I remember our ancestors Paz, Glorijea, and Consuelo.

On Saturday morning, during the events organized by the feminist association Herencia de Mujeres to honor outstanding women from the town, Paz Benadero López, La Glorieja, and Consuelo were remembered. These three women showed great devotion to the Stma. Virgen de las Mercedes. Father Comendador José Avilés spoke a few words about Paz, a Herencian woman who was very supportive of the Mercedarian community and the town in general. Paz spent many years caring for an elderly woman and working alongside the Mercedarians in the house and convent.

Those who knew her remember her as an active and enthusiastic woman who dedicated her free time to raising funds for Mercedarian missions and other organizations like Manos Unidas and Caritas. She was wise and educated, with a natural grace and a great sense of humor that she used to apply the appropriate sentence to each situation. She was named Hermana Mayor and received the Charter of Brotherhood from the Order of Mercy for her work, dedication, and affection towards them. Currently, the “Casa de la Paz” houses young immigrants supervised by the “La Merced Migraciones” Foundation. If Paz could speak, she would surely tell us a story of Herencia that would provide fundamental elements for understanding the history of women from her town.

For more information, visit the Facebook page of “Virgen de la Mercedes Coronada, Antigua Patrona de Herencia y Alcaldesa P.”