10 March 2026 – Yesterday, the Agrupación de Cofradías of Lucena held another formation meeting for representatives of the Passion and Glory brotherhoods. This event forms part of the institution’s commitment to supporting the life of Lucena’s brotherhoods on a spiritual level as well.

The session took place at the Hermitage of Our Lady of the Dawn, a place deeply connected to the town’s devotional tradition, and was led by Don Diego Figueroa, assistant priest at the Parish Church of Saint Matthew the Apostle. He offered a reflection focusing on the deeper meaning of Lent and on the role that brotherhoods are called to play within the life of the Church.

Halfway through this liturgical season, the session invited those attending to pause amid the pace of preparations and daily responsabilities, to look within and reflect on the state of their own faith. The speaker reminded the audience that Lent is a time in the wilderness, a space of silence and encounter in which each believer can rediscover God’s love —that «first love» which sustains Christian life even in the midst of difficulties.

During the address, it was emphasised that God knows the heart of every person and never grows weary of forgiving, a constant call to begin again with hope. Conversion, he explained, does not consist in attaining perfection, but in returning to God time and again, recognising his presence in everyday life: at work, in the family, in moments of joy and also in times of suffering.

One of the central themes of the reflection focused on the three great pillars of Christian life during Lent: prayer, conversion and charity. The priest recalled that charity, in particular, constitutes an essential dimension of the mission of the brotherhoods and confraternities, which are called not only to safeguard a valuable artistic and devotional heritage, but also to translate faith into concrete acts of help and commitment to others.

In this regard, the value of popular religiosity as a space for evangelisationwas also highlighted. The images, the acts of worship and the traditions that form part of the life of the brotherhoods and confraternities are not merely cultural or historical manifestations, but paths that can help many people encounter the message of the Gospel. Contemplating an image can become an experience of faith when it is done from the heart and not merely from an aesthetic point of view.

The Virgin Mary was also presented as an example of this inward journey, a figure who teaches us to discover God in silence, in trust and also in suffering.

The session concluded with a reminder that Holy Week should not be understood merely as an outward manifestation of tradition, but as an opportunity to renew Christian life. Through their heritage, their history and their devotion, the brotherhoods and confraternities are called to be light, salt and force in society, transmitting the message of God’s love, freely given for all.

This training session once again highlights the efforts of the Agrupación de Cofradías to foster the spiritual dimension of the life of the brotherhoods, accompanying them in their mission of evangelisation and helping to ensure that Lent is lived as a true time for preparation for the celebration of Holy Week in Lucena.