HOLY MONDAY
| Brotherhood of the Holy Cross and Confraternity of Penitents of Our Lord Jesus of Peace, Rejected by the People, Mary Most Holy Refuge of Sinners, Our Glorious Lady of Fátima and the Blessed Patriarch Saint Joseph. |
Historical Background
The brotherhood traces its origins to the late 1970s, when children and young people from “La Constancia” neighbourhood in Jerez formed a youth association that organised a small religious procession through the local streets. The initiative continued for several years with the support of neighbourhood residents and formed part of the tradition of youth processions, sometimes known locally as procesiones paralelas, held on the Friday of Sorrows.
These developments reflect a gradual process of consolidation in which parish life, religious worship and the brotherhood’s public presence have reinforced one another. Its current canonical seat is the Parish Church of Fátima, at Calle Virgen de Fátima, 1, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), which remains the focal point of its religious services and devotional activities.
The brotherhood makes its annual penitential procession on Holy Monday, as part of the Holy Week celebrations in Jerez. Its history also highlights the importance of its principal sacred images and the successive additions, conservation work and restorations that have helped preserve and shape its identity. The history of the brotherhood can therefore be understood as a combination of religious devotion, institutional continuity and adaptation to the changing circumstances of each period.
Sacred Images and Patron Saints
The brotherhood’s principal sacred images are Nuestro Señor Jesús de la Paz en el Desprecio del Pueblo (Our Lord Jesus of Peace, Rejected by the People) and María Santísima Refugio de los Pecadores (Mary Most Holy, Refuge of Sinners). Its official title also includes the Gloriosa Virgen de Fátima (Our Glorious Lady of Fátima) and the Bendito Patriarca San José (Blessed Patriarch Saint Joseph).
The brotherhood’s full official name is “Hermandad de la Santa Cruz y Cofradía de Nazarenos de Nuestro Señor Jesús de la Paz en el Desprecio del Pueblo, María Santísima Refugio de los Pecadores, Gloriosa Virgen de Fátima y Bendito Patriarca San José”. This title brings together the various devotions that form the basis of the brotherhood’s religious life and reflects the particular role each plays within its spiritual identity.
The images of Christ and the Virgin Mary traditionally form the focus of contemplation on the Passion and the mysteries of Christ, while the brotherhood’s other sacred dedications complement its spiritual heritage. The artists responsible for these sculptures, their dates of creation, historical attributions and subsequent restorations help place them within Jerez’s rich tradition of religious processional sculpture and contribute to their distinctive character. The continued veneration of these sacred images preserves the brotherhood’s collective memory and provides a lasting focus of devotion for its members and devotees throughout the year.
General information
Home Church: Parish Church of Fátima, at Calle Virgen de Fátima, 1, 11405 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Website: http://www.lapazdefatima.es
Pictures / more info (Spanish)
