These are not, of course, the lines that I would have liked to write, nor those that I expected to write. Not even a year ago now, when this pandemic that has interrupted our lives began, did I think that twelve months later I would be writing the salutation for a number of El Anda that will not reach your hands, in the middle of a Lent in whose acts we will not be able to meet all, as so many times before, and in the prelude to a Holy Week in which we will not be able to fulfill our beloved tradition of taking the Saints out into the street.

However, I do not want discouragement to spread among us. We are brothers, followers of Jesus arrested, tried, whipped, crowned with thorns and sentenced. We are followers of the one who carried the Cross to be crucified on it, and therefore we know that He understands our sufferings well. If we want to take advantage of this time of silence to listen to him, he will remind us over and over again that Calvary is not the end of the road, but the prelude to the Resurrection, the path to Courtesy and new life. We are Nazarenes, we are penitents, and the shadow of the cross cannot now overwhelm us.

In addition, this time that is coming, Holy Week, continues to be entirely ours. Not even the pandemic can prevent the passing of time and the arrival of these Holy days, which we will live as believers, and why not, also as brothers. That is why I invite you, to the extent possible for each one, and with the necessary precautions and prudence, to live the different proposals that the Ciezan Brotherhoods and this Board of Brotherhoods are preparing so that the warmth of the processionist spirit continues to arrive everyone lives and dreams of Holy Week in Cieza.

One of those proposals is, precisely, this episodic and digital modality of our beloved El Anda Magazine, which has not been able to be published in its lucid usual format, but which will offer generous contributions from different collaborators, good friends of this Magazine, over the next few days. who have gladly responded to the call to keep the embers of this ancient publication, which could not remain entirely silent this 2021. Furthermore, I would like to encourage all those who have not had the opportunity to come across the last edition to get hold of a copy, because it was certainly a magnificent issue in form and content, which had the bad luck of finding itself in lockdown already in print, thus making its dissemination difficult. Hopefully soon we will be able to recover the hallmarks of the Magazine, carefully defined number by number, time after time, thanks to the dedication and generosity of so many ciezanos who have made it possible as brothers, writers, photographers, merchants, sponsors and managers. institutional.

I do not want to leave these pages without thanking the Brotherhoods and Brotherhoods that make up the Board of Passionate Brotherhoods for having renewed their confidence in the project that I preside over, in the certainty of continuing to respond to it without sparing enthusiasm, time and effort. I am convinced that, despite the current difficulties, Holy Week in Cieza has challenges ahead that will take it a long way, to the joy and pride of all. Let us walk together, frankly, loyally and without reservations, because this is the formula that has brought us this far, and it is the one that will make us conquer all the horizons that now seem distant to us.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the colleagues who were with me in this last period, and who continue to magnify Holy Week outside of this directive. Thank you, José Ángel, Joaquín, Jose Salinas, Ginesa and José Miguel for your years of work and for so many contributions to this exciting project. Of course, I am also very grateful for the support of those who have wanted to continue in this team, and also for the courage of those who are joining this exciting adventure for the first time.

But these lines cannot end without sending a sincere and affectionate hug to so many families who have lost their loved ones in recent months. Now is not the time to make a distinction between brothers and other deceased countrymen, Cieza is suffering harshly from the effects of the pandemic and there are many who mourn the absent. It is not easy to find words of encouragement for so many goodbyes in such bitter circumstances, but I want you to feel our love and support, and we pray that the light of hope finds its way in the darkness.

Dear Nazarene family, we will walk the streets of Cieza again with our tunic on, do not hesitate. That day is already written in Heaven, and when it comes our joy will be so immense that it will remain in our hearts forever. And in the meantime, let's move on, always with enthusiasm, always with hope, always together, always to Cieza for Easter.