Easter at the Sagrada Família - Easter at the Sagrada Família

Easter Concert with Orfeón Donostiarra

On Sunday 26 March, the Basilica filled with music by Orfeón Donostiarra, an amateur choir institution founded 125 years ago in San Sebastián. At the concert, the group performed a repertory of pieces by artists like Handel, Verdi and Mahler, Tomás Garbizu’s Ave Maria, and the premiere of Argi Izpi, a piece by an Orfeón singer/songwriter.

The Sagrada Família invited residents to join in this experience with a draw giving out 300 tickets for two for the concert among the 15,970 entries.

This concert was also possible thanks to the collaboration of TUI experiences, a platform that allows travellers from around the world to book thousands of excursions, activities and tickets for tourist attractions and places of interest in over 100 countries.

Easter workshop

This year, the Sagrada Família offered an Easter children’s workshop for families with kids between 5 and 11 years old, as a sweet, fun way to discover the meaning of Easter. The workshop was held from 25 March to 10 April, with 20 sessions.

Illuminations of the Passion façade

On 3, 4 and 5 April, the Passion façade was once again lit up to share the story of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ through music and text written by Mons. Antoni Vadell i Ferrer. With this activity, the Sagrada Família remembered the deceased priest who was Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona from 2017 to 2022. The Illumination and art direction was by Fernando Rojo (dLight).

There were six sessions in total, two per day: the first in Catalan and the second in Spanish. A total of 15,788  people came out to enjoy the illuminations for free on the grounds until capacity was reached, and on the street, too.

Religious services for Easter at the Basilica

Palm Sunday was celebrated on 2 April at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família with the blessing of the palm fronds and then mass. The ceremony began inside the Basilica at 12 noon. A few minutes later, the blessing of the palm fronds began and, then, the solemn mass took place inside the Basilica, officiated this year by Mons. David Abadías, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona.

On Maundy Thursday, Mons. Javier Vilanova, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, led the celebration of the Lord’s Last Supper at the Sagrada Família, with washing of feet. After the mass, the Holy Sacrament was transferred in procession to the crypt for the adoration of the faithful.

This year, the Commemoration of the Passion of Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família on Good Friday was officiated by Mons. Sergi Gordo, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona. After the mass, Mons. Sergi Gordo led the Via Crucis on the Passion façade.

On Saturday 8 April, Mons. David Abadías, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, led the Easter Vigil at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família at 9:00 pm. This year it was possible to do the lighting of the Paschal candle with new fire and the blessing of the new water in front of the Nativity façade, which had to be stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The international mass on Easter Sunday was led by the rector, Mons. Josep Maria Turull, bringing the religious celebrations for Easter Week to an end.