“Rescuing the traditions of Lent”, is the title of the Chinandega Mayor’s Office for the passion carpet contest that it promotes in the neighborhoods of this municipality, while the regime to which it belongs prohibited the processions of the Catholic Church.
The page of the Mayor of the Municipality of Chinandega, in addition to announcing the activity, mentions that the participants will be given support with the material and there will be cash prizes.
“I feel it as a mockery, after everything that is happening with the Catholic Church in Nicaragua,” commented a citizen who lives near the Santa Ana neighborhood, a sector that year after year decorates the streets to wait for the different processions of Holy Week, something that will not happen this year due to the ban on Catholic events.
contradictory
The Catholic Church has been forced not to carry out the traditional Stations of the Cross for penances or any other religious activity that means agglomeration throughout the country. The threat of jail for some priests who do so is public in the municipalities.
«You cannot be more contradictory and false; On the one hand, they are attacking the church, the Pope himself, and on the other, they want to appear normal, I don’t really know if a true Catholic Christian dares to play that game,” said a municipal analyst whose name we are keeping for security reasons. .
In recent weeks, public officials and politicians from the Sandinista Front have been seen participating in different events of the evangelical church, municipal resources have also been allocated to pastors close to the government party.
Related news: Police block procession in Chinandega that Bishop Sándigo ordered to remove
Recently, for example, a massive event called Good News Nicaragua took place. It is known that the Chinandega Mayor’s Office provided financial support for the organization.
Small economic sectors affected
Carlos, is the name that we will use to identify a Chinandegan musician, who resents that this year, the Stations of the Cross or religious processions are not performed. For the musician, the economy is affected, both for him and for his other colleagues who at this time manage to have a higher income.
“Since before Holy Week we began the concerts in the different parishes with the Stations of the Cross, it is one of our best dates as musicians to work, but now only little has been done and I think it will not be the same as other years,” he lamented.
Cándida is a street vendor who used to follow the route of the Stations of the Cross with her sale of slices, water, soft drinks among other products, this year she has not been able to make her sales. She considered that the measure to prohibit religious activities also affects the economy of the poorest.
“We have been searching for bad years with the Covid-19 and now with this we are worse, I come here to church and I am outside on Fridays, but it is not the same, since the procession does not go out there is no good sale,” he said. worried.
Bishop of León announced bans
Rene Sándigo, bishop for the Diocese of León and Chinandega, asked the Catholic parishioners to go to the temple next Palm Sunday, although he did not provide a reason, he indicated that this year the processions of the Lord of Triumph will not be possible. An orientation that reaches the Chinandegan Catholic temples.
“At each celebration there will be blessing of the palms, for now, according to what is known we will not have the procession of Jesus del Triunfo, that beautiful procession of years,” said Sándigo at the end of the Eucharist last Tuesday.
The procession with the image of Jesus of Triumph, is one of the largest turnout of Catholic parishioners who commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, aboard a donkey. Where blessed palms are also delivered and the beginning of Holy Week is marked.
By United Voices