We left Utrera early that Sunday, in very good spirits on a sunny spring day, heading for one of the towns “del Río”, I can’t remember which one,with its magnificent church overlooking the town from the top of a steep hill, where that year a flamenco mass was being celebrated in honor of the newly beatified Ceferino. Each year around these dates, especially in Andalusia, various religious events are held—masses, pastoral gatherings and pilgrimages, sometimes with food shared freely and plenty of singing to remember Fray Ceferino.
But wait… an unmistakable voice… Right behind me on the bus, relaxed tempo handclapping keeping the rhythm, as is typical of Utrera, and it’s Bernarda. Passing through Dos Hermanas… Una dalia cuidaba Sevilla, en el Parque de los Montpensier… and the lady finds her saucy bulerías dance in the narrow aisle of the vehicle, with the swaying the road was giving us.
At the mass, small groups of voices sing bulerías and tangos, some people dance, but the very best moment, the absolute highlight, was the priest’s inspired bulerías dance, as if perfectly meant for the moment, with his liturgical vestments slicing through the air with the same force as a bata de cola.
"The Brotherhood of the Gypsies of Utrera celebrates the diocesan meeting of PastoraThe Gypsy celebration includes a flamenco mass and a procession of the image of the Blessed, usually near the parish of Santiago el Mayor. It is recommended to check the social media of this Brotherhood or the Pastora"The Gypsy woman from Seville in early May to find out the exact location."
Meanwhile, what act of heroism or sacrifice did our Ceferino commit in his day to deserve so much attention almost a century later?
<scan>Ceferino Giménez Malla, “El Pelé” was born in August 1861 in Benavent de Segriá (Lérida) and was executed by militia members at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. He was illiterate and known for his kindness and honesty. Today he represents the faith of the Romani people and their dignity within the church. He is considered the first Romani person beatified by the Catholic Church.</scan>
<scan>Ceferino’s day is August 2, but the flamenco celebrations are usually moved forward to May, close to the anniversary of his beatification on May 4, 1997.</scan>
Over the years, asses dedicated to Ceferino have been celebrated in Granada, Barbastro (Huesca), Málaga, Madrid, Seville, Lebrija, Morón de la Frontera, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Córdoba, Jerez de la Frontera, and other towns with a Romani presence.
The Brotherhood of the Gypsies of Utrera celebrates the diocesan gathering of Gypsy Pastoral Ministry with a flamenco mass and a procession of the image of the Blessed, usually held at the Church of Santiago or near the parish of Santiago el Mayor. It is recommended to check the social media accounts of the Brotherhood of the Gypsies of Utrera or the Gypsy Pastoral Ministry of Seville at the beginning of May to find the exact location. These are masses sung by flamenco artists, with the participation of Romani brotherhoods and the Gypsy Pastoral Ministry from the respective dioceses. ♦
