The Brotherhood of Mercy has presented the program of events for the extraordinary visit of Santa María de la Merced to the Córdoba Penitentiary Center. This initiative is part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the image's blessing and arrival to the corporation, marking one of the most unique events in the commemorative calendar.

The Mercedarian advocation, historically linked to redemption, hope, and care for those deprived of liberty, will find a setting particularly connected to its meaning within the prison. The events will unfold over three days in the center's auditorium.

The program will begin on Saturday, June 13th, with the conference 'Virgin of Freedom: origin and meaning', featuring José Antonio Rojas Moriana, director of Penitentiary Pastoral Care of Córdoba; composer Francisco José Cañadas Ruiz; and Francisco Mellado Calderón, prior of Santa María de la Merced.

The second event will take place on Thursday, June 18th, with the talk 'The Brotherhood of Mercy and the Prison', delivered by brotherhood members Miguel Ángel de Abajo Medina and Pablo Jiménez González.

The culmination of the events will be on Saturday, June 20th, with the extraordinary visit of Santa María de la Merced to the center. During this day, a solemn Eucharist presided over by the bishop of Córdoba, Jesús Fernández, and an extraordinary 'besamanos' (kissing of the hand) to the Virgin will be held.

The brotherhood emphasizes the profound significance of this initiative, aiming to bring a message of hope and solace to those most in need, aspiring to be a historic moment for the corporation and the diocese's prison pastoral care.

This visit is part of the extensive program of religious, cultural, and educational events with which the brotherhood is commemorating the 50 years since the arrival and blessing of Santa María de la Merced.