Living in Peru : your everyday companion

El Comercio

Only a few times a year do Peruvians forget about their material worries to follow the path of faith. This time the protagonist of their religious devotion is the Lord of Luren, patron of Ica.

Since the sanctuary of the Lord of Luren is currently disabled due to the earthquake that occurred in Pisco in 2007, this year, a provisional chapel was set up for the celebrations and the scheduled masses.

The festivities are organized by the priest community of the Santiago de Luren church, Carmelitas Descalzos, and the fraternity of the Lord of Luren. It was free for all of those who wanted to participate and this also included tourists.

On Sunday, the 18th of October, devotees in Ica celebrated their patron by attending mass. The main liturgical act was carried out at noon by Monsignor Héctor Vera Colona.

In the afternoon, there was a marinera contest in the town’s coliseum whose winners received a scapulary of the Lord of Luren. A bingo game was also held to raise funds for the church diner that feeds 200 children every day.  

The procession took place on Monday the 19th and congregated thousands of followers who were inhabitants of the southern province, mostly. The image of the saint was placed where devotees could approach it, touch it and pray. At 6 in the afternoon, mass was celebrated.

The local police made sure to make the event safe. Members of the fire department, civil defense and campaign doctors were also present.

The event and its celebrations went from October the 8th to the 18th and was sponsored by fraternities and various local representatives of the small farmers, drivers and engineers. 

Translated by Diana Schwalb