Berja brotherhood seeks recognition for their saint

IN JUST one week, more than 1,000 parishioners have signed a petition for Canonical coronation of the Virgin of Gador, patron saint of Berja.
“We still have work to do brothers, but we’ll give everything for the Virgin,” said Antonio Campos, representative of the brotherhood of the Virgin of Gador upon announcing the project.
The first step in the process, achieving the support of the Bishopric of Almeria, is already complete and the next is to get enough support from the parishioners.
The brotherhood is seeking support in Berja and surrounding areas, and has said that local-born people living further afield are even contacting them online to sign.
Campos explained that the process is 90 per cent complete, meaning hopefully within a month the final documents should be ready to send to Rome, where Pope Francisco will have to ratify the decision.
Once papal approval is obtained, the coronation could be held next year, but beforehand Berja has applied to hold a Jubilee Year, which could well attract more than 100,000 pilgrims to honour the saint.