Our Institution
Board of Holy Week Brotherhoods and Guilds
The Board is a federation of public associations of the faithful (cf. CIC, canon 313), a non-profit organisation with its own legal personality, established by the Bishop in accordance with the current Code of Canon Law. It brings together the Brotherhoods, Guilds and Mayordomías of Alicante’s Holy Week.
History of the Board
Its history stretches back many years. To ensure the proper organisation of Holy Week celebrations in our city, records already show the existence, in the mid-19th century, of the so-called “Association of Religious Entities”, which brought together, among others, the Brotherhoods and Guilds of Alicante.
In the 1920s, the idea was also put forward to create an “Association of Brotherhoods” that could better regulate the processions and establish a set of rules to be followed.
In the early 1940s, as Brotherhoods and Guilds that had ceased taking part in processions in previous years were reorganised in our city, an “Organising Committee” was established. It was responsible for requesting funds from the City Council for the processions and promotional expenses.
Official Establishment
On 7 March 1944, the “Local Board of Brotherhoods” was officially established at the proposal of the City Council. The presidency was shared by two people: a civil representative, the Mayor, and an ecclesiastical representative, the Abbot of San Nicolás.
A New Name
On 18 March 1947, it was decided to change the name to “Local Board of Brotherhoods and Guilds”.
The Current Name
On 16 March 1949, the name “Board of Holy Week Brotherhoods and Guilds of Alicante” was adopted. The first Statutes or Regulations were established in the minutes of the Board meeting held on 25 March 1949.
The Current Presidency System
The Board retained its dual presidency until 1980, when the current system was adopted: the institution elects a single president, who serves in a civil capacity and is independent of political authority.