ciadoncha; ¡cuántos recuerdos - Webpages at SCU - Santa Clara ...

Returning to a priest’s function in present day, Fr. Emérito told me that the priest
no longer has a presence of continuity as he did before. He no longer lives constantly in
one town, but has to share with four or five. The function of the parish priest continues
being his presence, but they have not tried to substitute the permanent presence for one of
more quality, one that is not so passive but more of an operating one. Everything is with
the objective of promoting coexistence, well being, good relations between neighbors,
and people’s cultural values. Not only in cultural or social functions, but also in the same
religious worship.
I commented with Fr. Emérito that after seeing some videos and photos of the
social and cultural events, I was able to really realize that although his presence is
constant, it is never authoritarian; he does not steal prominence, but instead demonstrates
a simplicity with which really has won him the affection, the respect and the friendship of
the parishioners. It is very interesting because besides the qualities mentioned
previously, Fr. Emeritus possesses a very pretty voice. This greatly helps liturgical
celebrations be more participatory since the people feel invited to sing with him.
With a smile on his lips, he continued commenting that in the past, the priest
formed part of the privileged group and many times was closed off to the town functions.
That is to say that even teachers, medics, veterinaries formed a group that venerated him
and even feared him at times. Nevertheless, nowadays it is insisted that the priest should
be one among the people, without losing his identity and his values (Personal interview
2006 and videos provided by Orencio Pérez Cascajar).
There is no doubt that Fr. Emérito, or Emérito as many call him, will be
remembered as “a great person”, as those in the town say shaking their heads from side to
side when there are no other words to define someone’s values.
We spent most of our conversations talking about spirituality and I commented
that from what I could observe, life in Ciadoncha revolved around the church. He
responded that in reality, this is the case with most towns, if not in Spain, certainly of
Burgos. “The ringing of the bells gathers many people,” he told me smiling. The ringing
of the bells has been very important to the lives of these towns. So much so that today
they celebrate bell ringing competitions. (Personal interview 2006).
In ancient times, the ringing of the bells was used to announce storms, fires,
parties, or sorrows. It was a very good form of communication. Ángel Varona Temiño
was a bell ringer in Ciadoncha for several years. His son, Arcadio, also followed his
footsteps and has competed in Tordómar on some occasions. The oldest of the sons,
Federico, has carried this tradition to another continent and today he is the bell ringer for
the 10:00 a.m. mass at the Mission of San Juan Bautista in California, United States.
They say that what is inherited is not stolen, and this family is an example of this saying.
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