Room II

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Brotherhood established in Heliopolis starts worshipping a serial image of the Olot factories, being its first president Jose Antonio Martin-Prats and having, for them, the character of the Puerta de Jerez Brotherhood reorganisation. In 1949 it celebrates the fist novena and procession, August 22nd, on a float borrowed from the “2 de mayo” Brotherhood. From the balcony of Paraguay street house, 16, the Superior of the Missionaries consecrates the Heliopolis neighborhood to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, fact that we remember every single year in our Glory Procession.

To that image, missing nowadays, the float is made; it is the same float we have nowadays. It is a beautiful work of goldsmith made by Hermanos Seco’s workshop, released in 1951, and paid with the generosity of one of the sisters of the brotherhood, the Dowager Duchess of Almodovar del Rio, who donated 15.000 pesetas. She was named “Presidenta Mayor Honoraria vitalicia”.

In 1960 one of the most important facts of the story of the brotherhood happens. After some unsuccessful attempts (even a sketch of José Paz Vélez was appreciated) a wood build of a seated Virgin Mary, which clay model was very well-liked by the Governing Board, was commissioned to Rafael Barbero Medina for 30.000 pesetas.

Finally and to reduce cost, the Brotherhood brought the wood of cypress that, according to the oral tradition of the brotherhood, came from one of the Saint Fernando Cemetery obtained through attempts to the Town Council. In Eulogio de las Heras’ book shop, in Sierpes street, the Image was exposed the first days of September, until its blessing and following procession the 25th, after presiding over its first Novena.

Since then it focuses on prayers and devotions of hundreds of “archicofrades” been enchanted of Her infinite sweetness. She is the heart of our brotherhood. And, in addition, she has been reproduced several times in paintings, prints, souvenirs,… due to, for Claretians Missionaries, it is also one of the most important effigy of Father Claret’s concept of the Virgin Mary.

But the Brotherhood, like the rest of the Glory brotherhoods of Seville, during the second half of the XX century does not expand and remains stagnant. From the Governing Board voices are heard asking for its revitalisation, maybe like penitence brotherhood.

In such a situation appears, at the first time in Claret school, the image of Nuestra Señora del Amparo, in 1983, donated by Gabriel Solis Carvajal and then the image of Saint Juan Evangelista, donated by Jesus Despojado Brotherhood in 1986. With these new names, relying on the Cristo de la Misión of the Church, in 1987 the new rules adding the lective and sacramental character are approved.