More than 300,000 people have arrived at the Pelequén Sanctuary between Friday, August 30, and Sunday, September 1, according to estimates by the Carabineros, a number that is expected to increase during the remaining days of the festivities.
According to the Commissioner of the 4th Police Station of Rengo, Luis Alberto Morales, “Although the flow of people has increased between Friday and Sunday, on this date alone we have had more than 300 thousand people who have attended the festival. The good thing is that the days have been calm, which keeps us happy and hopefully people can fulfill their vows and enjoy the religious festival without forgetting the self-care measures of all the pilgrims who arrive,” he said.
And, as every year, the sanctuary of Santa Rosa in Pelequén, in Malloa, receives thousands of faithful who make a pilgrimage to express their devotion and gratitude on this important religious holiday, and this year has been no exception. Given the magnitude of the festivity, which also brings together countless merchants, security has been reinforced in the place so that the news is none other than prayer.
“This festivity lasts until September 8. Various controls and inspections have been carried out at different points, which has been well received in terms of improving people’s sense of security. There is a significant contingent of police officers who are distributed in different sectors with prior coordination with public security, which has kept us happy and calm,” said the Commissioner of the 4th Rengo Police Station, highlighting the coordination that has existed between various entities such as the Municipality of Malloa, Transportation, Autopista del Maipo and Police to provide security inside and outside the temple, as well as on the roads.
While the rector of the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa de Pelequén, Father Juan Carlos Farías indicated that the arrival of pilgrims has been massive: “It has been like an avalanche of people who have arrived, it has been a very big challenge, because the concentration of pilgrims has been very high in these three days since the beginning of the festivity. I have seen a lot of joy, people have been very happy, Bishop Monsignor Vera has been there on several occasions and the festivity has developed normally.”
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR THE WEEK
The rector of the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa, announced that for this week – which runs from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 September – there will be masses depending on the number of people who come to the sanctuary, with four a day, which will begin at 9:30 a.m.
“This Monday there will be a special programme, but it will depend on the number of pilgrims. If there are a lot of pilgrims we will hold more masses; but if not, there will be more spaced out masses. There will be at least four masses during the day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon from 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., in the afternoon from 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and we will try to maintain it during the week, but it will be conditioned by the number of pilgrims who arrive,” said Father Juan Carlos Farías.
The rector of the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa reminded that the temple can be visited throughout the year and invited people to exchange the candles for food for the most needy. “On our part, we would like to ask you to exchange the offering for food. Food is useful for the poor and there is a lot of poverty in this country. Therefore, help us and turn that candle, instead of lighting it, which is a sign of faith, into food. And we will make sure that it reaches the poor people.”
Although the feast of Santa Rosa de Pelequén falls on August 30, the priest concluded by saying, “I want to tell you to come, we are open all year round to pray. The offerings cannot be paid only on the 30th, because there is such a high congestion that it is very difficult to give good service. So, come before, during or after, always. An offering does not get old, but on the contrary, the fervor, the faith that leads to offering that walk, the candles, the flowers we ask for, should be exchanged for food.”
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