On Sunday 17th June, Mojácar received the relics of the Blessed Antonio and José Fuentes Ballesteros, who were both born and baptised in the town and, were later to lose their lives there due to their faith in 1936.
The event, which took place at the town´s Santa María Church, was preceded by a Solemn Eucharist presided over by the Judicial Vicar, Don José Juan Alarcón Ruiz and officiated by Parish Priest Don Miguel Esteban Jerez, who is now charged with their care and worship.
Along with many local residents, those gathering to witness this significant moment for Catholics from the Almeria Levante area included Mojácar´s Mayor, Rosmarí Cano, along with her governing team.
Since the beatification ceremony of 115 Almerían martyrs held in March last year, various provincial parishes including Canjáyar, Chirivel and María have already received urns with the relics of their own martyrs.
The brothers Joseph and Antonio Fuentes Ballesteros both entered the Almeria Seminary and Antonio Fuentes later gained his theology doctorate at the Granada´s Seminary. Following various posts in this area, Antonio took on the parish of Lubrín in 1927, where his brother, José, joined him to assist. Testimonies given by relatives and acquaintances show that throughout their ministry, they dedicated their work to the disadvantaged, helping them as much as they possibly could within their scant resources.
