Herencia, the place where people pray the most in Spain?

In the vast plains of La Mancha, a land of boundless horizons and birthplace of the most universal of noblemen, Herencia stands like a living postcard taken from the pages of Miguel de Cervantes.

This municipality in Ciudad Real, famous for its iconic windmills, inevitably reminds us of the passage where Don Quixote, in his noble madness, mistook these gigantic blades for rampaging giants. However, in this small town, the real epic is not fought against fictional windmills, but in a silent and constant battle in favor of faith: Herencia could surely be one of the towns where God is most worshipped in Spain.

Herencia has just 8,000 inhabitants, 385 of whom are registered as worshippers of the Blessed Sacrament, committed to dedicating one hour a week to accompany Jesus in the Eucharist. This represents 5% of the total population, an exceptional proportion for an initiative of this kind.

Origins

There are currently 56 parishes in Spain with perpetual adoration. The parish of the Immaculate Conception in Herencia is one of them. In February 2023, it began permanent Eucharistic adoration, 24 hours a day, a practice that consists of the continuous exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the church for the personal prayer of the faithful. Day and night, there is always at least one person praying before the Eucharist, in a silence that contrasts with the usual rhythm of daily life.

The parish priest, Alberto Domínguez, acknowledges that the initiative did not initially come from him. «This was born out of the determination of some lay people in the village,» he explains. The priest admits that he was initially skeptical about the viability of the project, especially because of the consistency required to cover all the hours of the week. However, he decided to support it after making the decision during a trip to Medjugorje.

Effects of worship

According to the parish priest himself, the effects have been visible in the Christian life of the community. «Many people have increased their practice of confession, attendance at Sunday and weekday Mass, and above all, their relationship with the Eucharist has helped them to understand and appreciate the other sacraments more,» he says.

It is also very noticeable that people who attend Emmaus, Effetá, and Bartimeo retreats follow through on their resolutions by committing to worship shifts.

The heart and soul of the team

An initiative like this is quite complex, especially when it comes to dealing with unforeseen circumstances such as illness, vacations, etc. For this reason, there is a coordination team that is responsible for organizing schedules, ensuring constant presence before the Tabernacle, and attending to various logistical needs.

It is led by Loli, who has the invaluable help of a committed team made up of Charo, Berna, José Carlos, Lola, Jesús, and Petri, whose active collaboration is key to sustaining this spiritual practice and fostering devotion in the parish community. Thanks to their work, Herencia has become an important center of prayer.