The Lustral Year begins in Adeje

The people of Adeje once again gathered to pay tribute to the Virgin of La Encarnación, honorary and perpetual mayoress of the town. The procession began at 9am from the Church of Santa Úrsula and made its way to the Church of San Sebastián in La Caleta, where the official proclamation of the Lustral Year took place.

 

On Sunday, 11 May, Adeje residents renewed their devotion to their patron, taking part in the rogativa – or pilgrimage – which this year marked the start of the Lustral celebrations. The route began at the parish church of Santa Úrsula, included eight stops, and ended in San Sebastián.

 

The mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, explained: “Today we walk in step with la Virgen de la Encarnación, keeping alive a very old tradition. In fact, we know that as far back as the 16th century, she and her faithful were already following this path, the Camino de la Virgen. It is a special day because it is also a day of unity, and particularly so this year as we begin our Lustral Year.

 

“We’re setting out on a year-long journey that will conclude with next year’s procession. It will be a good year, during which we’ll roll out a programme focused above all on coming together as a community, on building our shared identity, and on uniting around our patron, la Virgen de la Encarnación, who has protected us for centuries and to whom we have turned since the earliest days of our history.”

 

The mayor went on to say that for the people of Adeje, “la Virgen de la Encarnación represents a bond with our ancestors and embodies the spirit of a welcoming and kind-hearted people. She has always been our point of reference and the symbol of our unity.”