Be a preacher of the Holy Week in Salamanca It is one of the great milestones that can be achieved in these days of faith. Last year it was Julio López Revueltacommunication director of the Junta de Castilla y León, where he gave a proclamation full of music and culture, playing small Salamancan points to decorate these dates.
This 2026 will be Daniel Cuesta GomezJesuit priest and former brother of the Jesús Despojado Brotherhood, born in Segovia but closely linked to Salamanca by graduating, first, in Art History, and then completing a degree in Humanities at the Pontifical University of Salamanca and later a master’s degree in teaching at the same institution.
In this way, Holy Week in Salamanca highlights all the professional career of the clergyman, thus combining the deep reflection of faiththe knowledge acquired in the capital of Tormes and the proximity of the Jesuit company.
Thus, being named preacher of Holy Week becomes one of the most important experiences in the life calendar, with a deep meaning as it not only has an institutional but also a spiritual character and as these dates are the perfect point of culture, society and faith.
This Thursday, March 26, the Liceo Theater will witness the proclamation of Daniel Cuesta Gómez, a person who can already be considered an adopted son of the capital of Tormes and who will see this status increasing with the great event that will be held, always, from “humility.”
Ask.How did you receive the news that you would be the preacher of Holy Week in Salamanca?
Answer.It was a very special and very curious day because it was July 25, the day of the Apostle Santiago since I came to Santiago, and on top of that on the 26th I had to come to Salamanca. The president of the Board of Brotherhoods of the Week called me, summoned me to Zamora and brought me to Salamanca to make the proposal. I received the order with great joy.
Q.You have always been very linked to Salamanca, therefore, what does it mean to you to give the proclamation in a city with which you have such a connection?
R.In Salamanca were the first years. I started training in San Sebastián as a Jesuit and they immediately sent me here. My years in Salamanca were very important because I trained in Philosophy, Art History and Humanity, where I also had my first ecclesial experiences. It was very special because it also coincided with Youth Days in 2011, when I was 22 years old, and we were organizing for it. At that moment I was at the peak of my strength with two great friends, Alvaro Gómez and Tomás Gonzalez. It was a very beautiful moment.
Q.The proclamation is already prepared just a few hours before it takes place, what approach did you want to give?
R.Above all a faith approach. A proclamation is an act that announces what is going to happen, Holy Week, which is also a memory of what Jesus went through. It is a proclamation that has the passion, death and resurrection, but then it has that story with a Brotherhood and Salamancan accent. It is a proclamation born of prayer.
Q.I think we also have to focus in some way on the current meaning of Holy Week and the relevance it has. What role do you think it plays today?
R.Holy Week is the great speaker of the Church and the one that has the Christian faith to give the message of Jesus Christ, the best message that has been given. Holy Week puts us before everything, in a plastic way, with the steps and the staging. Holy Week has a vital role in faith and everyone receives faith as they want. Holy Week is vital when it comes to the transmission of faith today.
Q.How can Easter be brought closer to young people?
R.The brotherhoods work a lot for evangelization, from catechesis proposals, to more spontaneous proposals that can come from preaching and taking advantage of the elements of Holy Week to transmit that to young people, which I also believe resonates. What faith is in young people is important, because a faith that is not cared for is a much weaker faith. Another thing is how that faith is cared for throughout the year. In short, I believe that this message of hope is reaching and reaching among youth.
Q.The memories that Holy Week leaves are always something beautiful. Therefore, what memory do you have from these dates in Salamanca?
R.I remember the arrival of the Stripped Jesus and that of the Mary of Holiness and Consolation. The first because of the bond I have with the Brotherhood preparing for that arrival, where I forged many bonds of friendship, and in the case of the second because we had it stored at home, so it was also very special.
Q.Finally, I think it is important to talk about wars and the role they are playing throughout the world. What message can be transmitted?
R.Simply the message of Jesus Christ, which is to turn the other cheek and always forgive. The resurrected Jesus, the first thing he did was say “peace be with you” and I hope that is what is transmitted.
