Huelva is already looking ahead to September 20th with everything ready for the Magna Mariana jubilee procession, an event that will bring together the crowned Virgins of the diocese along with sacramental images in the capital , and which promises to turn the streets into a great journey of faith and heritage.
The announcement in the Cathedral of La Merced has marked the start of an event with spiritual, cultural and social dimensions , framed within the Jubilee Year, which is joined by thousands of faithful and visitors and an institutional coordination that is unusual due to its scale.
Official presentation at the Cathedral of La Merced
The Holy Cathedral Church of La Merced hosted the presentation ceremony, which was attended by civil and ecclesiastical authorities, as well as representatives from numerous brotherhoods. Antonio González , president of the Council of Brotherhoods , emphasized that the Magna Procession would reflect the vibrant Marian devotion of Huelva and invited all brotherhoods—including those that do not participate in processions—to adorn their patron saints in their chapels.
González himself announced that, on the eve of the event, the Bishop of Huelva will visit all the participating brotherhoods and the day will culminate with band concerts in locations such as La Merced and San Pedro, to create a festive atmosphere in the city.
In addition, an official guide to the Magna will be made available to the public at the symbolic price of €3, with a purely charitable purpose: the proceeds will be entirely allocated to the social work of the Jubilee.
The Bishop of Huelva, Santiago Gómez Sierra , encouraged everyone to experience the event as a true diocesan pilgrimage, where, for the first time, the canonically crowned images of the diocese come together: a call to renew hope and walk together with Mary, from faith and communion.
Preliminary agenda: transfers and preparations
The prelude to the procession will be marked by four transfers of special interest, which will serve as a gateway and brotherhood atmosphere in different neighborhoods of the city, awakening the enthusiasm among locals and visitors.
The Virgin of Health (Brotherhood of the Sentence) will experience a historic event on the 20th: for the first time, she will process under a canopy , using the float of the Virgin of Love from the Brotherhood of Mercy of Lepe and with items loaned by other brotherhoods. Prior to this, she will be transferred from San Francisco de Asís to the Hermitage of Solitude on the float of Consolation and Correa (Good Death), departing at 18:30 p.m. from Pérez Cubillas and with an expected arrival at midnight.
The first crowned image of the diocese, the Virgin of Montemayor (Moguer), will star on September 17th in a procession carried on shoulders in her pilgrimage litter: she will depart from San Pedro at 17:00 PM towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus, reaching the Polvorín around 22:00 PM, in a scene that evokes the great event of 1954.
For its part, the Virgin of La Bella (Lepe) will arrive on September 18 in a protective crate, traveling the old road from Gibraleón to the Temple of Jesus of Calvary ; there the crate will be opened for its enthronement, in a day designed by the Mother Brotherhood with special events.
Also on the 18th, Our Lady of Miracles (Palos) will leave La Rábida at 16:30 pm in an oxcart and cross the N-442 bridge with the silhouette of the Monument to the Discovery of Faith as a backdrop, arriving at the Church of the Conception around 22:00 pm.
Itineraries and schedules for the day of the Magna
On September 20th, a large-scale operation will be in place for the Official Route , along which the various brotherhoods will process in staggered time slots throughout the afternoon and evening. The entrances and exits along this route have been designed to facilitate smooth traffic flow through the historic center, with particular attention to key locations such as Plaza de las Monjas, Plaza del Punto, and the surrounding area.
These are the approximate times per brotherhood (departure, passage through the Official Route and return):
- Our Lady of Peace (Mutilated): departure 15:45 p.m.; return 18:45 p.m.–19:50 p.m.; return 22:15 p.m.
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Perdón): departure 15:00 PM; return 18:50–19:55 PM; return 01:30 AM.
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Jews): departure 16:50 p.m.; return 18:55 p.m.
- Our Lady of Health (Sentence): departure 17:45 p.m.; return 19:00 p.m.–20:05 p.m.; return 02:00 a.m.
- María Auxiliadora (La Palma): departure 17:55 PM; return 19:05 PM–20:10 PM; return 23:55 PM.
- Our Lady of the Rosary (Dinner): Departure 15:50 PM; Return 19:10 PM–20:15 PM; Return 23:45 PM.
- Our Lady of Bitterness (Huelva): departure 17:15 PM; return 19:15 PM–20:20 PM; return 22:45 PM.
- Our Lady of Refuge (Passion): departure 18:05 PM; return 19:20 PM–20:25 PM; return 22:15 PM.
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Vera+Cruz): departure 18:05 PM; return 19:25 PM–20:30 PM; return 23:15 PM.
- Virgen de la Victoria (Huelva): departure 16:15 p.m.; return 19:30 p.m.–20:35 p.m.; return 00:45 a.m.
- Virgin of the Star (Chucena): departure 17:30 p.m.; return 19:35 p.m.–20:40 p.m.; return 00:25 a.m.
- Virgen del Valle (La Palma): Departure 18:30 PM; Return 19:40 PM–20:45 PM; Return 23:10 PM.
- Our Lady of the Greatest Sorrow (Aracena): departure 17:35 PM; return 19:45 PM–20:50 PM; return 22:10 PM.
- Virgen de los Remedios (Villarrasa): departure 18:55 p.m.; return 19:50 p.m.–20:55 p.m.; return 22:30 p.m.
- Virgin of the Rock (La Puebla): departure 19:25 p.m.; return 19:55 p.m.–21:00 p.m.; return 00:45 a.m.
- Our Lady of Socorro (Rociana): departure 18:40 p.m.; return 20:00 p.m.–21:05 p.m.; return 23:40 p.m.
- Virgin Queen of the Angels (Alájar): departure 19:10 PM; return 20:05 PM–21:10 PM; return 22:50 PM.
- Our Lady of Hope (Huelva): departure 18:45 p.m.; return 20:10 p.m.–21:15 p.m.; return 22:40 p.m.
- Our Lady of Solitude (Ayamonte): departure 19:00 PM; return 20:15 PM–21:20 PM; return 23:15 PM.
- Our Lady of Miracles (Palos): departure 19:10 PM; return 20:20 PM–21:25 PM; return 00:15 AM.
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Ayamonte): departure 19:15 p.m.; return 20:25 p.m.–21:30 p.m.; return 23:40 p.m.
- Virgen de la Bella (Lepe): departure 19:00 PM; return 20:30 PM–21:35 PM; return 00:25 AM.
- Virgin of Montemayor (Moguer): departure 17:30 p.m.; return 20:35 p.m.–21:40 p.m.; return 01:30 a.m.
- Virgin of the Cinta (Huelva): departure 19:35 p.m.; return 20:40 p.m.–21:45 p.m.; return 23:50 p.m.
Among the participating images, in addition to those from the capital, are the patron saints of the province such as the Bella de Lepe, Montemayor de Moguer, the Milagros de Palos , the Reina de los Ángeles (Alájar), the Estrella (Chucena), the Valle (La Palma), the Peña (La Puebla) or the Mayor Dolor (Aracena), forming a mosaic of Marian devotion of great artistic richness.
Institutional support and logistics
The president of the Port Authority, Alberto Santana , confirmed the Port's support and announced a unique scene: the Virgin of La Bella will return by water from the Canoas dock, a nod to Huelva's maritime tradition that will give the day its own distinctive character.
From the Andalusian Regional Government, the delegate in Huelva, José Manuel Correa , pointed out that the Magna is an opportunity to project the organizational capacity and local heritage to the outside world ; meanwhile, the Provincial Council —represented by Alberto Fernández— highlighted the effort of town councils, brotherhoods and residents of the entire province.
The mayor, Pilar Miranda , highlighted the municipal commitment to ensuring everything runs like clockwork, with special attention to mobility, safety and cleanliness , and coordination with the institutions involved to facilitate the transit of the public and religious brotherhoods.
The plan includes reinforcements in transport and services, information points and measures to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility, seeking a balance between visitor flow and protection of the urban environment.
Mariological Congress: formation and spiritual meaning
As preparation, the Diocese will hold a Mariological Congress in conjunction with the Spanish Mariological Society with the motto "Prayer, foundation of our hope", from Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 September, with morning sessions (with prior registration, at the Seminary) and afternoon sessions (open, at the Caja Rural del Sur Foundation).
The vicar general, Emilio Rodríguez , presented the activity together with the priests Freddy Enrique Uzcátegui —coordinator— and José Luis López —speaker—, emphasizing that it will be an opportunity for religious, clergy and laity to deepen their understanding of Marian richness with a formative and pastoral focus.
This academic framework is conceived as the spiritual gateway to the Magna, an invitation to experience with theological depth what will later be expressed in the streets, with special emphasis on the hope proposed by the Jubilee Year.
With the support of the Church and institutions, the solidarity guide, the prior transfers, the training congress and a detailed calendar of departures and steps along the Official Route, Huelva is finalizing a Magna Mariana that is destined to be historic for its organization, its heritage value and the response of a people who recognize themselves in their devotion to Mary.