The pilgrimage planned for Sunday, October 18 in La Cala de Mijas was not held due to the orange alert for rain. Instead, the parish hosted a pilgrim mass with the San José de Fuengirola rociero choir that was completely full.
The Santa Teresa pilgrimage, which was to close the La Cala de Mijas festivities on Sunday, October 18, could not be held due to the orange alert for rain. The parish group decided to suspend the transfer of the image to Los Olivos park and the gathering planned there. Instead, the La Cala parish hosted a pilgrimage mass that was completely full, with the San José de Fuengirola rociero choir in the background. The pilgrimage mass was scheduled for 11:00.
A massive street party
On Saturday, October 17, the traditional verbena was held in Los Olivos park, where a bar was set up by the parish group. The verbena began at 13:00. La Porrita and the group Alejados performed, and the children's kings of the festivities were chosen: Emma Martín and Manuel Rodríguez. The choosing of the children's kings took place in the afternoon, at 19:00, and those who wanted to take part could sign up that same Saturday from 17:00. The bar service had a charitable purpose: raising funds to cover the expenses of next year's Holy Week, as explained by the president of the parish group, Belén Guerra.
The big day had been Thursday, October 15, with the mass, the floral offering and the procession of the patron saint through the streets of the La Cala district, as reported by this portal in its October 16 edition.
The organization of the events is the responsibility of the brotherhoods of La Cala de Mijas, which share the program through Mijas Comunicación.
The mass on Thursday, October 15, was held at 19:30 in the parish and was followed by the traditional floral offering from the Ayuntamiento, the groups and the neighborhood, and by the blessing of the children born this year. Afterwards, the image of the patron saint toured the streets of La Cala accompanied by the Banda de Música de Mijas.
The park, prepared for the occasion
The government team councillor Daniel Gómez Teruel noted that Los Olivos park had been tidied up for the street party: complete cleaning, repair of the barbecues, painting and decoration of the pavilion with flowers, and tilling and planting of the tree pits. Gómez Teruel was accompanied by the Popular Party councillors Mario Bravo and Marco Cortés, and councillors from the socialist municipal group also attended, including Tamara Vera and Josele González.
The mayor, Ana Mata (PP), thanked the parish group and its president for their work in keeping the district's neighbours united. The parish priest Fernando Luque praised the people's devotion to their patron saint.
Suspension out of caution
Guerra explained that the suspension of the pilgrimage was "a very difficult decision" taken "with great pain", and expressed her confidence in being able to hold it next year. Gómez Teruel noted that "caution has prevailed" given the rain forecast. The Vox councillor Juan Carlos Cuevas Dawson called for caution on the days with rain forecast.
What happens with the pilgrimage
The pilgrimage on Sunday, October 18, was suspended due to the orange alert for rain. No new date has been announced for its celebration.
