Javieres Family and the Society of Jesus Agree on the Sale of Sacred Heart Church
Hermandad de los Javieres Returns to its Foundational Seat After Four Decades
After months of negotiations and anticipation, the Hermandad de los Javieres has officially returned to its foundational seat, the Church of the Sacred Heart, in the heart of Seville. The historic agreement was signed this morning at the notary's office of Gutiérrez-Alviz and Conradi, with the presence of Father Joaquín Barrero representing the Company of Jesus, the brother mayor of the Hermandad, José Antonio Oliert Rodríguez, and notary Pablo Gutiérrez-Alviz.
The contract marks a significant step in consolidating the Javieres in their new environment. It strengthens their ties with the Company of Jesus, reaffirms their commitment to the conservation of religious heritage, and promotes worship. The agreement grants the Hermandad the free transfer of both the Church of the Sacred Heart and the Chapel of the Luises for an initial period of forty years.
Since 1977, these temples have not permanently housed any Hermandad, giving greater symbolic significance to the return of the Javieres. During this period, the Church of the Sacred Heart served as the seat of the Jesuit youth pastoral. With the signing of the contract, the church will reopen for worship.
The Hermandad will be responsible for the management, conservation, and maintenance of the temples. They will also facilitate the celebration of the commemorative Eucharist of Father Tarín's death anniversary, every 12th of December. The contract includes a special consideration for the sepulcher of the Venerable Father Tarín in the Church of the Sacred Heart.
The devotion of the faithful to the sepulcher of Father Tarín is favoured, as long as it does not interfere with the liturgical life of the Hermandad. The vice-postulator of the cause of canonization of Father Tarín will be allowed to attend the devotees during the opening hours of the temple.
The corporation has full autonomy to decide the location of its images within the temples. The Javieres will make their penitential station on Maundy Thursday 2026, after almost five decades of absence. Numerous officials of the governing board of the corporation attended the signing, witnessing this momentous event.
This return marks a new chapter in the history of the Hermandad de los Javieres and the Church of the Sacred Heart. The faithful of Seville look forward to the revival of the traditional processions and the spiritual enrichment that the presence of the Javieres will bring.
