The Cross is processed for the first time from El Buen Pastor Church in Benidorm

Following the celebration of Festa de la Creu i la Cruz de Mayo (May Cross Festival) at Casa de Andalucía (Andalusian House) on May 1st, the commemoration of the May Crosses moved to El Buen Pastor parish on Saturday evening. This parish is home to the Royal Confraternity of Our Lady of Hope and Peace and Our Father Jesus of Health and Humility, where the cross was carried in procession for the first time.

At 7:30 p.m., a mass was held during which the cross was blessed by the parish priest. Afterwards, the cross was carried on the shoulders of the confraternity members.

The event was attended by the Fiestas Councillor, Mariló Cebreros, along with other members of the council, accompanied by the queens of the 2026 Patron Saint Festivities, Laura Ivars and Carmen Guillén, and the president of the Commission, Ramón Cano. Lucho Sánchez, vice president of the Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge, along with brotherhoods and fraternities from Benidorm, as well as other festive and socio-cultural associations, participated in the procession.

The head of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Hope, José Manuel Olvera, recalled that the May Cross “is a very important symbol for our brotherhood.” “What was once,” he explained, “an instrument of death and torture, is now a symbol of joy, and that is what we want to convey to all the people of Benidorm.”

Residents of Campo, Plaza de España, and the city centre escorted the procession along the streets adjacent to El Buen Pastor church, where the brotherhood members were accompanied by 50 musicians from Virgen del Sufragio Musical Group.