Benidorm venerates the Mare de Déu del Sofratge with a mass at l’Aigüera

Julio Iglesias Auditorium in l’Aigüera Park has hosted this morning the first of the two religious events that will be held in Benidorm after the cancellation of the 2020 Festes Majors Patronals, due to the pandemic caused by Covid-19.

Without reaching the expected capacity, according to the protocols dictated by the health authorities, 430 people have participated in the mass concelebrated by the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante diocese, Jesús Murgui and the parish priest of the Church of Sant Jaume and Santa Anna , Juan Antonio González, among others.

Among the attendees, the mayor, Toni Pérez, and the Fiestas councilor, Jesús Carrobles, accompanied by practically all of the municipal corporation; the national deputy, Agustín Almodóbar; and the autonomic deputy, Manuel Pérez Fenoll. Also in attendance were Queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Paula Pérez and Sofía Fuster, flanked by their courts of honor; and the presidents of the Comissió, and the Associació de Penyes ‘Verge del Sofratge’, Batiste Rostoll and Adrián Romero.

Today it has been a sad act due to the cancellation of the festivities and the health and economic crisis that society is experiencing. During the mass there were words of encouragement to those who have suffered from the disease and of remembrance to those who have lost their lives due to the tragedy. “I want to make an act of faith - said the bishop - in the human quality and courage of our people. Sure we will go out, it will cost, but surely we will. Much encouragement".

For his part, Juan Antonio González thanked the City Council for the support for the event. "In the parish we would not have been able," he pointed out and because of "the magnificent setting" prepared for the occasion that has allowed the congregation of the faithful to maintain all the required sanitary measures.

After the Eucharist, the traditional cry of "Visca la Mare de Déu del Sofratge i visca Benidorm" repeated by all those present brought the ceremony to an end. Tomorrow, Monday, at 11.30 am, the second of the religious acts will take place on the same stage, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Sant Jaume. The doors will open from 10.00 in the morning, although the mass will begin at 11.30.