Atalaya prepares to receive pilgrims

Especial para Prensa.com/Víctor Eliseo Rodríguez

En el primer domingo de cuaresma esperan alrededor de 150 mil fieles.

11/02/2013 - While most of the villages in the interior of the country are celebrating Carnival, in Atalaya authorities with the Catholic Church and locals are ready to greet the pilgrims who are visiting the image of Jesus of Nazarene.

During Carnival, the community is filled with people who take advantage of the days off to visit the minor basilica of Atalaya to offer gifts to this image.

Arlene Rí­os, a member of the Catholic Committee of the Nazarene of Atalaya, explained that more than eight hours went into preparing the image for the influx of people this week.

They expect about 150,000 people are expected for the festivities that will culminate in a special service marking the first Sunday of Lent this coming weekend.

"As in recent years, we have tried to provide comfort for parishioners who come from other parts of the country," said Father Reginio Aguilar.

This year the theme of the Novena is "Profess, celebrate and bear witness to the faith," and the preacher of the Novena is Monsignor Mario Alberto Molina, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.