Written by Rev John Poole | July 2022
The Revd Dr Macario Manuel López García, formerly Rector of the parish which includes San Blas, Golf del Sur, and now serving in the northern town of Tacoronte, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on Wednesday 20th July at the church of Santa Catalina martir (St Catherine the Martyr), Tacoronte. I was invited to the celebration and at typically short notice, Father Macario asked me to give an appropriate short speech (in Spanish) at the end of the Mass. Three other people, including Noelle Corridan of the San Blas RC congregation, also gave tributes. It was a full church with an excellent choir and some thirty priests present. The following is a translation of my few words:
‘I arrived in Tenerife in September 2016. Very soon I got to know Fr Macario, since one of my congregations shared one of his churches, San Blas in Golf del Sur. It also helped that Fr Macario spoke excellent English. In fact, he speaks English like he speaks Spanish, that is, very fast! In time we became good friends.
We used to meet regularly, sometimes simply for a coffee or lunch. We organised regular joint services for our congregations, for example, a Carol Service just before Christmas, Stations of the Cross during Lent, and the Good Friday Liturgy. I have preached for Fr Macario at his Mass on the feast of St Blaise (San Blas), and he has done the same for me on the feast of our patron, St Francis of Assisi.
Outside the parish, it was good to work together to prepare the services for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which takes place in January. We hope that these can resume as the pandemic diminishes.
It was good news for us when Fr Macario was appointed Tenerife Diocesan Ecumenical Delegate.
As I know well, a priest never forgets his ordination, and when he presided at the Eucharist for the first time. It is a pleasure and a privilege to join you and many friends for your 25th anniversary celebration today.
My prayers and those of your brothers and sisters of the Anglican community in Tenerife are with you today and in the years to come.’