El Rocío Brotherhood awards its medal to its new president, Francisco Forques Sedeño”

Nuestra Señora del Rocío Brotherhood of Benidorm held a Mass and the presentation of the presidential medal this Saturday afternoon to the organisation’s new president, Francisco Forques Sedeño, who succeeds Jesús Malumbres. The ceremony took place at the Nuestra Señora de la Almudena Parish Church, the Brotherhood’s canonical headquarters.

The event was attended by Mayor Toni Pérez, together with several members of the Municipal Corporation; the Queens of the Festes Majors Patronals, Laura Ivars and Carmen Guillem; the president of the Comissió, Ramón Cano; members of the Brotherhood; and representatives of other local and provincial festive and religious organisations.

The ceremony began with a Mass celebrated by the parish priest of La Almudena, Pedro Crespo. This was followed by the blessing and presentation of the presidential medal to Francisco Forques, who addressed those in attendance, assuring them that this year “we will work with great faith and devotion”, before thanking “everyone and the Virgin of El Rocío”.

Outgoing president Jesús Malumbres also addressed the gathering, expressing his gratitude “to my board of directors, who have dedicated a great deal of effort, and without whom this would not have been possible, and to all the members of the Brotherhood”.

The final speaker was the Mayor, who, in a brief address, thanked Malumbres “for all his work and effort” and said that “the change of presidency is a very important moment because it represents the continuity of the Brotherhood”. “Benidorm needs you; the city needs those who dedicate themselves to doing good,” he concluded.

The event ended with the singing of a traditional Rocío Salve and a reception held in the parish church’s lower-level facilities.