Easter at the Sagrada Família

From 16 March to 1 April, the Sagrada Família offered various events and religious services for Easter.

Easter workshop

This year, the Sagrada Família offered an Easter children’s workshop for families with kids between 6 and 12 years old, as a sweet, fun way to discover the meaning of Easter. The activity included an interactive visit to the Temple with several discovery games to explore the Passion façade, concluding with the decoration of a chocolate egg for the children to take home as a souvenir. This workshop was held with collaboration from the Chocolate Museum and Barcelona Official Pastry School.

A total of 32 sessions were held, with 347 children participating, totalling 702 individuals including accompanying adults.

Easter Concert

The Sagrada Família hosted its Easter Concert featuring Orquestra de Cambra de Granollers, Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió and Cor de Cambra de Granollers.

Led by conductor Corrado Bolsi, the groups from Teatre Auditori de Granollers performed a repertoire featuring the most emblematic excerpts from two of the four Passions by Johann Sebastian Bach: the ones based on the Gospels according to Matthew and John.

To share the meaning of Easter with the people, the Sagrada Família invited residents to join in this experience with a draw giving out 325 tickets for two for the concert among the 16,493 entries.

Passion and death of Jesus Christ through illuminations of the Passion façade

The illuminations of the Passion façade began on 24 March and on 25 and 26 March with two sessions each day. This activity shares the story of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ through a musical light show with text written by Mons. Javier Vilanova, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona.

There were six sessions in total, two per day: the first in Catalan and the second in Spanish. A total of 7,922 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 Sagrada Família

On 24 March, Palm Sunday celebrations were held at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família with the blessing of the palm fronds and then mass. The ceremony began inside the Basilica at 12:00 noon. Afterwards, the palm fronds were blessed and, then, the solemn mass was held inside the Basilica, this year led by Mons. Javier Vilanova, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona.

On Maundy Thursday, Mons. David Abadías, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, led the celebration of the Lord’s Last Supper with feet washing. 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 on Good Friday at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família was officiated by Mons. David Abadías, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona. At 9:00 pm, the Via Crucis was held on the Passion façade.

On Saturday 30 March, Mons. Javier Vilanova, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, led the solemn Easter Vigil with the traditional lighting of the new fire, the Paschal candle and the blessing of the new water in front of the Nativity façade.

On 31 March, the international Easter Sunday mass took place, led by Mons. Josep Turull, Rector of the Basilica. This event marked the conclusion of the liturgical celebrations of Easter week.