The Virgin of Monserrate will take to the streets of Orihuela on Sunday, 15 November, in an extraordinary procession to commemorate the 250th anniversary of her sanctuary. The celebration will begin at 18:00 from the Santa Iglesia Catedral and will conclude at the Monserrate Sanctuary, where a solemn Eucharist will be presided over by José Ignacio Munilla, the bishop of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante.
The event was presented by Irene Celdrán, the councillor for Festivities, alongside Pablo Cuadrado, the creator of the commemorative poster; Jesús Ortuño, the chaplain of the Archconfraternity; and Antonio M. García-Molina Riquelme, the president of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Monserrate. During her address, Celdrán emphasised the significance of this anniversary for the city, stating, "We are talking about 250 years of history, tradition, devotion, but above all, shared feelings among all Oriolanos."
Celdrán highlighted the connection between the patroness and Orihuela's identity, saying, "To speak of our Virgin of Monserrate is to speak of Orihuela, of our roots and identity, of our families and of so many people who have found comfort and hope in her over the years." She noted that the procession would serve as an opportunity to remember those who have kept this tradition alive and to pass it on to future generations.
Additionally, she expressed gratitude to the Archconfraternity, the Cathedral Chapter, and all those involved in organising the events. The mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara, will present the Virgin of Monserrate with the gold insignia of the city’s coat of arms during the celebration.
Pablo Cuadrado provided details about the commemorative poster, a digital artwork that blends pictorial illustration, architectural design, and religious symbolism. The composition features the Virgin of Monserrate with the Child Jesus at its centre, surrounded by various perspectives of the sanctuary, architectural plans, domes, façades, and elements of its interior, including its distinctive black and white checkered flooring. Cuadrado stated that his aim was to “humanise the work” and advocate for the role of painters and illustrators amid the growing use of artificial intelligence in poster design.
Jesús Ortuño, chaplain of the Archconfraternity, reminded attendees that this celebration concludes the visits the patroness has been making to the parishes of Orihuela since 23 October. Following her time in Santiago, the image is currently at Santa Justa and will be transferred to the parish of San Vicente Ferrer on Saturday, 7 November, around 21:00. Ortuño highlighted the special nature of these encounters, which allow the faithful to view the image of the patroness up close, and invited Oriolanos to participate in the extraordinary procession on 15 November, a celebration that will help strengthen devotion to the Virgin of Monserrate.
The procession will depart at 18:00 from the Santa Iglesia Catedral and will travel through the streets of Mayor de Ramón y Cajal, López Pozas, Santa Justa, Plaza del Carmen, Francisco Díe, Santiago, and Plaza de Monserrate, before reaching the sanctuary.
