May 23, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia, Spain, gave the green light to a local construction company this week to begin building the first parish dedicated to the martyrs of Valencia, who died during the civil war religious persecution of 1936. Pope John Paul II beatified the 233 martyrs in 2001.
The pastor of the new parish, Father Jose Ricardo Albelda, told the AVAN news agency that the parish will be able to sit 847 people and will cover about 11,000 square feet. The ceiling will be decorated with a mosaic made up of hundreds of ceramic tiles. The bell tower will soar to over 91 feet and will house 8 bells.
The parish will also include a small chapel for daily Mass with a seating capacity of 200, as well as a parish hall for different non-liturgical activities. Relics from St. Vincent and the new martyrs of Valencia will be placed in the altar.
The Diocese of Valencia is currently processing the beatification causes of another 250 martyrs from Valencia who died during the Spanish Civil war.