WOMEN HERMANDADES Sisterhood from Escuela de Cristo Women’s DIVISION
The work of the women behind those gorgeous Golden Mantillas brought directly from Spain.
Marcia Palacios, 19 years old. She entered as a postulant at the age of 16, formally sworn in at the age of 18. photo by Eva Lepiz
People admire the beauty and splendor of La Antigua’s Semana Santa processions, but who’s behind working hard making this happen? Certainly we have heard of Hermandades —organizations that prepare all year long organizing all the procession logistics— and yet another question comes up. Are there any women working at the Hermandades? Of course, there are!
María Marta Beltranena former President of the Sisterhood. She worked for over 12 at the organization. Photo by Willy Posadas
Women of all ages, moved by their faith and devotion, enter every year to work as volunteers at Hermandades, some of them have been a part of this organizations for more than 40 years. Others start working as soon as they become of age at 18. Sometimes they work as their mothers and grandmothers have done it before them. Hermandad de la Escuela de Cristo has the largest number of women working inside.
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- Doña Flor de Hernández, (over 40 years at the Hermandad) is guiding the devotees row at the Procession. Photo by Eva Lepiz
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- Analí Pineda is carrying the box with the “Turnos”, which the devotees collect during the procession. The “Turno” is a card that tells a devotee where and when is her turn to carry in the procession. Photo by Willy Posadas
Recognized by their gorgeous golden mantillas, brought directly from Spain, these women do an incredible job every year working in different activities aimed to promote the Catholic faith and devotion to the consecrated images of Jesús Sepultado and María Santísima de Soledad, that are worshiped at Escuela de Cristo Church.
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- Victoria Arrivillaga is delivering gifts to children during the Christmas Celebration. Photo by Hada Cruz
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- Fernanda Espósito is giving instructions to children, before playing a game. Photo by Hada Cruz
Activities can be divided in two: the preparation activities for the Holy Vigils and processions and the activities that take place on the day of the procession.
They also perform community service and charity activities.
Cristina Bajan, is helping mantain the propper order at the procession. Photo by Eva Lepiz.
It is a difficult task to mantain the proper order at the procession because the Hermandad members have to guide over 3000 women devotees during a 12-hour journey. There are no stops, no time for rest.
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- Mildred Luna is making flower arrangements to be used in one of the activities. Photo by Hada Cruz
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- Women, members of Hermandad are helping make the “Huerto” which is a special decoration of fruits and vegetables that complement the sawdust carpet, the day of the Holy Vigil. Phot by Willy Posadas
It is considered a privilege to lift the float from the floor, at the beginning of the procession, Victoria Arrivillaga as the woman in charge of the Sisterhood, women’s division, has the honor of the float’s first guiding.
Photo by Raul Touzon
It is also a great responsibility to guarantee the safety of the Virgin Mary image along the path.
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- Josselyn Hernández is guiding the float so it remains straight and centered on the coblestone streets of Antigua. Photo by Willy Posadas
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- Women, members of the Hermandad, mantain the order at the procession. Photo by Ludwing Paniagua
Organizing a Procession is an expensive task, that is why, women’s division help raise fund by selling, souvenirs, typical food, raffles and other activities.
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- Members of the Hermandad, are selling souvenirs to help the Hermandad raise funds. Photo by Hada Cruz
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- Signing up devotees for the procession. Photo by Hada Cruz
At the beginning of the procession every woman makes sure to hold the possition she’s been assigned to.
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- Doña Graciela Asturias, after several years as part of the Hermandad, walks the journey of 68 blocks (12 hours) the same as the younger members. Photo by
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- The author, ready, waiting for the procession to start. Photo by Raul Touzon
Everything must go according to plan, otherwise, it is necessary to inmediately solve any problem and move on.
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- Part of the job is helping restore the sculptures of the 23 Station of the Cross’ floats, made of fiberglass that are marched at the begining of the Procession. Photos by Ludwing Paniagua
REVUE magazine article by Hadazul Cruz, photos courtesy of Hermandad de la Escuela de Cristo