Residents of Cañada Rosal have submitted a letter to the Archdiocese for Fernando Flores, the village's parish priest since 1964, to continue serving at the age of 89 and not be retired as emeritus.
About thirty entities from Cañada Rosal have signed a document to advocate for the continuity of Fernando Flores, the priest who has led the local parish for over six decades. The letter was delivered this Friday to the Archdiocese of Seville, where representatives of the community commission requested a meeting with the archbishop to present their arguments.
José Antonio Fílter, spokesperson for the commission, explained that the initiative aims to gather "the feelings of the people" regarding the decision for Flores to become emeritus upon turning 90. "He is more than a priest; he is a man loved by the entire village and deserves to continue working," Fílter asserted, emphasising that the priest "should continue until he decides he cannot or until God wishes him to stop."
Over 60 years of service in Cañada Rosal
Fernando Flores arrived in Cañada Rosal in 1964 and has since been the parish's titular priest. Residents highlight his "unmatched dedication and service" and affirm that he has "dedicated his priestly life to the spiritual, moral, and social well-being" of the municipality. The document submitted to the Archdiocese underscores that the priest "is in sufficient condition and capacity to perform his ministerial functions," carrying out his work "with the same clarity, enthusiasm, and effectiveness that have always characterised him."
The community mobilization reflects Flores' deep roots in the locality, where he has officiated masses, weddings, and baptisms for generations. For many residents, the parish priest is a central figure in community life, beyond the religious aspect. "He is the priest of a lifetime, the one who has been there in good times and bad," commented a resident who preferred to remain anonymous.
Discontent over the manner of his cessation
The letter also expresses discontent over "the manner in which the cessation of Don Fernando Flores Pistón as titular parish priest has been carried out." The signatories believe that "there are no legitimate causes of incapacity or voluntary cessation that justify his transition to emeritus" and warn of the social and spiritual impact that his departure could have. "An alteration of his functions unnecessarily disrupts the spiritual stability of the community and the identity of a parish that has been built alongside him," the document states.
The commission has already announced that support actions will continue with new initiatives in the coming days. For now, the meeting with the archbishop could not take place as he was in Madrid for work reasons, but residents are hopeful of personally conveying their arguments to him. Meanwhile, in Cañada Rosal, the call for their parish priest continues: "He is a man who has given his life for the village, and now the village is giving it back to him," Fílter concluded.
