• The event will be held, in virtual format, on May 19 and 20 and will include four round tables
• 12 members of brotherhoods and confraternities, and specialists from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Malta and Slovenia will participate.
• The objective is to share, dialogue and debate about some aspects of the Holy Week and Easter celebrations
• Registration is free

13.05.2022.- The European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations will celebrate, next May 19 and 20, the II European Meeting of Fraternities and Brotherhoods. This forum is held with the aim of sharing, discussing and debating some aspects of the Holy Week and Easter celebrations, as well as laying new foundations to face, in a collaborative way, the future of our traditions, their conservation and sustainability. in the time. A total of 100 people participated in the last edition.

With free registration, the event will be held in virtual format and will include a total of four round tables that will take place on the aforementioned days from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The colloquia will be composed of members of brotherhoods and confraternities, specialists, from Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Malta and Portugal.

The meeting program is as follows:

Thursday 19th May

19.00h Inauguration and Opening

• María Luisa Ceballos Casas, President of the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations
• Julio Grande Ibarra, Coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations

19.15h Round Table ‘Confraternities as Keepers and Promoters of Historical–Artistical Heritage’. During this talk, we will examine the role of these institutions as promoters of material and immaterial heritage linked to the Holy Week and to religious art by sharing it with the general public. We will discuss how to spread and communicate the values represented by the Holy Week. Speakers:

• Varico Pereira, from the Confraternity do Bom Jesus do Monte, Braga, Portugal.
• Borut Garther, Director of the Škofja Loka Passion Play, Slovenia.
• Francisco Perea Torres, President of the Council of Brotherhoods and Confraternities of Carmona, Spain.

20.30h Round Table ‘Celebrations for Children’. Presentation of different children celebrations connected to the Holy Week. A forum to improve cooperation between confraternities in order to work together to promote and develop these initiatives that bring this tradition closer to the youngest generations. Sepakers:

• Christian Raggio, executive secretary of the Birgu Local Council and a member of the Commision of religious feasts and celebrations in Birgu, Malta.
• Joaquín Marzá Mercé. Principal of “Manuel Riquelme” Public School, Hurchillo. National Award of Educational Excellence. Secretary of the Board of Mayor Guilds, Brotherhoods and Stewardships of Orihuela’s Holy Week, Spain.
• Silva Rego, responsible of the representation of the Penitent Drums, Holy Wednesday, Braga, Portugal.

Friday 20th May

19.00h Round Table  ‘Management of Confraternities’. Success stories showing how confraternities work: internal structure models, governance systems, management of relationships with other institutions, funding strategies, etc. A demonstration of the key factors with potential to improve the efficiency of confraternities’ internal organization. Speakers:

• Varico Pereira, from the Confraternity do Bom Jesus do Monte de Braga, Portugal.
• Francisco Javier Gómez Mora, member of the Brotherhood of the Good End, Cabra, Spain.
• Jesús Fernández Fernández. First Deputy Mayor of Viveiro. Member of the Brotherhood of the Seven Last Words and member of the Council of Holy Week’s Confraternities of Viveiro, Spain.
• Alberto López Martínez. Principal of “EL Acequión” Public School, Torrevieja. Treasurer of the Board of Mayor Guilds, Brotherhoods and Stewardships of Orihuela’s Holy Week, Spain.

20.30h Round Table ‘Cultural Programs of the Confraternities’. The cultural programs of the confraternities do not focus exclusively on their internal activity or on the activities directly linked to Holy Week. Nowadays, and increasingly so, they organize external activities such as concerts, conferences, theatre plays, musical activities, poetry and literary readings, religious art exhibitions, etc. It is a new way to share the Holy Week, through traditional and contemporary artistic works, and an excellent funding tool. Speakers:

• Gerlando Taibi. Master of ceremonies of the Real Maestranza di Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy.
• María del Carmen López Gómez. Spokesperson of the Council of Holy Week’s Confraternities and president of the Brotherhood of Women of the Holy Cross, Viveiro, Spain.
• José Jiménez Loreto, deputy president, Brotherhood of the Gypsies of Utrera, Spain

 More about the European Network

The European Network of Holy Week and Easter Celebrations is an organization that works for the dissemination of the traditions linked to Holy Week and Easter, thus safeguarding its rich heritage. Its fundamental objective is to contribute to a better understanding of the values ​​of this extensive legacy, alive in a large part of Europe. A legacy that combines notable local differences, with its wide diffusion as a common element of many regions.

Created in 2019, it includes the Federico II Italian Foundation, representing the municipalities of Palermo and Caltanissetta, in Sicily (Italy); the municipality of Birgu in Malta; the Commission for Lent and Holy Week Celebrations of Braga, in Portugal; the Representations of the Passion of Christ in Skofja Loka, Slovenia; the municipalities that are part of the Caminos de Pasión route: Alcalá la Real in Jaén, Baena, Cabra, Lucena, Priego de Córdoba and Puente Genil in Córdoba and Carmona, Écija Osuna and Utrera in Seville. Also within the Spanish geography we find Orihuela in Alicante; Lorca in Murcia and Viveiro in Lugo.

More information: www.encuentrodehermandades.eu