Premieres Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS app + Encores Friday "Cabalgata de San Javier: A Californio Tradition" is a half-hour documentary that chronicles life and culture in Baja California Sur Vaqueros from all points in the peninsula gather at Mission Loreto — the first in the Californias — to make a horseback pilgrimage to Mission San Javier and honor its patron saint The journey along the Camino Real takes us past historic ranchos and magnificent landscapes culminating in a feast that merges indigenous Watch On Your Schedule: The film will be available to stream with the PBS app Stream your favorite PBS shows on-demand and livestream shows from your local station Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain Blaze Starts Near La Hita Area in Santiago de la Ribera A wildfire broke out early Tuesday afternoon, April 29, near the La Hita area in Santiago de la Ribera, close to San Javier Airport has prompted a swift response from emergency services across the region of Murcia According to the Region of Murcia’s emergency coordination centre several calls were received from 1:11 pm onwards reporting flames near the military zone Firefighters from the Regional Fire and Rescue Consortium (CEIS) and the Air Force Academy were dispatched and two helicopters carrying airborne firefighting teams Local police from San Javier and Los Alcázares also joined the operation to control the blaze Although the full extent of the damage remains unknown authorities have warned residents living nearby to take precautions People are advised to keep windows closed as ash may travel into residential areas Officials have also requested that the public avoid the affected zone for safety reasons there is no confirmed information about how the fire began or how many hectares have been affected Emergency services continue to monitor and control the situation Read more Costa Calida news, articles, and events here Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox There is a yellow dust on everything in Roda Golf Is this related and is this dangerous for kids I will see if I can find out any more information about it and let you know Website#cd90e6d786c4de72b3d4ea38{display:none} Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish For more local information go to the home page of San Javier Today The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720 Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00 Email: turismo@sanjavier.es La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00 Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00 Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront) Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00 Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00  and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article A local resident recently experienced a heart-stopping moment when a momentary lapse of memory led to the loss of his mobile phone and several bank and security cards at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Javier (Mirador) Within just two minutes of leaving the restroom the individual realised his oversight and rushed back The only other person to enter the restroom during that time—a young man who left quickly without placing an order—was presumed to have taken them After a quick but unsuccessful search of the facilities Francisco advised contacting the Guardia Civil Moments later he confirmed that the restaurant’s security cameras had captured images of the suspected individual The caller identified himself as a Guardia Civil officer and stated that the phone had been handed in and would soon be returned Francisco took it upon himself to call back and verify the claim His call confirmed the legitimacy of the officer’s identity and the positive news that the phone was indeed en route a Guardia Civil patrol car pulled up to the restaurant The officer returned the phone—intact with all cards and data though the cash was missing—and offered a stern but fair reminder about the importance of being vigilant with personal belongings The grateful owner has extended heartfelt thanks to both the Guardia Civil of San Javier and particularly to Francisco and the McDonald’s team whose quick thinking and concern brought about a remarkably fortunate resolution “I won’t go so far as to say they saved my life,” he remarked “but they certainly saved me from a great deal of distress.” The incident offers more than just a feel-good ending—it highlights several important life lessons for all of us: A moment’s lapse in attention can lead to major inconvenience Phones today are not just communication tools—they carry sensitive data Always double-check your belongings before leaving a public space the individual ultimately turned the phone in to the police It’s a reminder that even in unfortunate situations The quick thinking and involvement of Francisco José Paredes and verification call to the Guardia Civil helped turn the tide It underscores the importance of community support and the role responsible individuals can play in helping others The Guardia Civil acted promptly and professionally trusting authorities and following their guidance is often the safest course This case shows how valuable it is to report issues quickly and work with local police Digital Security Isn’t Enough—Physical Security Matters Too While many people obsess over digital passwords and two-factor authentication physical security of the devices themselves is just as crucial A lost phone can open the door to identity theft Log in to leave a comment © 2021 The Leader Digital This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Long-time San Xavier Mission art conservators Matilde Rubio and Tim Lewis carefully remove a 1950s-era plaster coating from an original statue of Saint Lucy during a pilot restoration project on the historic church’s decorative facade on Feb The ornate entrance to San Xavier Mission will soon get a much-needed facelift thanks to a $749,000 grant from the National Park Service Conservators for the late-18th-century church plan to spend the next two to three years carefully stabilizing and restoring the building’s decorative facade which dates back to the late 18th century and features statues of five saints guarded by a pair of lions Scaffolding covers the front of San Xavier Mission during conservation work in 2021 The scaffolds are slated to return in October as work begins to stabilize and restore the church’s decorative facade The Park Service announced funding for the project on Aug. 22 as part of its Semiquincentennial Grant Program a multi-year initiative leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026 The grant-funded work at the mission should “help the church survive for another 200 years,” Park Service officials said Conservation workers in 1942 remove one of two surviving original columns from the facade at San Xavier Mission in a photograph from the George Chambers Collection at the Arizona State Historical Society It’s the single largest grant in the 46-year history of Patronato San Xavier the nonprofit that oversees preservation and fundraising for Arizona’s oldest intact European structure “We’ve had some in the quarter-of-a-million-dollar range but this one certainly beats the band,” said Patronato executive director Miles Green This will be the first large-scale restoration of the mission’s facade in more than 70 years One of the primary goals of the project is to undo some of the damage done by that previous work San Xavier’s stewards covered the entire building with concrete plaster made from Portland cement in hopes of strengthening the structure and protecting it from the elements Though the work was “thoughtfully done by the standards of that time,” Patronato officials said the plaster used back then ended up trapping moisture and damaging the centuries-old adobe material beneath it involves removing those “incompatible repair materials” and stabilizing the decorative surfaces to “retain as many of the original finishes and paint as we can,” said Starr Herr-Cardillo conservation project manager for Patronato In future phases, the conservation team wants to reconstruct and replace key pieces of the facade that have been lost over time including the decorative columns and the central mesquite-wood balcony The retablo surrounding the front doors of the church originally included 10 columns with distinctive designs but the harsh desert climate — and a powerful earthquake in 1887 — gradually reduced them to rubble when they were wrapped in plaster jackets like the ones used to protect dinosaur fossils and removed for safekeeping the original material inside the jackets had dissolved into “a crumbly mess,” Herr-Cardillo said so plaster forms were used to create the replica columns that are seen on the building today Patronato plans to use historic photos of the facade to create new more accurate replicas of all 10 original columns A circa 1880 photograph shows the facade at San Xavier Mission Green said the project could also include preservation work on the church’s original wooden front doors which date back to 1797 and are still in use today There is even some preliminary discussion of trying to recreate the statue of the church’s patron saint which once graced the top of the facade before losing its head and torso and being modified into a flagpole decades later since the statue’s head was already missing when some of the earliest surviving photos of the mission were taken in the early 1870s Then there is the still-unsettled question of which patron saint once stood atop the church Some scholars believe the statue depicted Saint Francis of Assisi founder of the Franciscan order whose followers built the mission Others are convinced it was Saint Francis Xavier one of the original Jesuits for whom the mission is named the decision about which Saint Francis could be left open to interpretation Patronato San Xavier’s conservation project manager points out areas where cement patches were placed for repairs in the 1950s over the original facade at San Xavier Mission The Catholic church along the Santa Cruz River was constructed between 1783 and 1797 with kiln-fired adobe bricks and O’odham labor “The flags of four nations have flown over it,” Green said — Spain Because of the prominence of the facade, Patronato officials said all of the work on it is being done with caution, sensitivity and in consultation with church members and the surrounding community Though many of the weathered or missing decorations on the front of the mission can’t be restored to their original appearance Green said the conservation team hopes to “improve the legibility of the facade” overall so visitors can get a sense of what it might have looked like “There’s a lot of great photo documentation,” added Herr-Cardillo They simply don’t have enough detailed information to allow for a wholesale recreation of the original work they would never jeopardize what’s left of the historic material to attempt such a thing “I think it’s the job of any historian to be clear about what they know and what they don’t know,” Herr-Cardillo said As part of their final preparations for the restoration project conservators spent about a month early this year cautiously removing the Portland cement from the lower section of Saint Lucy’s skirt in the alcove to the right of the mission’s front door focused on an area roughly the size of the front page of the Arizona Daily Star “We wanted to know how bad it is under there,” Herr-Cardillo said workers nailed chicken wire to the original statue coated it with a new layer of plaster and painted it using a color scheme that bore little resemblance to what had been there a century before conservators found bits of the original paint but removing the newer stuff to get to the old proved to be no easy task “It was a helpful reality check in terms of how slow the work is going to be,” Herr-Cardillo said “We’re going to have to proceed with caution in the heavily amended areas.” The facade represents the last sizable patch of Portland-cement-based plaster left at San Xavier The stuff has already been removed from the rest of the building and replaced with traditional lime-washed plaster mixed with cactus juice to allow the walls to breathe and dry out The restoration work will be done seasonally to lessen its impact on worshipers at San Xavier as much as possible Herr-Cardillo said the scaffolding will go up in October and come down in March clearing the way for Easter festivities at the church It’s too hot during summer to be working outdoors on the south-facing side of the building anyway but the exact scope and schedule for the project will depend on what the conservation team finds as it goes “We don’t want to hem ourselves in with unrealistic expectations,” Green said collaboration and outreach have already gone into the development of the restoration plan for the facade In 2021, scaffolding was erected in front of the church so the conservation team could perform the first-ever close-up inspection of the entire retablo Patronato had previously secured about $573,000 for the facade improvements which are expected to cost approximately $1.4 million The Semiquincentennial Grant grant should cover most of the rest The historic site also draws more than 250,000 tourists each year Detail from a circa 1870 image by Timothy O’Sullivan shows the statue of St Francis that used to stand atop the facade at San Xavier Mission San Xavier was among the first sites to be designated as a National Historic Landmark when the Park Service took over that program in 1960 The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 Father Eusebio Francisco Kino put down the foundations for a church at the village of Bac on the Santa Cruz River near modern Tucson the White Dove of the Desert is more than just a place of local or regional significance “It’s always been seen as a core piece of American history.” 1940 GENERAL VIEW MAIN CHURCH (SOUTHWEST ELEVATION) GENERAL VIEW MAIN CHURCH (SOUTHWEST ELEVATION) NORTH ARCH TO SCHOOLYARD (NORTH ELEVATION) GENERAL VIEW - CHURCH AND PATIO (NORTHEAST ELEVATION) Historic American Buildings Survey Frederick D Photographer January 1938 DISTANT VIEW LOOKING NORTH LANTERN OVER SACRISTY (NORTHEAST ELEVATION) LOOKING TOWARD HIGH ALTAR - San Xavier del Bac Mission Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@tucson.com. On Twitter: @RefriedBrean Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community but the former site of the International Wildlife Museum on Tucson's west side will soon go up for auction There are no 21-gun salutes or buglers playing "Taps." The Southern Arizona Nurse Honor Guard takes a quieter For Star subscribers: A small population of native synchronous fireflies has been documented for the first time at Saguaro National Park The popular downtown community event Meet Me at Maynards is looking for a new gathering spot and a new name after parting ways with Hotel Congress The concert features a wide range of traditional holiday classics performed by instrumental and vocal soloists against a backdrop of the Tucso… Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — When entering San Xavier Mission School, you’re going to be immediately met with the sound of children learning. It’s a sound that has been gone the past two years after their guardian Friar Ponchie Vasquez sent a letter to parents in August 2022 letting them know the school was closing It closed because of declining enrollment and not enough teachers Now they have a few teachers and staff members that are in charge of 15 students in kindergarten is excited to see the new students and also renovations like an updated library and classrooms and a new playground “It’s a mixture of a lot of emotions like a roller coaster,” Randolph Solorzano said “It’s exciting at the same time and also there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it.” That hard work included getting grants from the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson and the Tohono O’odham Nation as well as donations from organizations “One of the main challenges is recruiting teachers,” Randolph Solrzano said pointing to a state-wide problem in Arizona to retain and get new teachers asking kindergartener Marley Schmitt and first grader Samyra Ignacio their thoughts on the new school and their favorite parts about their days “It’s definitely a challenge because every kiddo is at different levels,” Esquer explained she was going to be the second grade teacher but she said the school didn’t need an upper grade teacher “So what we have come up with is teaching them at their level and so that was our base and our foundation,” she said That involves teaching some students a specific lesson while the rest of the class does packets of work “They are listening to the lesson and sometimes when their classmates get stuck they pipe in and they help them out with an answer like oh or oh you can use your learning tools,” Esquer said The school also has another teacher for their Tohono O’odham language program and also teacher assistants while Randolph Solarzano teaches religion “Being able to teach them has been such a wonderful experience so we’re looking forward to continue to see them grow,” Randolph Solorzano said Next year the staff is hoping to open up a third grade and they are hoping to expand every single year until they reach the eighth grade Esquer said while they’re providing students with the best education possible their mission is to also expand the San Xavier Mission Reservation’s mission to include the community “Our school and our mission statement for this year is bringing the community back in and breathing that life back into the San Xavier reservation,” she said Report a typo The San Javier Jazz Festival has just announced its 2025 lineup and it’s packed with an exciting mix of jazz the festival will bring top musicians to town for a month of incredible live music This year’s festival will take place at some of San Javier’s best venues One of the biggest names in this year’s lineup is legendary bassist Marcus Miller He’s played with music icons like Miles Davis he’s making a long-awaited return to Jazz San Javier emotional voice and powerful storytelling make every song an experience She’ll be performing fan favorites along with tracks from her latest album will light up the stage with her unique mix of jazz and R&B She’s worked with legends like Stevie Wonder and Prince More artists will be revealed in the coming weeks For the latest updates on performers and tickets check San Javier Town Hall’s social media pages With a mix of music legends and fresh new talent the San Javier Jazz Festival 2025 is shaping up to be a must-see event for jazz lovers and live music fans Read more Costa Calida news, articles and events here Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  The processions which are held during Easter Week in almost all of Spain are something of a rarity in the area around the Mar Menor and perhaps because of the scarcity of such events the two which are held every year in San Javier are a major visitor attraction which has become rightly renowned in the Region of Murcia and among Semana Santa visitors from all over Spain and northern Europe The Maundy Thursday procession in San Javier itself and the one in Santiago de la Ribera on Good Friday are relatively recent traditions, but they have quickly become established as one of the main events in the annual calendar of the municipality and indeed the whole of the Mar Menor area The first group or brotherhood to reinstate Semana Santa processions in San Javier was the Cofradía de la Santísima Soledad del Mar Menor with the Friday event in Santiago de la Ribera where the two most historic houses of the town the Casa Barnuevo and the Casa Conde de Campillo are included on the route along with the AGA air force officer training academy the procession of Maundy Thursday has been reinstated after an absence of almost 100 years and the silence of the event is broken only by the sound of “saeta” hymns and other music as the streetlights are dimmed and the Nazarenos make their wat by the light of lanterns large crowds gathered to see the figures of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno La Dolorosa and the el Santísimo Cristo de las Ánimas (the oldest of those kept in the parish church dating from the 16th century) proceed through the streets as they further strengthened this added Semana Santa boost to the already strong Easter tourist trade in the municipality For more local information visit the tourist offices of San Javier or go to the home page of San Javier Today For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of San Javier Today The work of San Xavier relief pitcher Miah Bracamonte and clutch hitting of Daynika Oliva propelled San Xavier to the District 12 Juniors softball championship over Sunnyside San Xavier defeated Sunnyside 12-10 behind Oliva’s go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning on Tuesday night at Manzanita Park San Xavier advances to the state tournament that begins July 5 at Arthur Pack In the best-of-three series with Sunnyside 17-4 on Monday night and then Tuesday night’s thrilling victory The game was a scorefest early with both teams taking advantages of walks It was tied at nine with two outs in the third inning when Bracamonte entered the circle Bracamonte walked the first batter she faced to load the bases but then she struck out the next batter to end the threat for Sunnyside which scored five runs in the inning highlighted by a two-run triple by Eliana Ramirez Hector Urrea was the acting manager for San Xavier filling in and his teampersevered to beat Sunnyside 12-10 to claim the District 12 championship. San Xavier swept the two games in the best-of-three series and now heads to the state tournament at Arthur Pack starting July 5. pic.twitter.com/qVc8z2jVjE — Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 26, 2024 The game developed into a pitcher’s duel between Bracamonte and Sunnyside’s Amaya Godoy afterward Sunnyside’s run was unearned against Bracamonte because a fielding error happened on a play that could have ended the inning but a run scored on the play With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning and a runner on third base Amariz Acevedo hit an RBI single to tie the game at 10 Bracamonte did not allow a Sunnyside baserunner to advance past second base Sunnyside had a runner at second base but that player was the last out each time the catcher threw out the runner trying to steal third base the runner on second base was ruled out because she left early before Bracamonte pitched the ball the last out of the game occurred when Sunnyside’s runner on second was caught in a pickle between second and third and was thrown out trying to dive back to second base San Xavier relief pitcher Miah Bracamonte entered with the game tied at 9 with Sunnyside in the third inning. She allowed one unearned run and one hit in the last 3 1/3 innings to get the win. San Xavier won 12-10 to claim the District 12 Juniors title. It advances to the state… pic.twitter.com/of3cSdRalO — Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 26, 2024 Oliva’s clutch single to right field occurred with two outs in the bottom of the sixth with Alicia Navarro on second base after Navarro reached on an error and stole second who came all the way home after two throwing errors to put San Xavier ahead 12-10 Oliva went 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs Delilah Wilson went 1 for 2 and scored three runs Daynika Oliva’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth put San Xavier ahead 11-10 and she also headed home on two throwing errors follow the hit for the final run in San Xavier’s 12-10 win over Sunnyside in the District 12 Juniors championship. pic.twitter.com/v1NxiG5zzj — Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 26, 2024 Bracamonte pitched the last 3 1/3 innings and allowed one hit and the unearned run Godoy pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed four hits and three runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts and two walks A unique website covering youth and high school sports and Pima Community College and University of Arizona athletics combining in-depth analysis and professional reporting from award-winning journalists To accommodate the anticipated overflow crowd in the town of San Javier Mayor Dany Montalvan blocked the streets surrounding its church The space was simply not big enough for the public as local residents and international visitors—led by losyarituses (dancers portraying sacred birds)—processed then eventually squeezed their way into the church for the premiere of the restored opera “San Francisco Xavier” on April 23 it was the first of a three-act production that evening as Mayor Montalvan and local civic leaders thanked performers and reflected on the opera’s role in preserving Chiquitano identity within the larger plurinational reality of Bolivia as the journalist Carolina Villagrán writes a “cultural milestone for Bolivia,” as this town witnessed the first performance of a Jesuit opera since The opera was the “blockbuster” event (superproducción) of the 14th Biennial International Festival of Renaissance and American Baroque Music “Misiones de Chiquitos,” sponsored by La Asociación Pro Arte y Cultura (A.P.A.C.) a nonprofit cultural organization that promotes and produces artistic initiatives especially related to the missions that the Jesuits established between 1691 and 1760 more than 1,200 musicians from 15 countries performed 136 free concerts in 22 venues spread across the Santa Cruz and the Chiquitania region of Eastern Bolivia Georgetown University’s Chamber Singers—the only ensemble from a Jesuit university—were among the invited musicians which included groups from some of the world’s most prestigious music schools who performed for and alongside mission orchestras Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry sponsored the opera premiere at San Xavier which reprised a day later in the nearby Concepción Cathedral “San Xavier” holds the distinction of being the only known surviving opera from the Jesuit reductions set in the Chiquitano language It provides a glimpse of how Jesuits evangelized with music—a key dimension in the encounter between Jesuits and local tribes depicted in Roland Joffé’s critically acclaimed 1986 film “The Mission.” Joffé’s account reflects the socioeconomic tensions that led to the order’s expulsion from the Spanish missions in 1767; his final scene features a Guarani Indian girl who retrieves a violin awash on a riverbank and carries it into a boat where she and other children leave for a new settlement but somehow music would endure in the future of the Indigenous people in the area almost no one knew what the music sounded like People assumed that the scores were also lost with the suppression of the Jesuit order when Ennio Morricone composed the melodies for Joffé’s film he had to make educated musical guesses and be particularly mindful to reflect the spirit of that encounter His fusion of European forms and Indigenous sounds yielded a score that has become an enduring soundtrack Moxos and Chiquitano elders started sharing their music collection with experts Among the latter group was a Jesuit at Boston College who first learned about this repertoire as a doctoral student in musicology at the Catholic University of America in the 1980s Father Nawrot has emerged as a key figure in the restoration publication and promotion of this music—more than 12,000 sheets—that would eventually be housed in two archives in Bolivia: San Ignacio de Moxos in Beni and Concepción Cathedral in Chiquitos His sustained commitment has earned him international acclaim which includes an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of America in May 2024 Father Nawrot recalled his encounter with the local elders before he saw the Moxos manuscripts “For three hours they questioned me about my faith This “complete reversal of roles,” he reflects points to the significance of music in their lives: “It was like the Ark for the Jews; no matter where they moved For them this music is not just sound and harmony—this is the history of their sacred salvation.” Father Nawrot has produced more than a dozen publications he has enough work to “last more than a lifetime.” Father Nawrot’s role as the artistic director of A.P.A.C and his pastoral work as priest provides him a unique position to reanimate and reconnect this music with Bolivians themselves—as opposed to relegating this repertoire to the music libraries of professional ensembles and conservatory students specializing in the growing field of mission baroque financed music education programs and the construction of instruments so that most of the missions have functioning choirs and orchestras as they did during the time of the reductions A.P.A.C.’s “Baroque Sunday” initiative also pairs mission ensembles with participating parishes so that Bolivian Catholics might have a sense of their musical heritage grounding this music in worship is essential for understanding its soul; it reveals people’s lived faith “San Francisco Xavier” may not be a liturgical piece Father Nawrot received funding from the Guggenheim Foundation to restore the opera which endured the elements and paper-eating worms rewrote parts of the dialogue and reconstructed the music musical life in the missions was particularly active partly because of at least two influential Jesuits: the Swiss musician and architect Martin Schmidt (1694-1772) and the young Italian organist and composer Domenico Zipoli (1688-1726) While Zipoli died in neighboring Argentina and never worked in the reductions his music was widely copied and disseminated among missionaries Historical records also indicate high levels of musical activity among the Chiquito Indians while the use of music for evangelization was not new Jesuits were innovative in their approach by training and employing local talent the opera’s “anonymous” authorship likely refers to a collaborative effort between Jesuit and Chiquito musicians Since its restoration, the Argentine conductor Gabriel Garrido has performed the opera with his Ensemble Elyma and the Coro de Niños Cantores de Córdoba. (A 2017 recording is available online.) The distinctive feature of the premiere in April was that it was produced by the town’s local ensemble founded in 2003 by Eduardo Silveira Rodriguez with the support of A.P.A.C This was also the first time since its restoration that the opera was performed in the mission church itself—one of six former Jesuit reductions in Bolivia recognized by Unesco as a world heritage site The Swiss architect Hans Roth was instrumental in securing international support for restoring their deteriorating structures from 1972 up until his death in 1999 Silveira Rodriguez describes the experience of performing the opera in its original space as “magical,” he refers not only to the church’s natural acoustical properties (due to the wood from the region’s arbored rolling hills) but also to the church’s symbolic role as the first Chiquito reduction While “San Francisco Xavier”might lack a dramatic plot it tells an important story: An angel announces what God has revealed to Francis Xavier Then the ensuing eight pairs of dialogues and arias between Francis Xavier and Ignatius Loyola elaborate on God’s goodness and providence akin to how David praised God in the Psalms The musical style is simple and rooted in the European tradition—a feature some find difficult to reconcile especially among those who distance themselves from Bolivia’s colonial past it plays an important role in preventing the language from becoming extinct Performers had to work closely with local elders and language specialists when they began rehearsals in January who plays the title role of Francis Xavier the opportunity to share her language and culture outweighed the stress from the intensive study and rehearsals The opera also provided a means to rediscover restore and include other elements of local culture the only luthier (or maker of stringed instuments) in San Javier worked for three months to create native instruments typical of the missionary period These include the sananá (a horn made of tacuara cane) the yoresoma (a type of flute comprised of reed tubes) and an array of percussion instruments like the bombo (a hand drum) and the paichechise (a string of dried seeds affixed to the knees) The choreographer and costume designer Gonzalo Canedo Vega incorporated native dances like the chovena into the fabric of the performance and drew from the reports of the French researcher Alcide d’Orbigny (1802-57) whose detailed descriptions of Chiquito clothing provided inspiration for the costumes While the music reflects Jesuit evangelization efforts from the 17th and 18th centuries insists that the scores are not museum artifacts nor pious devotions divorced from social realities The Jesuit’s 80-year legacy in Bolivia still has important lessons to teach contemporary audiences Añez explains that the people have integrated this repertoire into their own cultural identities for the encounter between Jesuits and the local Indians modeled a “culture of love based on God and expressed through the Christian Catholic tradition.” The historical Ignatius and Francis Xavier did not work in the Bolivian reductions during their lifetimes But that detail did not matter for the composers the angel invites both saints into the beatific vision of God because they evangelized in the “kingdom of Chiquitos” (aiñataityo au niki unama chikito) and multiplied—to use a local image—“five ears of corn” (aityoximiata tato ñemo sirimana) Yet their entrance into heaven is not an escape The music’s major keys and dance rhythms mitigate against such a dualistic view they have come to experience a foretaste of God’s reign explains that the music can reveal the “happiness and niceness” of God’s reign through the “joy…of their native culture.” Chiquitania is charged with God’s grace Silveira Rodriguez amplifies that sentiment he infuses the music with joy and vibrancy Silveira Rodriguez blows the sananá as they dance the chovena to celebrate God’s providence one could easily imagine a biblical parallel to the shofar announcing a time of jubilee In a private moment minutes before the premiere Añez offered words of encouragement to the 36 predominately teenage performers who introduced him to mission music as a boy as well as his desire to pass on the same legacy to his own two children he invited the ensemble to imagine God as an encouraging father as they sing: “God loves this music committing to this music—refracted through Chiquitano culture—helps both performers and listeners become attuned to the ways God “helps us.” Mr Añez elaborates: “Because music leads us to beauty And discovering beauty takes us to discover the truth And fullness is one of the most unique and most sublime feelings that a human being can experience There is no father (and I understand this as a father myself) who does not enjoy seeing his children living fully seeing us strive us for fullness as a community sacred music and religious education this fall at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology Kitty Schmidt provided assistance in transcribing and translating Spanish interviews Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important America’s voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. 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Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions THE General Air Academy (AGA) in San Javier is set to receive a major boost with a new €7.3 million hangar designed to accommodate six Pilatus aircraft The facility will replace two older buildings and include modern workshops reinforcing the academy’s status as a top-tier training centre This investment highlights the growing importance of the AGA within Spain’s Air and Space Force making sure its infrastructure matches the demands of modern military training The upgrade will not only enhance the academy’s capabilities but also boost San Javier’s reputation as an aviation hub The timing of the project is especially significant is set to begin her military training at the academy in 2026 with the new hangar symbolising its progress This investment in the General Air Academy not only strengthens the academy’s capabilities but also plays a pivotal role in the continued development of San Javier as a hub for aviation and military training it promises to attract more skilled professionals and provide new opportunities for local businesses further integrating the academy into the community alongside the anticipated presence of Princess Leonor symbolise a bright future for both the academy and the region highlighting San Javier’s vital role in Spain’s Air and Space Force With a focus on modern infrastructure and training excellence the AGA will remain a key player in the country’s aviation landscape for years to come Read more Costa Calida news, articles and events here The monumental Belén (or nativity scene) in the Plaza de España, which will be set up this year for the 57th time is arguably the star of the show in the annual festivities to celebrate Christmas in San Javier but of course it is far from being the only attraction and there are a host of other events and activities over the festive season in the municipality The main events in San Javier focus around the Plaza de España and the enormous Belén while there are also various other nativity scenes on display including those in the church of San Javier and the Town Hall both of which are located in the same square in the town centre Most of the other activities in San Javier as well as the Three Kings and Father Christmas also take place in this area A second focal point for activity is the Explanada Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera where there is another nativity scene (the Belén Marinero) The program for the 2024-25 festive season in San Javier includes the following events:  17.00: Special Christmas edition of “Your Park or Mine” in the Parque Almansa 20.30: Sonrisas Harmony in concert at the church of San Francisco Javier 21.00: Ruth Lorenzo offers a Christmas concert at the Teatro de Invierno in Parque Almansa. Tickets from 15 euros available online here with funds going to aid those affected by the DANA in Valencia 18.00: Father Christmas arrives at the Explanada Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera and the Christmas market opens The Christmas market opens on the Explanada Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera with 23 stands and a food truck The market opens on Christmas Day from 11.00 to 14.00 14.00: Concert by Café del Parque on the Explanada Barnuevo 18.00: Concert by Dora Helena on the Explanada Barnuevo 20.30: Official opening speech of the festive season and the presentation of the Belén de la Marquesa in the church of San Francisco Javier a children’s show on the Explanada Barnuevo 14.00: Concert by Bis A Bis on the Explanada Barnuevo 17.30: Concert by Stolen on the Explanada Barnuevo 18.00: Christmas concert of the Banda Sinfónica de San Javier in the Teatro de Invierno 20.00: “La estrellera y el reloj del tiempo” a festive play in the church of San Francisco Javier Children’s workshops on the Explanada Barnuevo followed by music from the Rondalla y Coro Santiago Apóstol at 18.30 20.00: The official opening of the Belén de España in the Plaza de España accompanied by a “Zambomba Flamenca” musical performance by the Escuela Jesús Quiles 12.00: “Una Navidad muy pirata” family activities on the Explanada Barnuevo traditional Andalusian music and dance in the Plaza de España 11.30 and 16.00: Children’s workshops on the Explanada Barnuevo 12.00: Children’s activities in the Plaza de España 18.00: Concert by Adrián Ruiz on the Explanada Barnuevo 20.00: The chamber orchestra Virtuós Mediterrani present their Christmas concert in the Teatro de Invierno with music made popular by artists including Michael Bubble and Frank Sinatra. Tickets 15 euros + costs available online here 19.00: The family opera The Magic Flute by Mozart at the Teatro de Invierno. Tickets available from 10 euros online here an activity for all the family at the Belén de España 12.00: “Pequeños cuentos de Navidad” children’s theatre on the Explanada Barnuevo 12.00: Free guided tour of the Belén de la Marquesa and the Belén de España 14.00: Concert by Serendipity Dúo on the Explanada Barnuevo 18.00: Popular Christmas music in the Plaza de España 18.00: Concert by Jesús Hernández and Amber Kay on the Explanada Barnuevo 10.00: The official postman of the Three Kings collects present letters at an event for children in the pine grove of Roda 12.00: Children’s theatre on the Explanada Barnuevo 14.00: Javier Alcaraz offers a piano recital on the Explanada Barnuevo 17.30: Concert by Filiu y Cía on the Explanada Barnuevo 18.00 and 20.00: Two performances of The Nutcracker ballet by the Taller Municipal de Danza at the Teatro de Invierno 18.00: The Jurassic Band in concert on the Explanada Barnuevo 11.30: Children’s New Year party on the Explanada Barnuevo All-day New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Plaza de Castillo del Mar in La Manga including singing and dancing for children at 10.45 children’s workshops from 12.30 to 14.30 other children’s activities during the afternoon and concerts by The Jurassic Band at 15.00 and DJ music starting at 17.00 A charity Christmas is held during the day family activities in the Plaza de España 18.00: Magic and comedy by Lumaky on the Explanada Barnuevo 18.00 and 19.00: Family shows in the Plaza de España Open doors and charity day at the sports centre located at km 12 in La Manga 12.00: Children’s workshops and activities on the Explanada Barnuevo 14.30: Andrés Ballester in concert on the Explanada Barnuevo./ Concierto 18.00: The Aparatus Band in ocnert on the Explanada Barnuevo 20.00: New Year concert at the Teatro de Invierno featuring The Four Seasons by Vivaldo performed by the Orquesta Meyerbeer with violin soloist Antonio García 12.00: Music and dancing for children on the Explanada Barnuevo 18.00: The Three Kings arrive at the jetty in Santiago de la Ribera before beginning their procession to the Plaza de España in San Javier 20.00: An official welcome is extended by local dignitaries to Their Royal Highnesses the Three Kings in the Plaza de España 11.00: Hot chocolate and Roscón de Reyes cake in the pine grove of Roda San Xavier is returning to the Senior League West Regional Tournament that starts Wednesday at Oakland after defeating Nogales 5-4 on Gregory Ortiz’s two-run single in a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth inning San Xavier won two games in the West Regional at Oakland last season but was eliminated It has all but two players back from that team The Senior League World Series is at Easley Ortiz’s game-winning hit in the extra-inning game came with two outs on an 0-2 pitch Robles led off the inning reaching on a fielder’s choice bunt allowing the automatic runner to move from second to third Nogales turned a double play on fly out to right field and a runner thrown out at home trying to score from third base Robles advanced to third base on the throw Lesley then walked and stole second base before Ortiz’s clutch hit San Xavier won five straight games in the state tournament including Nogales twice in the last two days after losing the opening game against South Mountain last week SOFTBALL LITTLE LEAGUE AT COTTONWOODWillcox 5 Willcox capped a 4-0 run in the Little League softball state tournament behind a stellar performance by pitcher Hattie Macumber She pitched a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts and and no walks The two runs scored by Cactus Foothills were unearned Willcox advances to the West Regional tournament at San Bernardino Willcox made it to the West Regional last season and went 1-2 Julie Larson went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs in the win over Cactus Foothills Kassandra Ramirez was 2 for 2 with a double BASEBALL 50/70 WEST REGION AT NOGALESDouglas vs BASEBALL SENIOR WEST REGION AT OAKLANDSan Xavier vs BASEBALL 50/70 WEST REGION AT NOGALESSan Xavier vs BASEBALL 50/70 WEST REGION AT NOGALESArizona vs SOFTBALL LITTLE LEAGUE WEST REGION AT SAN BERNARDINOWillcox vs SOFTBALL JUNIOR WEST REGION AT ARTHUR PACKArizona (Goodyear) vs the 31,949-square-meter Almansa Park is the result of an idea competition organized with the Murcia Institute of Architects (COAMU) The project carried out by Emac Arquitectura – Miguel Martínez Castillejo and Pau Batalla Soriano – for this urban space benefited from citizen participation and European aid The scheme fragmented the existing civic center expanding the facility’s year-round cultural offer and a track for a regional bowling-like sport called bolos cartageneros The boundaries between the park and the urban environment are diluted in smooth transitions resulting in spaces that dilate and contract and fences are combined and superimposed to blur edges The trees are left to stand and complemented with native species creating a perimeter of perennial vegetation and an inner space with deciduous trees the energy efficiency of the refurbished buildings has been enhanced through sustainable materials This project results in a place where the collective and the individual coexist contributing to social cohesion and sustainability there arent any match using your search terms On December 29, residents of San Javier gathered in Santiago de la Ribera to protest against a proposed biogas plant in the El Mirador area of San Javier organised by the Stop Biogas Mar Menor platform complete with participants wearing gas masks and carrying candles Mozart’s Requiem played in the background as the protestors highlighted their fears about air pollution and its potential impact on the Mar Menor The proposed biogas plant would process animal waste a move that many locals believe could worsen pollution in the region Environmental educator Pilar Rey emphasised the scale of the issue pointing out that the Mar Menor area alone is home to over a million pigs with the Murcia region housing over two million in total Protestors are particularly concerned about the plant’s daily operations which would involve approximately 70 trucks transporting agricultural and livestock waste through the area Increased traffic and emissions are seen as significant threats to both public health and the environment has faced severe environmental challenges in recent years including algal blooms caused by agricultural runoff Activists fear that adding a biogas plant to the region’s existing pressures could have devastating consequences ‘We cannot afford to take more risks with the Mar Menor,’ one protestor stated stating that the current proposal for the biogas plant ‘has no future’ in San Javier many remain skeptical and continue to demand concrete action to prevent the plant from being approved The Stop Biogas Mar Menor platform used the march to gather signatures for their petition against the project they hope to send a clear message to regional authorities ‘This isn’t just about San Javier; it’s about protecting our environment for future generations,’ a member of the platform said While the mayor’s comments offer some reassurance the residents of San Javier remain vigilant They are determined to keep the pressure on local and regional authorities to ensure the Mar Menor and its surrounding areas are safeguarded against further environmental harm The 16th annual tapas and cocktails route in San Javier is being held from November 15 to December 3 with over 20 local hostelries and restaurants taking part offering a range of tasty snacks with a drink for 4 euros per serving Those wishing to vote for the best tapa and opt for a reward in the prize draw can do so using the San Javier Activa app Your route map (to collect stamps from the establishments visited) can be found in the “Fidelización – Tarjetas de fidelización” tab Every time you ask for one of the featured tapas scan the QR code and you will receive your virtual stamp Refresh the app and use the “Vota Tapa” or “Vota Cóctel” to cast your votes for your favourite You may only vote for one in each category but can change your vote while the route is still running The Teatro de Invierno (Winter Theatre) in the Parque Almansa in San Javier has announced a varied program for the first few months of 2025 the second event on February 15 being a special Valentine’s Day concert by Trivox The concert will include all of the most popular numbers performed by the original Il Divo (Urs Bühler Sébastien Izambard and the late Carlos Marín) The concert begins at 20.00 with tickets priced at 25 euros and available online here Copper Hills battled back from a two-run deficit in the fifth inning and walked off with a 4-3 win over San Xavier in the second game of the best-of-three District 12 Little League 8-10 softball championship at Anamax Park at Sahuarita which won 7-0 in the first game Friday night and Copper Hills will play a final Game 3 on Monday at 6:30 p.m The winner advances to the 8-10 state tournament at Verde Valley on July 8 After San Xavier built a 3-1 lead going to the bottom of the fifth inning Kali Underwood hit a two-run inside-the-park home run with no outs Copper Hills 3B Kali Underwood hit a two-run inside-the-park HR in the fifth inning that tied the game at 3 with San Xavier. Copper Hills prevailed with a walk-off win to force a deciding Game 3 Monday (6:30 p.m., Anamax Park in Sahuarita) of the District 12 8-10 softball… pic.twitter.com/h8J8Mul0Xp — Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 23, 2024 the winning pitcher for San Xavier on Friday San Xavier’s Ariela Perez and Bailey Pompa hit consecutive singles but Copper Hills starter Alani Parra managed to get a double play and a ground out to end the threat Copper Hills’ sixth inning started with McKenzie Campos reaching second base on a two-base error A fielder’s choice grounder hit by Blake Moreno resulted in Campos thrown out at third base A throwing error on a grounder allowed Moreno to score the winning run “We told the girls we’re not giving up and we can beat this team,” Copper Hills manager Leslie Rupp said and we were able to make the comeback.” Copper Hills starting pitcher Alani Parra got the win, scattering six hits in her complete-game performance. She struck out four, walked three and allowed only one earned run in the 4-3 victory over San Xavier in Game 2 of the District 12 8-10 softball championship series. https://t.co/5eiMaxcSch pic.twitter.com/lycHhl5vCy — Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 23, 2024 “This is the most she’s ever pitched She rocked it and we couldn’t be more proud of her.” Moreno went 1 for 3 with a run for Copper Hills Idalis Acevedo and Pompa each had RBIs and Perez went 2 for 3 for San Xavier Martinez pitched the last 2 1/3 innings of the game and struck out five with two walks while allowing one hit Martinez struck out 14 and walked three with one hit allowed in a complete-game performance FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District MotoGP world champion Pedro Acosta, from Mazarron, took a break from the racetrack to meet students in San Javier and talk about the importance of road safety was part of a local Police program aimed at educating young people about responsible driving Special attention was given to electric scooters which have become increasingly popular but can also be dangerous when not used correctly Acosta shared his insights on safe driving and stressed the need for proper training told students that success requires hard work and determination ‘I probably have more failures than successes,’ he admitted encouraging them to stay focused and surround themselves with the right people Acosta also revealed that despite being a MotoGP champion he is ‘not a big fan of riding motorbikes on the road.’ He explained that racing on a track is much safer because it is a controlled environment unlike public roads where unexpected situations can occur Acosta was joined by local racer Adrián Cases explained why proper training is essential He urged young drivers to choose safe locations for riding and to always follow road safety rules Mayor José Miguel Luengo and Councillor Alba Sánchez thanked Acosta for his time and contributions To honour his achievements and role in promoting Murcia officially recognising him as a tourism ambassador for the region The road safety talk left a strong impression on the students who had the chance to ask Acosta questions about his career and experiences Acosta helped inspire young drivers to be more responsible on the road while also motivating them to work hard to achieve their own goals For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of San Javier Today For more local information go to the home page of San Javier Today San Javier has introduced an ambitious new project called ‘Alzando el Vuelo’ (Taking Flight) to improve the Santiago de la Ribera area and better infrastructure to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the Parque de las Misiones de la Aviación (Aviation Missions Park) this park will transform an empty area into a lovely green space inspired by aviation Different sections will represent various aviation missions making it a great spot for families and nature lovers the park’s design will prioritise energy efficiency and environmentally friendly materials Another key element of the project is the Centro Cultural Aeronáutico (Aerospace Cultural Centre) This new space will celebrate the town’s rich aviation history offering educational exhibits and cultural activities It will serve as a gathering place for locals and visitors helping to preserve San Javier’s legacy in aviation Infrastructure improvements will also be a major part of the ‘Taking Flight’ project The Castillitos and Atalayón promenades will be upgraded with new pathways A new bike lane will connect San Javier to San Pedro del Pinatar making cycling safer and more accessible for residents and tourists San Javier is also focusing on sports and community spaces The project includes a new sports centre at the Faculty of Sports Sciences which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for athletes and students the Parque Príncipe de Asturias community centre will undergo a major renovation offering improved amenities for social events the ‘Taking Flight’ project aims to create a more connected San Javier is positioning itself for long-term economic and social growth the project will not only improve daily life for residents but also attract more visitors and investment to the area These improvements will make Santiago de la Ribera an even more attractive destination for tourism A new documentary film has been presented in which experts analyse the importance of the discovery of the Phoenician shipwreck known as the Bajo de la Campana just off the coastline of La Manga del Mar Menor The footage includes detailed images from the four years of work on recovering the remains of the vessel which sank off Isla Grosa in waters which lie within the municipality of San Javier and the documentary “El Pecio Fenicio del Bajo de la Campana” was overseen and directed by Miguel Ángel Gallego and Juan Pinedo with the cooperation of the Fundación Integra Digital and the local Town Hall The Bajo de la Campana is one of the most important marine archaeological sites in the Region of Murcia and actually consists of the remains of not just one vessel making it the largest ever found on the Murcia coastline and dates from approximately the 7th century BC (although the remains were not found until the 1950s) Still on board was a large quantity of raw materials together with some interesting trade goods all of which provide valuable archaeological evidence about the trading activities of this once immensely powerful nation of trading merchants are on display in the ARQUA national underwater archaeology museum in Cartagena Miguel Ángel Gallego describes the findings as being of worldwide significance as evidenced by the participation of the Institute Nautical of Archaeology (INA) of the University of Texas in the excavation The church of San Francisco Javier in San Javier is proud to welcome back a carved statue attributed to baroque sculptor Nicolás de Bussy (1640-1706) which has just been fully restored and repainted The “Nazareno” is now on display once again in its home and has been blessed by parish priest Juan Prieto at its presentation on 25th February It was only while the figure was being restored that suspicions were aroused that this could be a work by de Busy and as she continued the process restorer and historian María del Loreto López became more and more convinced In the end her hunch was confirmed by Juan Antonio Fernández Labaña a respected expert in the field of religious sculpture The figure of Christ of Nazareth is clothed in the tunic which was created for it in the 1940s which has also been fully restored at the workshop of Sebastián Marchante in Málaga under the supervision of Santiago Espada who has also designed another tunic along the lines of the one which was lost or destroyed during the Civil War (1936-39)