La Piedad kept with tradition and celebrated the anniversary of the Virgen de La Paz, patron saint of Las Lagunas, in style, with a full weekend of activities marked by this festivity. 

The big day was celebrated on Sunday 26th of January with an extraordinary procession which exceptionally travelled through very unusual neighbourhoods, places and corners. The float of the Virgen de La Paz travelled through the lower part of Lagunas, the neighbourhood of Los Santos, where numerous neighbours awaited her with great affection and devotion. On this occasion, a special float, lent by the brothers of the Cristo de Medinaceli.

 

Despite initial weather forecasts, nothing prevented the Virgen de La Paz from going out to meet her faithful in Las Lagunas. As planned, the procession departed from her brotherhood headquarters on Avenida de Los Lirios, went down this avenue and crossed under the motorway bridge to take Avenida de Mijas. The procession was made up of members of the Jesús Vivo brotherhood, representatives of the corporation and also brothers and members of other brotherhoods, both from Mijas and Fuengirola. The procession turned down Calle La Unión and passed through the oldest and most traditional streets of Las Lagunas and the neighbourhood of Los Santos. There it received several 'petaladas' (petal tossings) which provoked the emotion and joy of those present.

 

Tribute

A special moment was the tribute to the first women and faithful who managed to bring the Virgin to Las Lagunas and start the tradition. One of them, María ‘La Bota’, was moved by the gesture of the brotherhood and recalled its beginnings. "We have fought hard for this neighbourhood and to bring the Virgin. There was nothing here and a group of mothers had to take courage and fight to give our children the best future. We wanted and needed a church, and we got it".

 

Bosco Rivas, president of Jesús Vivo, said that this is a very emotional day, we are all very excited. We have made a great effort for this celebration, organising and preparing it with great affection and devotion. We wanted to pay tribute to Remedios and María for their fight for this brotherhood and their dedication over so many years". 

The procession, now with good weather and sunshine, took San Cristóbal street again to cross back under the motorway until it reached at the gardens of the parish of San Manuel González. 

 

Once in the church, there was no shortage of cheers for the patron saint, as well as the special marches that the Las Lagunas Music Group had prepared for this extraordinary procession. The end of the festivities was very joyful with a paella for all those present.  

Assessments

The mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), together with other members of the government team, wanted to accompany the Virgen de La Paz and was part of the procession. The mayoress said that "I was especially delighted with the tribute to the founding women of the brotherhood. I want to thank the group for this celebration and all the women who started this tradition, which is so important for Las Lagunas. Thanks to them we can continue to have these traditions".

 

For his part, the first deputy mayor, Juan Carlos Cuevas Dawson (Vox), was excited to experience such intense moments. He also stressed the importance of "supporting this so that this tradition lasts for many years and so that young people continue to do it because it is beautiful".

Juan Carlos Maldonado (PMP), second deputy mayor, also wanted to "thank the great work of the brotherhood and added that we will continue to work together to consolidate this neighbourhood as what it is, great and strong with its traditions and its patron saint".

Several PSOE councillors accompanied the Virgen de La Paz on such a special day. The councillor and spokesman of the municipal group Josele González said that "it has been an honour to participate in this celebration of the 40th anniversary. I congratulate the brotherhood for their good work and for their decision to walk through the old part of Las Lagunas, the most traditional part".

 

Bosco Rivas, president of the brotherhood, thanked the work of all those who made this special procession possible. "I would like to thank the Local Police, Civil Protection, the Town Hall for their work and the collaboration of all the bearers and brothers and sisters".  

Tribute Mass and transfer 

On Saturday 25th the events commemorating the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the Virgen de La Paz in Las Lagunas began. In the church of San Manuel González a solemn Eucharist was held in honour of the Virgin and patron saint of Las Lagunas. After the religious celebration, everything was ready for the beginning of the transfer of the Patron Saint on its float from the church to the brotherhood headquarters, on one of the sides of the building. 

 

The parish priest, Manuel Jímenez, highlighted "the history of this brotherhood, with 40 years behind it. We have been making preparations for many days". The parish priest also received the medal of the brotherhood for which he was very grateful. 

 

During the transfer, a song composed by Abraham Valle, composed especially for this occasion, was also sung. Valle said he was "very proud of this collaboration".

 

The councillor of the government team Juan José Torres Trella (PP), who attended this transfer, stressed that "the Town Hall supports all the associations of the municipality and, in this case, the brotherhood on such a special date as this 40th anniversary. I hope we can celebrate another 40 years".

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