The Virgen María de Cuapa Diocesan Sanctuary, of the Diocese of Juigalpa, published an “important notice” on its Facebook account announcing the cancellation of a vigil and procession that would be held in honor of the 43rd anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, in Cuapa, department of Chontales.
The priest Almer Moncada, rector of the Diocesan Sanctuary, informed the pilgrims and devotees of the image that the activities scheduled for May 7 (the vigil and procession) are suspended for “reasons beyond our control.”
«On Sunday, May 7, the Holy Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, as usual. And on May 8, the solemnity in honor of the Virgin of Cuapa at the same time,” details the notice signed by the rector of the Diocesan Sanctuary.
Related news: Monsignor Silvio Báez, the voice of the Catholic Church from exile
«I invite you to live this Marian feast in an atmosphere of recollection and prayer. God bless you and Our Lady of Cuapa protect you!” concludes the statement signed by the priest Moncada, rector of the Diocesan Sanctuary.
This announcement of the suspension of these Catholic activities follows a fierce religious persecution by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo against the Nicaraguan Church during Holy Week.
In its authoritarian drift against the Church, the dictatorship ordered the deployment of police contingents in all the country’s Catholic churches to besiege and prevent processions and any religious activity that was attempted to take place in the streets.
Most of the religious activities, prior to and during Holy Week, were held inside religious temples due to the police ban on processions. In addition, a series of arrests of Catholic parishioners were recorded.
