Córdoba brings 35 young cofrades to the national meeting in Zaragoza

A delegation of 35 people, made up mostly of young people from the youth groups of the Córdoba brotherhoods, is taking part in the XIII Encuentro de Jóvenes de Hermandades y Cofradías (JOHC), held in Zaragoza from Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25. Members of the Governing Board of the Agrupación de Hermandades y Cofradías de Córdoba are also joining the group.

The meeting brings together young cofrades from different parts of Spain for four days with religious acts, cultural activities, talks and moments of fellowship. The programme began on Thursday, October 22 with the collection of accreditations, a prayer vigil in the church of Santa Isabel de Portugal, known as San Cayetano, and the procession of San Juan Evangelista to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar. For Friday, October 23, the offering to the Virgen del Pilar and the opening ceremony in the plaza del Pilar were scheduled, as well as the possibility of visiting the Ad Salvatorem exhibition in the Catedral del Salvador. On Saturday, October 24, the Fundación Ibercaja Patio de la Infanta hosts the talk «Cambiar para permanecer: El futuro de nuestras Cofradías» and the presentation of candidacies for 2027. The activity continues at the Colegio Compañía de María with the opening of stands, a workshop on traditional instruments of the Semana Santa de Zaragoza and an intercofrade meal, and in the afternoon the extraordinary procession of the XIII Encuentro will take place, followed by a gala dinner. On Sunday, October 25, the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar will host the thanksgiving Eucharist. After the transfer of San Juan Evangelista to the church of Santa Isabel de Portugal, the counting of votes, the proclamation of the new venue and the reading of the conclusions will take place.

During the meeting, the candidacies of Ponferrada and Cartagena to host the 2027 edition are presented. The choice will be made by vote and the result will be announced on Sunday, at the closing events.

The Córdoba delegation is travelling with «Rafalito», the caiman of the Posito, represented by a crocodile costume that will accompany the young people during the days. Participants will also wear stickers with the mascot's image to share with other attendees and to make known a symbol of their own delegation. According to the Agrupación, the event serves so that young people can share concerns, establish links with other delegations and learn about different ways of living and organising the Semana Santa. The Vocalía de Juventud, headed by María Gómez, is promoting this participation. At the farewell were present the mayor of Córdoba, José María Bellido; the delegate of Youth of the Ayuntamiento, Cintia Bustos; the president of the Agrupación, Manuel Murillo; the vocal of Youth, María Gómez, and the second vice-president, Bonifacio Gómez.