The HERMANDAD Y COFRADÍA DE LA SAGRADA Y MARÍA SANTÍSIMA DE LA ESPERANZA was established under the auspices of Parish Priest, Mons. García, PC, by the families who own the pasos de misterio for the annual Semana Santa processions of Santa María, Bulacán, to promote devotion to the Sacred Passion of Our Lord and to His Blessed Mother under the advocation of La Virgen Esperanza Macarena by overseeing the commemoration of more than two centuries of Lenten traditions in the historic town. Every year, the Junta de Gobierno chooses an Hermano Mayor de Honor or Honorary President to lead in the solemn festivities of Lent. He or she may be from or outside of Santa María as long as the person is a practicing Catholic and is known for his or her religious devotion. The Real, Ilustre y Fervorosa Hermandad y Cofradía de Nazarenos de Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario, Nuestro Padre Jesús de la Sentencia y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena of Seville, Spain has recognized the Hermandad de la Sagrada Pasión as the 21st hermandad dedicated to the patronage of La Virgen Esperanza Macarena in the whole world, thus making it the first in Asia and the second to be recognized outside of Spain. With this distinction, the Hermandad proudly join the countless brothers which have been honoring La Virgen Macarena for more than four centuries. It is our custom to begin the celebration of Semana Santa on the 4th Friday of Lent with the Solemne Septenario where for seven days of prayers and Masses, each of the Seven Sorrows of Our Blessed Lady are commemorated and preached. It is a devotion that was introduced by the Franciscans but was lost with the passage of time and was revived by the Hermandad. For this event, priests from near and far, known for their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary are invited as Main Celebrant and Preacher for each day. The Septenario climaxes on the Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent or the Friday before Palm Sunday, which is hallowed by tradition as Viernes de Dolores, the Fiesta de María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena – the Queen of Sorrows, where she is honored with a Pontifical Mass and the besamanos [kissing of the hand] lead by the clergy, the HERMANDAD and the faithful in the morning and a Misa Concelebrada and Solemn Procession in the evening. It is on this day that the year’s Hermano Mayor de Honor is solemnly installed according to the established rites. Aside from the customary rites of Holy Week, Santa María takes pride in its Semana Santa Processions, which since the establishment of the HERMANDAD, has been held with greater solemnity and proper decorum proper for these celebrations. Close to 50 pasos of the Lord’s Public Life, Passion and Death - some dating to the Spanish era when the Church of Santa María was still under the Franciscans - are brought out by the families which form the HERMANDAD during the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday Processions. It is an event that is attended not only by the people of Santa María but from neighboring towns as well and from devotees from as far as Manila and nearby provinces. For over twenty years now, the Hermandad has started its procession with an Opening Prayer, led by the clergy then the Presentation of the Pasos, where each paso or carroza are brought to the stage while a narration of the significance of each are read before the people. Upon reaching the stage, the priests incenses and blesses the pasos and their respective Camareras or caretakers. The procession concludes with a closing prayer before the people are sent home. This was a practice that was observed here in Santa María long before it was introduced or set as the norm for the Diocese of Malolos. Like the established Hermandades and Cofradías, the Hermandad also has its Bolsa de Caridad or charity work. On Viernes de Dolores, part of the principal guests of the celebration are the widows and widowers where a special blessing and a simple reception are given them after the Festivities.
