Bust of Onésimo Bethencourt

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Art · Subcategory: Sculpture · Year: 2014 · Authors: Eladio González de la Cruz

The priest Onésimo Bethencourt Cabrera (Breña Alta, La Palma, 1943 – Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1994) was parish priest of the church in the Valleseco neighbourhood for more than 24 years, leaving an indelible mark there.

This man from La Palma studied Humanities, Philosophy and Theology at the Diocesan Seminary of La Laguna, being ordained priest in Los Llanos de Aridane, La Palma, in 1968. Shortly afterwards he arrived as Coadjutor of the parish of La Paz y Unión, in La Cuesta, and the following year he took possession as parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in Valleseco. In this parish in Santa Cruz, Onésimo Bethencourt became deeply involved with the local community, sharing their daily concerns. Together with his parishioners he managed to achieve the construction of the church in the neighbourhood.

The monument in honour of Onésimo Bethencourt was installed in 2014 in a corner of the small square of the church itself. The work consists of a realistic bust made of bronze by the sculptor Eladio de la Cruz, erected on a pedestal of red stone tiles, where a plaque highlights the fiftieth anniversary of the parish for which the honoured priest fought so much.

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