Fr Honorio Campos Gutiérrez: “Easter must drive us to build a world without any kind of barriers”
Adeje officially launched its 2025 Holy Week celebrations on Saturday 5 April with a moving proclamation delivered by Honorio Campos Gutiérrez, episcopal vicar with strong ties to the municipality, where he carried out part of his pastoral ministry. The event also marked the inauguration and blessing of the new cultural venue Espacio de Historia y Arte, El Barranco, (El Barranco History and Art Space) located in the Tower in the Plaza de España. The venue was formally opened by the mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, and blessed by the parish priest, Fr. Agalac Alonso Siverio.
In his heartfelt address, Honorio Campos Gutiérrez, a priest who served in Adeje for over a decade, delivered a speech filled with warmth, gratitude and affection, interwoven with anecdotes, humour and cherished memories. The vicar recalled, “For eleven years we shared faith, joyful and sorrowful experiences; it was here that I truly learned what it means to be a priest. What is taught in the seminary is shaped by the people, day by day.”
Campos took the audience on a touching journey through the most significant moments of Holy Week in Adeje, highlighting the community’s deep involvement and the energy that builds from the start of the year. “After San Sebastián, our hearts were already beating for Holy Week,” he remembered. He also noted the curiosity and engagement of visitors, particularly on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, and emphasised that Good Friday “is The Passion”, when the streets fill with people, scenery and emotion. He concluded with a call to reflect on the profound message of the celebration, culminating in the traditional Rogativa procession: “Easter must drive us to build a world without any kind of barriers, where differences don’t lead to conflict, and where Adeje continues to be the melting pot of cultures and hope that so inspires us.”
Mayor Rodríguez Fraga expressed his thanks to the priest, describing him as “part of our soul and our history”. He underlined that Adeje’s Holy Week is a collective celebration, built by everyone who contributes to it: “from those who paint and sew, to those who clean, ensure security, or take part as members of the brotherhoods, musicians or bearers.” The mayor pointed out the special significance of 2025 as both a Jubilee Year declared by Pope Francis and a Lustral Year in Adeje – a time for unity and hope: “Feeling that Holy Week is ours unites us as a people and projects us into the future with faith and commitment.”
He also highlighted the opening of the new art and history space as a valuable addition to Adeje’s cultural development: “This space becomes part of the network of places for gathering, remembrance and personal growth, because we aspire to be better people and a better town.” The mayor stressed the importance of Holy Week being worthy of the material and immaterial heritage it represents: “It is a celebration that grounds us, identifies us, and strengthens us as a community – especially in a time when some values seem to be fading.”
The event also featured a panel discussion led by Alexis Hernández with key figures from Adeje’s Holy Week: the artistic director of La Pasión, Laura Marrero; actors including Yohosua Treviño (playing Jesus Christ) and Ana Oneida Borges (playing the Virgin Mary); and members of other groups such as the bearers (represented by Emilio José Torres), the Adeje Patronal Band (with Sandra Medina Hernández), and the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament (represented by Antonio Jesús Trujillo).
Laura Marrero emphasised that the biggest challenge is “living up to an event that is so important to the people of Adeje”. She explained that her work goes far beyond stage direction: “It’s a project for and by the people of Adeje, where we try to ensure that everyone feels they play a key role – from the person portraying Jesus to the baby appearing in the scene.” Yohosua Treviño reflected on the complexity of his role and its personal impact: “It’s a character I discover every day – the ongoing search between the human and the divine has been incredibly enriching.” Ana Oneida Borges said her greatest motivation is “to touch the hearts of the audience”, adding, “It’s a character full of pain and hope. As someone born and reared in Adeje, I feel proud and deeply committed to this portrayal that means so much to our community.”
For bearer Emilio José Torres, the experience is an act of faith: “Carrying the image is a spiritual moment – it fills me with pride, and I ask for good health so I can continue doing it.” Sandra Medina highlighted the vital role of music in the celebrations: “Holy Week wouldn’t be the same without the emotion that music brings – this year we’re premiering nine new processional marches to accompany the most solemn moments.” Antonio Jesús Trujillo spoke of the brotherhood’s liturgical commitment: “We are actively involved in the main events and welcome anyone who wants to join us in preserving our traditions.”
The event also saw the launch of a new lecture series titled ‘Diseccionando a la Pasión’ (‘Dissecting the Passion’), which will run from Sunday 6 to Wednesday 9 April at the Espacio de Historia y Arte, El Barranco. Topics will include the figure of Jesus from the perspectives of history, psychology, forensic medicine and cinema, with talks from renowned speakers such as journalist and theologian Andrés Brito, psychiatrist Eduardo Vera, forensic doctor Alfonso Sánchez Hermosilla and film critic Manuel Díaz Noda.
A major new feature this year is the opening of two exhibitions curated by journalist José Gregorio González. Titled ‘“Arqueología bíblica” and “Reliquias y objetos sagrados” (Biblical Archaeology’ and ‘Relics and Sacred Objects), both exhibits offer a scientific and cultural perspective on Christianity through a selection of artefacts, symbols and stories that have shaped the history of faith. González explained that some of the most emblematic relics of Christianity have been faithfully reproduced by specialist artists – including a life-size replica of the four-metre Shroud of Turin. The exhibition also features historically debated objects such as the Holy Grail (in its Valencia version) and the Spear of Longinus, with a replica of one of its most iconic interpretations, the one housed in Vienna. González emphasised that the exhibition is “not about offering certainties, but about creating a space for dialogue and wonder through pieces that have shaped spirituality and the collective imagination for two thousand years.”
The event concluded with a sacred music concert by Tredici Trío as part of the Canary Islands Sacred Music Festival. The full programme of events for Holy Week in Adeje is available on the website www.adeje.es in Spanish and https://townhall.adeje.es/portada.asp in English.