The Parish Priest for the last 11 years in Calasparra, Julián Marín Torrecilla, has announced that he will leave Calasparra to take up mssionary work in Honduras on October 5.
Speaking on Radio Calasparra the 73 year-old, native of Barranda, told listeners he had asked for the transfer to a destination he already knew and which could be “difficult and even dangerous but completely different to my current situation.”
“My work there, fundamentally, will be to help people, especially young people, to redirect their lives. In Honduras poverty is not the only challenge, violence is also a grave threat,” he said.
During his 11 years he has been the local parish priest he has also taken up the role of “pregonero” (like the town crier) for the fiestas in honour of Our Lady of Hope of the local Sanctuary and Easter Week.
“Being able to serve at the Sanctuary has been very rewarding for me,” he added.
He will be replaced by José Manuel Martínez Rosique, 45 years old, from Cartagena.
A last piece of advice from the priest to his successor. “Stay away from the gossipers and work from the heart.”
