The neighbours are celebrating the centenary of the arrival of the Virgen de la Inmaculada (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) in their rural area. For this reason, on the 2nd of May (it was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 26th, but following the death of Pope Francis, it has been postponed), they will celebrate a religious ceremony in the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, where a mass will take place, followed by a procession and a Way of the Cross to the Parish of the Inmaculada.
On the 29th of April 1925, the neighbours of Valtocado, led by the school teacher at the time, Genoveva Ferrero, obtained an image of the Virgen de la Inmaculada for this area with the authorisation of the ecclesiastical and civil authorities. The small sculpture, which became known as the Virgen de Valtocado, was installed in a small chapel inside the building that housed the school, the El Cortijuelo house. To receive the image, the neighbours also organise a pilgrimage from the old town hall in the village to the new chapel.
According to the vice-president of the Valtocado neighbourhood association, Antonio Tamayo, "we have a very important date coming up because we want to celebrate the centenary of our Virgin and also of the pilgrimage. We believe it is the oldest documented in the municipality. We want to invite everyone in the municipality to join us in this celebration".
The association will hold a mass at the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña at 20:00 hours, followed by a transfer to the parish church of the Inmaculada Concepción in the gardens of the Muralla, stopping at the Casa Museo. Also at the mass on Sunday 27th there will be a special mention of the image of the Virgen de la Inmaculada de Valtocado.
The mayoress of Mijas met with representatives of the association at the Town Hall on Tuesday to support the event and congratulate the neighbours for their initiative. According to Mata, "this is an unusual event that the neighbours have been able to maintain, it is good that these traditions are preserved because 'Mijas with Soul' represents these traditions. From the Town Hall, as a local authority, we join the actions that the neighbours are going to develop this weekend to commemorate this special event".
Share it with this link: https://mijasint.com/?a=34218