Pere Fons, the priest with a "legendary" life who revolutionized some towns in the Pla

PalmMaría de la Salud, Vilafranca and Sineu are the municipalities of Pla de Mallorca that saw how the arrival of a priest revolutionized their daily life and the relationship that many had with the Church, with the priests.

Tomeu Ramis, a native of Inca, has spent most of his life in Palma due to work and family reasons. But when he sensed he would be forced into early retirement, his main goal was to move to a town in the Pla de Mallorca region, and he chose to live in María, where he has resided for over a decade. There, he combines his passion for music, theater, and poetry, as part of the Filagulla group, and actively participates in the town's cultural life. ConsuetaInvestigating aspects of popular culture in all its facets. Thus, and surprisingly, he publishes his first book Pere Fons, a legend, his first debut work in the world of letters.

This work will be presented to Maria this Friday, November 28th, at 7:00 PM in the Church of Maria de la Salut. It aims to recover the collective memory of Father Pere Fons Pasqual (Son Mesquida Vell, Manacor, 1938), who was the parish priest of Maria de la Salut (1986-1995). As in other areas where he served, he left his mark, particularly among the town's working class—who had not expected a priest who championed the poor and was so progressive compared to other priests who had managed the parish. With his more open, forward-thinking, and innovative approach, Pere revolutionized the daily life of the town, transforming its moral, cultural, social, and political foundations.

As the author so aptly narrates, Pere Fons brought a breath of fresh air to María while remaining committed to his ideals. He constantly sought support and collaboration to launch his projects for the benefit of the people; he housed and supported marginalized people in the rectory, demolished the Els Caiguts monument and planted an olive tree in its place… among other things, he was also one of the founders of the magazine Making CareerRadio Maria and initiated renovations at the Hostal de Can Gaspar and opened the Capilla Fonda for cultural events, in addition to a soup kitchen for people with limited resources or those facing social exclusion.

Another date the author mentions is that he shared five years with Jaume Santandreu, two priests who were constantly rebelling against the ecclesiastical hierarchy of their time. The book, carefully edited by Documenta Balear, is also full of anecdotes told by people from the town who lived alongside him. It doesn't only focus on Maria; Tomeu also delves into other places where he put his understanding of the Gospel into practice, such as Son Macià (where he presented it on October 31), Vilafranca, and Maria, interspersed with periods of time spent in Peru as a missionary and, finally, in Cuba, in a more aphoristic way.

The prologue is masterful, unique, and eclectic, written by Jaume Santandreu, who passed away on June 1st. The book is very well structured, following chronological order, from his origins to his last stay in Sa Pobla. The author's intention to create the right atmosphere for the interviewee to freely and confidently unfold his experiences is evident, as are the various interviews that offer a more objective perspective on a person who never left anyone indifferent.

Another highly commendable act by the author is that he has waived his copyright, and with the consent of the subject, Pere Fons, a portion of the proceeds from each book will be donated to the NGO Amics de Cuba. Likewise, in Son Macià, this Friday the 28th, at 7 pm, you can enjoy the presence of the author, Tomeu Ramis, and the protagonist, Pere Fons, who will be accompanied by the words of the local expert and folk culture specialist Felip Munar; with the presence of the glosadoras Alícia Olivares and Cati Eva Canyellas, and the mariando Miquel de La Habana, in an event coordinated by the Col·lectiu Blat Xeixa with the support of the Maria Town Hall and the church, which will open their doors for an evening in which we will surely recover the memory of many events that are part of the reality that are part of history.

Finally, I want to recommend the book, which I have had the opportunity to read and enjoy for its rich language, full of experiences, entertaining, and which will awaken curiosity in those who do not know Pedro and in others who will remember moments that helped change a town.