The procession for the 21 of this month, the day on which the greatest day of these religious festivities is remembered, will also be motorized.
Montecristi, MANABÍ
With a motorized proclamation, the fortnight in homage to the Virgin of Monserrate, patron saint of the Montecristi canton, will begin this Friday, November 5, from 5:00 p.m., in the Minor Basilica of that Manabi town.
It will be the first year that this religious festival, the most important in Manabí and one of the most attractive for pilgrims nationwide, takes place for fifteen days, after last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic all activities were held suspended.
In total there will be thirteen floats accompanying this proclamation, which will travel through some 16 streets of Montecristi. The float that will carry the religious image will occupy the seventh place among the participating vehicles.
Marcelo García, parish priest of the minor Basilica of Montecristi, indicated that these festivals will be celebrated with joy and great faith after a year in which only virtual masses were held. “God has granted us the joy of being able to celebrate in person the feast of our Mother of Monserrate. The pandemic is not over, we have to continue taking care of ourselves, and we will do so with all biosecurity measures, “he said.
The COE of Montecristi decided to suspend the festivities for the Virgin of Monserrate
When the tour of the proclamation was known, residents of Pichincha Street, the second route that the proclamation will take after leaving the Minor Basilica, began to clean up sidewalks and curbs, as well as placing banners that will welcome the image as it passes by the sector.
From this Saturday, November 6, the rosary of the Dawn will also begin, which will run until November 21, starting at 05:30.
At least eight daily Masses will be celebrated from this 6th to the 21st of this month. On the 21st, the festive mass will be led by Monsignor Eduardo Castillo, archbishop of Portoviejo, from 11:00, while a motorized procession will depart at 4:00 p.m., without the accompaniment of the parishioners who regularly participated each year before the pandemic.
During this religious festival, the arrival of merchants to Montecristi is also recorded, and this year they will be relocated to Manta Street, west of the city. However, the announcement and distribution of spaces in that artery, one of the most outgoing to other Manabi populations, generated discomfort among several inhabitants, since they consider that they will have difficulties in vehicle mobility to their homes.
It is expected that at least 400 merchants will arrive in Montecristi during these patron saint festivities. (I)
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