Mayor Mari Fe Muñoz presented the staff of office to the image of Nuestra Señora del Rosario on behalf of the City Council and the town during the solemn mass of her feast day. Previously, the bishop made an institutional visit to the City Council, signing the Book of Honor.
During the religious service, Muñoz read the unanimous agreement from the Municipal Plenary, held on Tuesday, October 6, which granted this honorary recognition. The mayor highlighted the historical relationship, stating the appointment acknowledges "a history that goes back a long way," with documented ties spanning over three centuries.
The mayor recalled the work of the official chronicler, Fernando Leiva Briones, who recently passed away, whose research has been crucial in recovering the history of local brotherhoods and traditions. Milestones mentioned included the Virgin's stewardship in 1722, the founding of her brotherhood in 1770, and the Municipal Corporation's participation in the procession in 1876.
The role of the women of Fuente-Tójar was highlighted; they spurred the revival of the brotherhood in 1900 and have since contributed to sustaining the festivals and caring for the image. Muñoz described the appointment as "a tribute to those who have kept this tradition alive."
The mayor reaffirmed the municipal commitment to traditions, brotherhoods, and the parish, emphasizing ongoing collaboration in celebrations, heritage preservation, and care for the elderly. She underscored the day as an expression of unity between residents and those who maintain their roots in the municipality.
The day concluded with the inauguration of a ceramic altarpiece on the church's facade, a testament to the granting of the title of Perpetual Mayor to Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
