Through a collaboration between the Sagrada Família and La Pedrera free tickets were given out for art workshops at Antoni Gaudí’s two most emblematic spaces winners of the draw held by La Pedrera got to take part in the Easter workshop held at the Sagrada Família which included a fun tour of the Temple with a discovery game called “Search for the lost sounds” the winners of the draw held by the Sagrada Família participated in the workshop “Indiana Stones: Let’s Explore!” which has the kids discover La Pedrera through activities throughout the building We use our own and third-party cookies to improve this website as well as collect and analyze access data By clicking on 'OK' you accept the use of your data for these purposes You can modify this consent whenever you wish Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Phone: 216-696-6525 Toll Free: 1-800-869-6525 Address: 1404 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114   Share this Page who served as a missionary in El Salvador and ministered at both Sagrada Familia and Sacred Heart Chapel was instrumental in establishing the Carpets of Holy Week at the two parishes The tradition began nearly 30 years ago at Sacred Heart Chapel During his time as Sagrada Familia’s pastor to begin the tradition as his Eagle Scout project Santiago is now a grown man pursuing a career but his family and Sagrada Familia parishioners continue the beloved tradition It takes months for the parishes to plan and build the carpets they will be trampled and turned into dust said destruction of the carpets is symbolic of the death of Jesus who triumphed over sin and death to bring us salvation Work on the carpets at both churches began on Palm Sunday as teams carefully cleaned the floor in the church halls Outlines of the designs had been traced with black marker so those building the carpets could add the colored sawdust and other materials the designs – which were approved by Father Bill Thaden earlier in the year – were traced on large sheets of heavy The carpets form a path that is followed as the faithful process from the church into the parish hall after the Passion liturgy on Good Friday (April 18) who helps coordinate the project at Sagrada Familia said sawdust is collected from lumber yards to use for the project each year Volunteers tint the sawdust with paint or fabric dye The same procedure is followed at Sacred Heart Chapel Other materials used to add texture to the carpet panels included cotton balls on a Lamb of God panel at Sacred Heart and modeling clay Most local TV stations sent camera crews to record segments about this year’s carpets which is helping to spread the word to the broader community about this special event which started the tradition in the diocese helped train Santiago when he began the project at Sagrada Familia Some represent the plight of migrants and refugees Others are in remembrance of lost loved ones Some represent organizations or sacraments The confirmation and first Communion classes at Sacred Heart Chapel each created panels which presents a series of Living Stations performances during Lent the centerpiece of this year’s carpets is a nod to the Jubilee Year of Hope Another panel that features the diocesan crest was created by the Office of Hispanic Ministry After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (April 17) at Sagrada Familia the Blessed Sacrament will be moved to the altar of repose behind the carpets The carpets can be viewed on Holy Thursday and until the conclusion of the Passion Service on Good Friday The Carpets of Holy Week can be viewed at Sagrada Familia Parish The carpets will be trampled and destroyed after the Passion service on Good Friday please contact local law enforcement and: Kathleen McComb Response Services – 216-334-2999 Barcelona plans to curb overcrowding at its famous landmark La Sagrada Familia church with the creation of a dedicated outdoor space for tourists to snap selfies Every day, up to 16,000 people visit the basilica – which began construction in 1882, led by designer and architect Antoni Gaudi – creating congestion and frustration among local residents, according to the Barcelona City Council. However, only about 20% of tourists actually enter the church – many just take photos outside "When local residents are added to the mix dirt and non-compliance with rules and regulations associated with large numbers of people constantly moving about," the council said on its website Barcelona launched a three-year Action Plan for the High-Traffic Area of the Sagrada Familia to manage tourism Among the several measures is the creation of a 6,200-square-meter anteroom or a large plaza on Placa Gaudi in front of the basilica Tourists, pay up: Many destinations are raising tourist taxes, but are they accomplishing their goal? Tourists can hang out in the plaza and take their photos without congesting the sidewalks or blocking local business entryways. A long bench will act as a boundary along the perimeter, according to the Independent "The new configuration of the square must address how to manage the crowds of tourists while also creating a community space for local residents and neighborhood organizations," the action plan states Construction on the new plaza will begin after this summer and is aiming to be completed by April 2026 – the centennial of Gaudi's death The project is estimated to cost around €2.7 million (about $3.02 million) Last year saw a dangerous TikTok trend of tourists recording themselves posing or dancing on the escalator coming out of the metro station to have the Basilica in the background Antoni Gaudí has been proclaimed Venerable by Pope Francis after accepting the votes in favour from historical advisers theologians and the cardinals and bishops in the Vatican’s Dicastry for the Causes of Saints having lived their life by Christian virtues Venerable is the second step on the path to canonisation after Servant of God and having examined the consistent joyful practice of the theological and moral virtues for a significant period of their life Manel Trens i Ribas (1892-1976) named Gaudí “God’s architect” because the Basilica of the Sagrada Família opens hearts to Beauty with its beauty Gaudí is an archetype of the connection between the Gospel and art an example of magnificent intertwining of human this was Antoni Gaudí’s motto for the more than 40 years he dedicated to the Temple even living on the grounds for his last months aimed to create a work that would be “a Bible in stone” the Positio was submitted to the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Barcelona got involved in the cause setting up the Canonical Association for the Beatification of Antoni Gaudí to take over from the civil association registered with the Government of Catalonia in 1992 The canonical association is chaired by Cardinal Omella i Omella and co-chaired by Josep Maria Turull Meticulous study of the contents of the Positio has allowed the process to move into the second step by proclaiming Gaudí “Venerable” or the recognition of our architect’s holiness The Sagrada Família is celebrating the feast of Sant Jordi by opening its doors again to share this important day with the public the Basilica is offering an after-hours guided tour on the eve of Sant Jordi and visitors will get to discover an ephemeral art installation next to the sculpture of Saint George by Josep Maria Subirachs anyone called Jordi or Jordina from all over the world can visit the Basilica for free with a guest an audiovisual installation about the legend of Sant Jordi visitors to the Basilica of the Sagrada Família will be able to discover an immersive art installation that combines light music and architecture to explore the legend of Sant Jordi. The piece combines this legend with composer Gustav Mahler’s concept of Urlicht (primeval light) creating a dialogue between the symbology of the knight’s battle and an inner journey towards purity and the source Subirachs’ sculpture of Sant Jordi becomes the focal point of the experience seven scenes and an interlude dedicated to the thousandth anniversary of Montserrat and the Catalan flag After-hours guided tour on the eve of Sant Jordi To share the Sant Jordi celebrations with the public the Sagrada Família is offering 90 tickets for two for a special after-hours tour of the Basilica on 22 April giving participants a unique chance to enjoy the incredible evening light at the Temple Anyone interested can enter the draw to win one of 90 tickets for two using the form HERE from 10:00 am on 10 April to 10:00 am on 16 April The draw will be held on Wednesday 16 April and the winners will receive their tickets by email in the following days There will be several time slots between 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm Jorge or Georgina from anywhere in the world On 23 April, people called Jordi and Jordina, or the equivalent names in any language from anywhere in the world, can visit the Basilica for free with a guest. Anyone interested can book their tickets on the website sagradafamilia.org/en/ticket-jordi-and-jordines from 21 April Tickets are subject to availability at the time More information on the Sant Jordi celebrations at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família is on our website sagradafamilia.org/en/sant-jordi the Sagrada Família Passion façade will feature a unique musical light show with texts by Mons take place every evening with two 20-minute shows alternating between Catalan and Spanish.  This activity is part of a special programme of events and religious celebrations for Easter. The full Easter programme is available here. We use our own and third-party cookies to improve this website, as well as collect and analyze access data. By clicking on 'OK' you accept the use of your data for these purposes. You can modify this consent whenever you wish. For Sant Jordi, the Sagrada Família once again invited the public to take part in a special after-hours guided tour to the Basilica on 22 April, which 140 people took part in. There were 90 tickets for two, given out in a draw among the 19,565 people who entered. Visitors got to see “Llum primigènia” (Primeval Light), an immersive art installation that combines light, music and architecture to delve deeper into the legend of Saint George. The piece combines this legend with composer Gustav Mahler’s concept of Urlicht (primeval light), creating a dialogue between the symbology of the knight’s battle and an inner journey towards purity and the source. Subirachs’ sculpture of Saint George becomes the focal point of the experience, which has a prelude, seven scenes and an interlude dedicated to the thousandth anniversary of Montserrat and the Catalan flag. This installation will be on display through 28 April. Free tickets for Jordis and Jordinas from anywhere in the world To celebrate Sant Jordi, on 23 April anyone celebrating their Name Day on this special day was invited to visit the Basilica. So, on the feast day of Sant Jordi, 3884 people called Jordi or Jordina from all over the world visited the Basilica for free with a guest. Palm Sunday was celebrated on 13 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 took place, followed by the solemn mass inside the Basilica, led this year by Cardinal Joan Josep Omella i Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona. On Maundy Thursday, Mons. Javier Vilanova, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, led the celebration of the Lord’s Last Supper with the 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. Javier Vilanova, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona. The Via Crucis took place on the Passion façade at 9:00 pm. On Saturday 19 April, Mons. David Abadías, Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, led the solemn celebration of the 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. The international mass for Easter Sunday was held on 20 April, led by Rev. Josep Maria Turull, Rector of the Basilica. This event brought the religious celebrations for Easter Week to an end. On Sunday 13 April, Palm Sunday celebrations were held at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família. Cardinal Joan Josep Omella i Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona, led the ceremony, which started at 12 noon inside the Basilica. Then, the palm fronds were blessed in Plaça de la Sagrada Família and, afterwards, the solemn mass was held inside the Temple. The festivities are part of the special Easter programming organised by the Sagrada Família. Monday and Tuesday evenings will see a unique music and lights show broadcast on the Passion façade of the Sagrada Família accompanied by a text from Auxiliary Bishop David Abadías take place every evening with two 20-minute screenings This activity is part of a special program of liturgical events and celebrations for Holy Week in the buildup to Easter You can consult the full Sagrada Familia Holy Week program here. Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone Pope Francis has approved the recognition of the "heroic virtues" of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) the Holy See Press Office informed on April 14 the famous neo-Gothic basilica in Barcelona consecrated by Benedict XVI in 2010 This is the first step toward the beatification and canonization of the man who has been nicknamed "God's architect." Read more here Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you Please make a tax-deductible donation today Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting Catholic news The Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família has expressed its sympathies for the passing of Pope Francis The Holy Father had a very affectionate relationship with the Basilica Pope Francis joined the central event to inaugurate the tower of the Virgin Mary on the feast of the Immaculate Conception He did so by video just before the star was lit up for the first time “today the star of the Tower of Mary shines for all of you (...) Gaudí wanted this mystery to crown the portal of Faith the first one he built (...) I join you in your prayers presented at the feet of Mary like countless roses in this beautiful Basilica.” the members of the Junta Constructora de la Basilica de la Sagrada Família visited the Pontiff at the Vatican gifting him a miniature replica of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família Pope Francis encouraged them to “welcome to the Basilica all pilgrims who approach teach them through prayer to see the most iconic project of Servant of God Antoni Gaudí in its entirety.” Coinciding with the celebration of Saint Joseph the Sagrada Família has relaunched its blog a multimedia space where visitors can find highly interesting content its history and the figure of Antoni Gaudí himself This new blog aims to become a leading educational space where content will be periodically published much of it sourced from the temple’s documentary archive along with testimonies from people connected to Antoni’s Gaudí work and the Sagrada Família community this blog will showcase the work carried out daily by professionals dedicated to continuing the enormous legacy of the brilliant architect we launch this new space by remembering that the construction of the Sagrada Família began when the first stone of the temple was laid If you want to learn why this day of Saint Joseph was chosen to begin construction, visit our blog HERE the Sagrada Família has put together a programme of religious cultural and popular events to share this liturgical season with the public The programme will include the traditional Easter Concert a family workshop and religious services for Palm Sunday mass People will also get to enjoy special illuminations on the Passion façade Easter workshop: discovery game with the sounds of the Basilica To share the meaning of Easter with the little ones in a fun way we will be hosting Easter family workshops from 5 to 21 April The workshop includes a fun tour of the Temple with a discovery game called “Search for the lost sounds” that will draw the kids’ attention to the sounds of the Basilica imagining how certain scenes or themes would sound the organ music in the naves and the sounds of nature associated with the forest of columns which tells the story of the Passion and death of Jesus they will learn about the lost tradition of making noise to ward off evil they will decorate a traditional ratchet to take home as a souvenir The activity is designed for kids aged 6 to 12. It costs €9 per adult or child over 6 years old. More information on the workshop here Draw to win one of 400 tickets for two to the Easter Concert featuring Orfeón Pamplonés The Easter Concert will take place on Saturday 5 April at 7:00 pm it is one of the oldest symphonic choirs in Europe Conducted by Igor Ijurra and accompanied by Oscar Candendo on the organ the group will perform a repertoire focusing on the religious moments of Easter Week To include residents in this experience, the Sagrada Família is holding a draw to give out 400 tickets for two for the concert. Anyone interested can enter the draw using the form on the Sagrada Família HERE from 10:00 am on 24 March to 9:00 pm on 30 March The draw will be held on 31 March and the list of winners will be posted on the website the Passion façade will be lit up in a unique musical light show with texts by Mons The first will be at 9:00 pm and the second at 9:30 pm The Basilica will host the religious services for Palm Sunday mass, the Paschal Triduum and the Via Crucis. More information on sagradafamilia.org/en/easter. Embed on your websiteClose×Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/04/17/antoni-gaudi-saint"></iframe> Here & Now's Scott Tong talks with Pope Francis biographer Austen Ivereigh about why the architect of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona's famed basilica, might become a saint. Barcelona's most famous building still under construction for over a century as announced by the building management team on Thursday with famous architect Antoni Gaudí taking over a year later The building management team said the work could be completed in 10 years if all schedules were confirmed and deadlines met Builders will now focus on the Glory Façade with designs featuring around 100 sculptures Management is awaiting the city council's permission to set up the scaffolding as the basis of the baptistery and the four towers that will form the façade have already been completed The president of the Sagrada Família's construction board despite works on the façade having already started the team is still negotiating with the city council regarding the final design of the basilica Camps refers to the controversial staircase that, according to the construction board, Gaudí designed on top of Mallorca Street. For this element of the design to be built, it would mean having to demolish some nearby buildings, with around 3,000 neighbors facing eviction entirely against it Catalan News spoke with the neighbors' association president back in 2021. Listen to the Filling the Sink podcast episode to learn more about Sagrada Família's tricky completion The construction board is open to negotiating with the city council but they are not willing to give up on the staircase as they are just "Gaudí's disciples," and it is part of the basilica's design The tallest tower of the Sagrada Família will be the Tower of Jesus Christ, which will measure 172.5 meters tall and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 with its viewpoint in the form of a cross after unveiling its prototype back in September despite an inauguration planned for June 2026 Currently, the tower measures 142.5 meters and is already the tallest tower in the building after surpassing the 138-meter tall Tower of the Virgin Mary. Xavier Martínez, the construction board's general director, said during Thursday's press event that the unfinished basilica had an all-time high number of visitors in 2024. Around 4.83 million people visited the Sagrada Familia last year, a 2.7% increase compared to 2023. Most visitors came from the United States, other Spanish cities, France, Italy, and South Korea. Asian visitors represented the highest market growth. "We cannot grow anymore," Martínez said, as they do not want to overcrowd the site. Last year, the board saw an income of €133.9 million, and €86.2 million in expenditure, over half of which was spent on the basilica's construction. Builders expect an investment of around €55 and €60 million in the construction budget in 2025. The Basilica is hosting a temporary exhibition called “Art science and faith: the Shroud Man and the Cross of Hope” featuring the sculptures Shroud Man (Uomo sindónico) is the result of more than two years of scientific research and anatomical studies to recreate the most accurate depiction of the body of Christ crucified captures the precise moment Christ overcame death to resurrect in a new life The sculptures will be at the Temple from Easter through Christmas 2025.  After that they will take up their permanent location in one of Barcelona’s central churches Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel After Missile Strike Near Airport Bowman’s Travel Brief: Avoid Newark Airport Mastering the Art of Group Travel Bookings Fiesta Americana Travelty Celebrates Travel Advisors The Top 24 Most Powerful Travel Agencies of 2024 The Strategic Art of Pre-Planning Luxury Vacations: A Perspective for Travel Advisors In response to growing frustration among locals, Barcelona officials have unveiled plans to create a designated “selfie” area in front of the city’s iconic Sagrada Familia basilica The goal is to reduce pedestrian congestion and help Barcelona’s residents reclaim their space from the throngs of tourists who crowd sidewalks and spill into streets to capture the perfect photo will be situated between the church’s Nativity façade and Plaça Gaudí on Carrer de la Marina and gather without spilling into the road or clogging sidewalks the goal is to “reconcile uses between visitors to the temple and the neighbourhood.” The basilica, one of Antoni Gaudí’s most celebrated architectural works, draws more than 4.7 million visitors annually, with as many as 16,000 stopping by each day. That makes it Spain's second most visited site city officials note that only about 20 percent of tourists actually enter the basilica—most linger outside for photos contributing to frequent bottlenecks and friction with local residents According to USA Today associated with large numbers of people constantly moving about." The installation of a selfie plaza is one of several measures outlined in the three-year “Action Plan for the High-Traffic Area of the Sagrada Familia” The €2.7 million ($3.06 million) project is part of a larger €15.5 million ($17.54 million) investment to reshape the area’s infrastructure and visitor management "The new configuration of the square must address how to manage the crowds of tourists while also creating a community space for local residents and neighborhood organizations," the action plan outlines visitors will have a dedicated vantage point from which snap their photos without clogging sidewalks or obstructing access to nearby shops and businesses Construction is expected to begin after the summer with completion targeted for April 2026—just in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death Last year saw chaos at Sagrada Familia linked to a TikTok trend, wherein tourists were placing their mobile phones on metro escalators to film themselves as the church came into view in the background. The resulting crowding and disruption at station exits led to a ban on the activity, euronews reported With a current tourist influx of 32 million visitors yearly, Barcelona has already implemented various strategies to combat the effects of overtourism a €44 million plan was introduced to better regulate crowds in 16 major hotspots by increasing police and sanitation services Mayor Jaume Collboni explained that the move was prompted by concerns that Barcelona was at risk of turning into a "theme park" with no room left for its residents "Tourism needs to be serving the city's model For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter Collette - Expertly Crafted Tours for the Modern Traveler Cross Border Xpress Mexico: What Travel Advisors Need to Know Editor Assistant Editor true lbaratti@travelpulse.com 9174 14744 Laurie Baratti is an Assistant Editor for TravelPulse She is a San Diego-based journalist whose work has previously appeared in publications like TravelAge West The Sagrada Família has announced the winners of the 400 tickets for two to the free Easter Concert at the Basilica Conducted by Igor Ijurra and accompanied by Óscar Candendo on the organ The winners were drawn from all the entries received between 10:00 am on 24 March and 9:00 pm on 30 March The winners will receive an email with instructions on how to get their tickets The Sagrada Família has put together a programme of religious, cultural and popular events to celebrate Easter with the people. In addition to the concert, the programme includes the family workshop and illuminations of the Passion façade. Plus, the Basilica will also host the religious services for Palm Sunday, the Paschal Triduum and the Via Crucis. More information on sagradafamilia.org/en/easter Check the list of winners here. For the Santa Eulàlia festivities, the Sagrada Família has once again joined in the celebrations with its Open Doors Days, inviting thousands of people to visit the Basilica for free on 8 and 9 February.  The 8,500 tickets available were given out in a draw on Monday 3 February among the 89,973 people who entered between 28 January and 2 February. During the Open Doors Days, visitors got to see the inside of the Basilica, the museum and the Schools at the Sagrada Família. New this time, they got to visit the remodelled museum space dedicated to Antoni Gaudí, which was inaugurated on 18 December. The room, titled “Antoni Gaudí. Humanity and spirituality”, gives visitors an intimate look at the Catalan architect through photos, models and unpublished materials. This initiative, now in its fourth year, reaffirms the Sagrada Família’s commitment to the city and its desire to share Gaudí’s legacy with the people. The 6,200-square-metre ‘anteroom’ aims to redirect tourist traffic I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Barcelona plans to create a large public square to ease congestion in front of its top tourist attraction, the Sagrada Familia locals have complained of overcrowding as over 4.7 million annual visitors partake in TikTok trends and stop for selfies at the landmark Catholic church Tourists often clog the Catalan city’s roads and pavements while trying to capture the perfect picture in front of Antoni Gaudi’s famously unfinished basilica City authorities have now announced plans for a 6,200-square-metre public square to redirect tourist traffic and address resident concerns will be located on Marina Street between Mallorca and Provença Streets Gaudí Square and the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada Familia This will provide a designated space for holidaymakers to gather and snap selfies without causing congestion on the roads or walkways used by residents work on the project is expected to begin in September and take around eight and a half months to complete – finishing around the centenary of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s death Barcelona City Council said “this new project helps to resolve a space where it is difficult to reconcile uses between visitors to the temple and the neighbourhood” The project is inspired by Rubió i Tudurí's 1977 proposal for Gaudí's square It aims to create a “versatile space that serves as an extension of the existing park a space for popular gatherings and anteroom to the temple” A large perimeter bench will act as a boundary between the new square and the existing Plaça Gaudí square The square on Marina Street is the first action taken to manage tourist crowds in the Sagrada Familia area As part of the Sagrada Familia High-Flux Area (EGA) Action Plan there will be 37 new measures to expand public space regulate visitor flows and recover spaces for neighbourhood activities The city council has invested €15.5m (£13.3m) to dilute the impact of tourism by 2027 It comes after a summer of conflict between locals and tourists last year In July, thousands of Barcelona residents squirted diners in tourist areas with water during a protest against mass tourism The Spanish locals chanted “tourists go home” with placards that read “Enough! Let’s put limits on tourism” in the demonstration against overtourism Video footage showed holidaymakers dining outside popular squares in the city and cordoned off using hazard tape by a crowd of almost 3,000 For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies The Sagrada Familia of Barcelona announced that it is calling on three renowned artists to propose designs for the “Façade of Glory.” This step advances the project toward its completion The committee overseeing construction of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia announced March 25 that three artists have been shortlisted to design the main façade of the basilica “The board of directors of the construction of the Sagrada Familia has invited the artists Miquel Barceló (Mexico) and Javier Marín (Spain) for an artistic proposal with regard to the layout of the 'Façade of Glory,'” the committee said in a statement The committee specified that “the artist or artists who will ultimately be in charge of the creation” of the façade will be selected based on these proposals not excluding the possibility of combining several proposals Born in 1962 in the Mexican state of Michoacán Marín has carried out several projects in religious spaces notably in the Church of Saint Augustine in Pietrasanta is one of the most famous contemporary Spanish artists He was recently selected to design tapestries for the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.  has represented Spain twice at the Venice Biennale She notably designed the fountain at Leopold de Wael Square in Antwerp The Sagrada Familia, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) and the building was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005 The basilica's construction committee initially announced the completion of the work for 2026, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the project and the building is expected to be completely finished in less than 10 years it is to tell the story of humanity from Adam and Eve to the Last Judgment which manages the construction of the building thanks to private donations and the income generated by tourism your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt The world's most famous unfinished building will go ahead with a plan to build a stairway despite protests from residents and businesses as well as the stairway leading to what would be the main entrance is expected to continue until at least 2035 The stairway plans have provoked opposition from locals because if the work is carried out it would mean the demolition of blocks of housing and offices next to the existing building and the eviction of about 1,000 families and businesses Esteve Camps, the president of the organisation in charge of the original master plan of Gaudí said architects behind the works on the Sagrada Familia were in talks with Barcelona council and residents over the stairway plans “We are awaiting the decision of the council about whether we will go ahead with this plan The Sagrada Familia will not back down on this plan,” Camps told Euronews Culture he did concede that the plans could be modified “If the stairway is wider then it will affect more residents The council knows our necessities and we await their decision,” he added Camps told a press conference on Thursday inside the basilica that last month the Sagrada Familia asked Barcelona city council for permission to put up scaffolding to build the Gloria façade which is intended to be the main entrance to the basilica He said the schedule to complete all the works would take another decade to complete without counting “more than 100 sculptures” which will adorn the façade of the Gloria by 2026 it could complete the 172.5-metre central tower dedicated to Jesus Christ making the Sagrada Familia Barcelona’s tallest building This would mark the centenary of the death of the Sagrada Familia's creator a lawyer and representative of the Association for those Affected by the Sagrada Familia is taking legal action to halt the proposed stairway Barroso claims the stairway was never in Gaudí’s original plans and it was dreamed up by disciples of the architect after his untimely death The original plans were destroyed by anarchists at the outbreak of the Spanish civil war in 1936 but painstakingly pieced together by successive architects "The Sagrada Familia is a private entity and it is the council which will make the final decision If the decision is not a just and fair one then there is such a thing as judges and courts in this country which are above them both and we will take new legal action to oppose this plan,” he said the Association of Neighbours revealed a document from the Spanish ministry of culture dated from 1975 which showed that Gaudí had never intended to build the Glora façade this was added by architects who took up the job of finishing Gaudí’s project Barcelona City Council has not come to a decision over the planned extension “We are working with representatives of the Sagrada Familia neighbouring residents and other organisations to find the best solution to finish the works and the necessities of the city,” he said Barcelona wants to “guarantee the right to housing and minimize the number of people affected” The work on the building is funded by the admission receipts costing between €26-€36 from tourists visiting the basilica every year 4.83 million people visited the Sagrada Familia This is the highest number of visitors ever to the basilica which is the most visited tourist attraction in Spain The largest number of visitors - 87% - come from abroad with the biggest group by nationality from the United States (18.55% of the total) the success of the basilica as a tourist attraction did not please everyone a retired professor of nursing from Southampton visited the basilica and said it was overcrowded “I was shocked at how busy and noisy it was far more than the last time I came,” she told Euronews Culture “People were just talking at normal volume even though this is a place of worship I’m not religious but the volume of people and the noise they made meant there was not the calm you would expect with a sacred space.” Dr Bridges added: “I tried to find a moment of contemplation in the space that had been set aside for that but the noise level made that impossible all from private sources like visitors receipts How the rest is spent is not known as the church is not obliged to publish its accounts Some 51,696 people attended 66 international masses at the Sagrada Familia last year while 280,670 worshippers went to services at the basilica There have been efforts to spread the word about the Sagrada Familia brand with 102 international masses which attracted over 80,000 worshippers BIG symphonic works are sometimes called cathedrals of sound but turning a cathedral into music is a different sort of challenge – taken on by the composer Richard Blackford in his new Sagrada Familia Symphony which is a response in sound to the molten facades of Gaudi’s landmark building in Barcelona Already recorded on the Lyrita label, it gets its concert premiere from the Philharmonia Orchestra and Bach Choir at the Festival Hall, May 8. And it should prove a sumptuous companion piece to the magnificence of William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast: a cantata so brazenly over-the-top in its treatment of the Bible story of the Writing on the Wall that it was long thought inappropriate for performance in English cathedrals. southbankcentre.co.uk • When Thomas Adès turned Luis Buñuel’s classic film The Exterminating Angel into an opera a few years ago it wasn’t widely acknowledged that Stephen Sondheim was doing much the same turning it into one of his operatic musicals But Sondheim’s version took a long while to reach the stage: it was work in progress from 2012 to 2023 when it premiered in New York • A more conventionally operatic satire on the folly of the bourgeoisie, Janáček’s Adventures of Mr Broucek features a boorish landlord who drunkenly imagines himself transported to the moon. Simon Rattle and the LSO give concert performances, May 4 & 6, at the Barbican that have must-see potential. barbican.org.uk • Two of Handel’s Old Testament oratorios surface this week. On a smaller scale there’s Saul, done by the excellent Hampstead Collective at St John’s Hampstead, May 5: hampsteadparishchurch.org.uk While on starrier terms there’s Jephtha at the Barbican, May 7, done by the period-performance group Il Pomo d’oro with soloists Joyce DiDonato and Michael Spyres: barbican.org.uk • Instrumental concerts include the Danel Quartet at Wigmore Hall playing Shostakovich paired with music by his lesser-known Soviet contemporary Mieczyslaw Weinberg, May 6 (also broadcast on the Wigmore website): wigmore-hall.org.uk Violinist Harriet Mackenzie plays Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending with the ensemble Surround Sound St Mary’s Islington: ticketsource/surround-sound And pianist Rustem Hayroudinoff launches his new Onyx Classics album Bach & Sons at the intimate Razumovsky Academy in Kensal Green, May 8: razumovsky.co.uk Pope Francis approves decrees advancing the sainthood causes of six individuals famed for his design of the Sagrada Familia Basilica The interior of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass there and consecrated the basilica VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of one woman and five men the Spanish architect who designed the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona The Vatican announced that the pope authorized the decrees during an audience at the Vatican April 14 with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints Among the decrees was the approval of a miracle attributed to Indian Sister Eliswa Vakayil who lived 1831-1913; the approved miracle clears the way for her beatification The pope also recognized the heroic virtues of Antoni Gaudí a Spanish architect and designer who was born in Catalonia in 1852 eventually renounced secular art and dedicated more than 40 years of his life to building Barcelona's Basilica of the Holy Family often referred to by its Spanish name as the Sagrada Familia.  He started the project in 1882 when he was 31 years old; the church is expected to be finished in 2026 -- the 100th anniversary of his death in 1926 When questioned about the lengthy construction period Because of his dedication to his faith and serving God through architecture Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church in 2010 and granted it the status of a minor basilica and it is one of seven of Gaudí's works that have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site Pope Francis also recognized the martyrdom of Father Nazareno Lanciotti an Italian priest born in Rome in 1940 who was killed "in hatred of the faith" in São Paulo He started serving as a missionary in a poor a nursing home and a school for hundreds of children He also joined the Marian Movement of Priests a fraternity of brothers and sisters who consecrate their lives to the Blessed Virgin Mary The area lay along a major narco-trafficking route between Brazil and Bolivia and the priest worked diligently with young people to help them avoid falling into drugs and prostitution and to focus on Eucharistic adoration and a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Two masked gunmen entered his residence while he was eating with others Feb "I've come to kill you because you are bothering us too much," before shooting him He died 11 days later after forgiving his attackers Pope Francis also approved decrees recognizing: -- The heroic virtues of Father Agostino Cozzolino an Italian priest who was born in 1928 and spent his life ministering in Naples catechesis and pastoral care in poor and difficult neighborhoods He was a member of the Institute of the Heart of Jesus a secular institute for diocesan priests who profess the vows of poverty chastity and obedience while supporting each other in their priestly ministry He promoted fraternity among priests and greater spirituality in families -- The heroic virtues of Father Angelo Bughetti he launched and ran several charitable projects and activities aimed at helping the poor and orphans -- The heroic virtues of Father Peter Joseph Triest founder of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary and the Congregation of the Sisters of the Childhood of Jesus Vincent de Paul because of his charity and compassion for the poor He founded congregations dedicated to caring for the sick abandoned infants and people with physical and mental disabilities before he died in 1836 Catholic News Service has been providing complete in-depth coverage of the popes and the Vatican for more than 70 years faithful and informed connection to the Holy See Cardinal Gugerotti urged electors to draw on Eastern Christian humility and let the Spirit A Rome tailor is hoping the new pope will appear on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica wearing a cassock he sewed himself Cardinal Fernández said contempt for the poor can be masked in refined language and warns against false meritocracy that distorts.. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB’s) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy ©2025 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Made possible by funding from  They crowd the pavement before the famous Gaudí-designed basilica and even step into the road for a better angle This quest for an Instagram-worthy photo comes at the expense of residents' daily lives locals have lambasted the crowds of visitors that obstruct the passage of pedestrians and hold up traffic around the religious site Barcelona city authorities have now unveiled plans to corral selfie-snapping visitors into a dedicated area to ease the congestion As one of Spain’s hotspot destinations, it is the latest measure from officials to regulate tourism in the city Barcelona city council has announced it will construct a special zone beside the Sagrada Familia where visitors can take a breather - and a selfie - before entering the church The 6,200-square-metre ‘anteroom’ will be located between the Nativity façade of the basilica and Plaça Gaudí on Carrer de la Marina Until recently, Plaça Gaudí had been exploited by tourists for a TikTok trend that caused considerable disruption It involved visitors balancing their phones on metro escalators to film themselves while the iconic monument appeared in the background The trend led to tourists clogging station exits and was eventually banned “The new project helps to resolve a space where it is difficult to reconcile uses between visitors to the temple and the neighbourhood,” the city council said in a press release Construction on the gathering zone is scheduled to begin after the summer and be finished by April 2026 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death The €2.7 million project is part of a wider €15.5 million plan to improve infrastructure and visitor management around the sacred site The Sagrada Familia attracts 4.7 million visitors a year and is the second most visited site in Spain Now drawing 32 million visitors a year, Barcelona has previously introduced several measures to curb overtourism the city launched a €44 million plan to regulate crowds in 16 tourist hotspots by deploying more cleaners and police officers to maintain order and safety the city abandoned its ‘Visit Barcelona’ slogan of 15 years in favour of the new ‘This is Barcelona’ marking a rebranding which shifts the destination away from mass tourism Barcelona has also pledged to ban short-term apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 and cap cruise ship disembarkations ​the city’s mayor Jaume Collboni said the decision came in response to the risk of Barcelona becoming a "theme park" devoid of residents This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Pope Francis has recognized a miracle attributed to Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin; the martyrdom of Fr Nazareno Lanciotti; and the heroic virtues of Antoni Gaudí In an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints the Pope authorized the promulgation of the Decrees concerning these six people—moving them each one step on the path to sainthood Antoni Gaudí i Cornet accepted the task of directing the project of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona in 1883 His focus was making art a hymn of praise to the Lord and he considered it his mission to make God known and bring people closer to Him he was taken to the Hospital de la Santa Creu Nazareno Lanciotti from Rome became involved with Operation Mato Grosso and moved to Brazil as a missionary in 1971 He dedicated himself to the poor and fought against various forms of injustice and oppression such as prostitution rings and drug trafficking while finishing dinner with some coworkers Lanciotti was seriously wounded by two hooded assailants who had broken into his home Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin was born Eliswa Vakayil from Kerala she married a rich businessman and had a daughter in 1851 marked by frequent participation in the sacraments She cared for the poor and made a simple hut her home she met Italian Discalced Carmelite Father Leopoldo Beccaro and founded the first local congregation in Kerala: the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites Founder of the Congregations of the Brothers of Charity was born in Brussels (Belgium) on August 31 he was forced to live in hiding during the Belgian Revolution and the French Revolution to avoid taking the oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy under Emperor Joseph II of Habsburg-Lorraine Triest founded an orphanage for poor and abandoned children and with them began the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary in 1804 was an Italian diocesan priest and has now been declared Venerable He was dedicated to preaching and serving in various charitable activities aiming to form the Christian and civic conscience of young people He also wrote articles for different periodicals he dedicated himself to children and young people recognizing their struggles and helping them develop their potential he devoted himself to the formation and catechesis of young people and adults in parishes and was later appointed vice-rector of the Major Seminary of Naples where he guided many young men by word and example he was assigned to the Basilica-Shrine of Santa Maria della Neve in the Ponticelli district of Naples where he remained as pastor until his death Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here But the road to sainthood is a fraught one As anyone who has watched the movie “Conclave” knows, the process for choosing a pope is (literally) Byzantine, with age-old rituals, carefully orchestrated secret ballots, and intrigue galore. The requirements for sainthood are no less daunting To simplify: A person must first be recognized as having lived a life of “heroic virtue” (veneration) after the Vatican verifies a miracle attributed to the person since typically one must be dead for at least five years to be considered Sainthood is a little like being awarded the Nobel prize or being tapped for a MacArthur “genius” grant The odds for Gaudí are fairly good. A study by two Harvard scholars in 2011 looked at canonizations for “blessed persons” beginning in the 16th century (not including martyrs who need not perform miracles to become saints) Although they found an increasing number of saints named from outside Western Europe in recent decades Spain still has the second-most saints by country of origin (after Italy) Gaudí, who died in 1926, was famously at the vanguard of Barcelona’s Modernisme artistic movement, the Catalan equivalent of Art Deco He designed buildings with fantastical swirls of stone and glass for wealthy patrons all across the city But his magnificent obsession is the still-unfinished Sagrada Familia church forsaking all other commissions in his last 12 years a leading prelate called him “God’s architect,” a sobriquet that has stuck for almost a century the completion of the massive cathedral after 143 years might qualify At a time when Gods’ creation is being desecrated by the worst impulses of man, that is truly something worth venerating. Renée Loth’s column appears regularly in the Globe. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information The Sagrada Família has announced the winners of the 90 tickets for two for the after-hours guided tour on 22 April The winners will receive their tickets by email in the coming days. The tour will be in Catalan and there will be several time slots between 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm. Check the list of winners here an audiovisual installation about the legend of Saint George anyone visiting the Basilica of the Sagrada Família will get to see an immersive art installation that combines light music and architecture to delve deeper into the legend of Saint George The piece combines this legend with composer Gustav Mahler’s concept of Urlicht (primeval light) Subirachs’ sculpture of Saint George becomes the focal point of the experience Jordina or the equivalent in another language Jordina or the equivalent names in any language from anywhere in the world can visit the Basilica for free with a guest Anyone interested can book their tickets HERE from 21 April Tickets are subject to availability at the time and visitors must show ID to enter the Basilica is a rare architectural marvel that really is one-of-a-kind We spoke to two architects about the significance of Gaudí’s masterpiece and what to look for if you decide to see it in person in Barcelona the project actually started with a different architect The idea for the Roman Catholic church known popularly as La Sagrada Familia came from a 19th-century Catalan bookseller His vision looked a lot different from what you see today—he wanted to recreate the Gothic Basilica della Santa Casa of Loreto planned for a neo-Gothic structure beginning with the crypt but Villar quit the following year after disputes with the project’s promoter Taking over for Villar was architect Antoni Gaudí a Catalan nationalist who’d found a patron in the industrialist Eusebi Güell (the namesake of Parc Güell and had already made a name for himself with his modernist designs Gaudí jettisoned Villar’s plans and came up with something entirely new planning a revolutionary structure around the existing crypt that would not only nod at but also improve upon and exceed its original neo-Gothic inspiration “He would’ve preferred to have started over but that was infeasible,” says Jordan Rogove cofounder and partner of New York City’s DXA Studio and affiliate professor of architecture at Virginia Tech “He dispensed with the faithful adherence to Gothic principles and starting with the design of the apse (a semicircular recess covered with a semi-dome where the altar sits) removed the buttresses and added rounded windows As design work for the three main façades commenced he abandoned all vestiges of the previous design and went in an entirely new direction.” Gaudí saw a melding of the most basic floor plan of a neo-Gothic church transformed by his fascination with nature and geometry each representing the most important figures in Christianity The stone façade is full of Christian motifs symbolizing Jesus Christ and expected to be fully erected in 2026 will make La Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world—but still shorter than the historic Barcelona hill of Montjuic as Gaudí insisted that his creation shouldn’t exceed that of God’s Though Gaudí saw La Sagrada Familia as his life’s work and his primary project, he still found time to work on other architectural works, including the design for Casa Milà and the redesign of Casa Batlló Throughout the decades he worked on the project Gaudí continuously evolved and refined his vision “When Gaudí began the Sagrada Familia he was said to have not been that religious Over the course of the project this changed “He believed that God was the original artist and Mother Nature the ultimate source of inspiration.” La Sagrada Familia lacks 90-degree angles anywhere inside or outside and there are very few straight lines—a tribute to the organic shapes found in nature Gaudí wanted the interior to feel like a forest “He does not leave any space flat,” says Moscow-born New York City–based architect Olga Whitmoyer “It reminds me of my home city’s Saint Basil’s Cathedral on the Red Square in its sophisticated detailing and diversity of architectural elements.” Gaudí had intended for much of his work to be painted in eye-popping colors reflecting the vibrance of the natural world—a detail that hasn’t made it into church’s final look “Gaudí’s use of color on the façades would pop out more in details such as glazed mosaic inserts or painted portions of towers,” Whitmoyer adds The designer knew the project was too massive for him to ever see it completed himself but his work on it was still over prematurely He died in 1926 at age 73 after being hit by a streetcar on his way to confession He was buried in La Sagrada Familia within the crypt in the chapel of the Virgen del Carmen one of his disciples replaced him as head of the church project Stained glass washes the church in multi-colored light Though La Sagrada Familia and Gaudí’s work in general weren’t greatly appreciated in the decades after his death, starting in the mid 20th century, Catalan artists like Salvador Dalí urged the world to reassess his genius. Now, modern architects credit La Sagrada Familia as a shining example of modernism and Gaudí as an unparalleled innovator and it has become the most recognizable symbol of the city of Barcelona “He perpetually reinterpreted what came before, Gothic and Moorish architecture in particular,” Rogove says. “He never believed in a purity of style or imitation, rather consulting what came before as a source of inspiration. His interests in using nature and an extraordinary understanding of structural engineering took his approach in an entirely new direction.” The building is defined by three stone façades each full of symbolism and references to important Christian motifs and events Gaudí was alive for much of the construction of the Nativity Façade the east-facing side of La Sagrada Familia and considered most faithful to his design It’s a depiction of the birth of Christ and is notable for erupting in lively details and incorporating symbols from nature throughout such as the Tree of Life and various animals representing concepts like eternity and change getting illuminated at first light each day as a symbol of hope,” Rogove says “I love the drip sand castle look of its entirety not knowing where one sculpture stops and another begins.” depicts Christ’s crucifixion and is far more somber starker scene that’s meant to be a contrast to the abundance and life-affirming minutia of the Nativity Façade Catalan sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs led the project following Gaudí’s original ideas with his first pieces being installed in 1987 and the final pieces put in place in 2018 The Passion Façade is more solemn and even features Gaudí himself in a sculpture “My favorite feature is the parabolic colonnade,” Rogove says and it is a product of Gaudí’s rethinking of structure one of the most fundamental parts of the church’s design Allegedly Gaudí designed Passion in the throes of a personal depression and he placed a representation of himself next to the brutish soldiers will decorate the main entrance to La Sagrada Familia Gaudí intended it to glorify Jesus Christ’s lifetime were installed in 2008 and include the Lord’s Prayer in Catalan with door handles in the shape of an A and a G for Antoni Gaudí’s initials As with most Roman Catholic and Western European churches the floor plan of La Sagrada Familia is based on a Latin cross with a long nave intersected by a transept to give the structure its basic cruciform shape The resemblance to most other churches in Western Europe ends here Soaring pillar dominate the interior of La Sagrada Familia which Gaudí designed using fractal geometric forms and branching supports inspired by trees These weren’t merely decorative—they were structural innovations that meant the church no longer had to rely on the buttresses Gaudí scorned The interior’s colorful light is among the building’s most captivating features using its composition as a model for columns that bear tremendous loads but with an intentional slant evocative of the imperfect trees from which they were derived somehow appearing to bear no weight,” Rogove says the columns give the feeling of a vast forest.” The ceiling of the apse rises 246 feet high The walls of the church are filled with large stained-glass windows flooding the nave with rainbow-colored light “Seeing it bathed in the vibrant spectral light of the stained glass…really has an indescribable beauty,” Rogove says Much of the funding for the construction of the church comes from the entry fees To visit, you must purchase tickets to tour the church online at SagradaFamilia.org You must reserve a time slot for your visit which are generally available starting two months ahead of time The base price for La Sagrada Familia (which includes an audio guide through an app) is 26 euros spiral staircases and are not accessible to those mobility issues Children under 11 and visitors with disabilities are able to visit for free Visitors must wear appropriate clothing for a church and pants or shorts that don’t go higher than mid-thigh The church accepts worshipers every Sunday at 9 a.m and on holy days through the Nativity façade entrance (east side of the church) Entrance for worship is free but subject to capacity La Sagrada Familia celebrates an international Mass in various languages every Saturday at 8 p.m Why is the Sagrada Familia still not finished A number of issues have made La Sagrada Familia’s construction a century-long process the destruction of many of its original plans funding (the money comes from ticket sales and private donations) it was always a massive and ambitious project and the architect was well aware that he wouldn’t live to see its completion La Sagrada Familia is in the Eixample district of Barcelona the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia (Catalunya) in Spain When will the Sagrada Familia be completed The building itself is expected to be completed in 2026 though decorative details and the main staircase aren’t scheduled for completion until 2034 What does ‘La Sagrada Familia’ mean in English is Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família or Basilica and Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family the church is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m The hours are always subject to change for special events Not a subscriber? 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Colorful costumes and flowers were the order of the day as the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration took place Dec. 15 at Sagrada Familia Parish on Cleveland’s West Side Bishop Edward Malesic celebrated Mass – mostly in Spanish – with the Hispanic congregation who recently was appointed Sagrada Familia administrator As is customary during Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations several young boys in the congregation dressed as Juan Diego A mariachi band provided music at the liturgy Juan Diego an Indigenous Mexican peasant, saw four apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December 1531 2002 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City The feast is a big celebration in the Hispanic community Father Molina spoke about how it was Gaudete Sunday and a time for joy because the birth of Jesus He said God wants us to be happy and that by being good and faithful offering examples of how people can be happy in daily life Father Molina said his parents taught him to be his best “It doesn’t take money or property to be happy,” he said telling the faithful to love the Blessed Mother “She stays with her children and teaches us to love.” the bishop greeted parishioners and enjoyed authentic homemade Mexican food at a social gathering in the parish hall The TimesA large public square outside Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia is being proposed to serve as an “anteroom” to the famous basilica to ease the burden of selfie-taking tourists locals have complained that crowds of tourists have blocked roads around the church which attracts 4.7 million visitors a year and is the second most visited building in Spain after the Alhambra in Granada Anger is particularly aimed at tourists who obstruct paths while taking selfies at the Catalan city’s most emblematic site Visitors taking selfies in front of the building are considered the most annoyingALAMYAuthorities hope that the new square the centenary of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s death more than 140 years after his project to build the Sagrada Familia began the Sagrada Família held its Easter Concert featuring Orfeón Pamplonés one of the oldest symphonic choirs in Europe the group led the audience on a musical journey through pieces that evoke the most meaningful moments of this liturgical season They performed works by Basque/Navarrese composers with a long religious history and others by universal figures from Catalan music A musical conversation also emerged with benchmark European composers such as Rheinberger creating a bridge between different styles and eras To share the meaning of Easter with the people the Sagrada Família gave out 400 tickets for two in a draw The winners were chosen from everyone who signed up using the form provided on the Sagrada Família website and social media This concert is part of a special programme of events and religious celebrations for Easter. The full Easter programme is available here. First published: January 28, 2025 01:14 PM Barcelona's famous unfinished Sagrada Família basilica will hold open doors days on February 8 and 9 to celebrate Santa Eulàlia, coinciding with the Saint of the city's old patroness.  To be able to visit Antoni Gaudí's famous basilica, visitors will need to participate in an 8,500 free ticket draw available on the building's website.  Registrations for the draw run from January 28 to February 2, 9 pm. Winners will be announced on February 3.  Lucky tickets will include visits to the inside of the basilica, the museum and the Escoles building. For this edition, a new room in the museum dedicated to Antoni Gaudí called 'Antoni Gaudí: Humanism and spirituality' will also be accessible. The new area exhibits new photos and documents related to the architect.   Free entrance will take place from 3 pm to 6.30 pm on Saturday and from 3 pm to 7 pm on Sunday.  It is the fourth consecutive year that these open days at Sagrada Família are organized coinciding with the Santa Eulàlia celebrations across the Catalan capital. La Sagrada Família also organizes open days for La Mercè celebrations in late September.   v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. Barcelona's unfinished Sagrada Família basilica is planning to reach its highest point in the upcoming months with the construction of the Tower of Jesus their major problem continues to be the main façade: the Glory Façade Architect Antoni Gaudí had planned a large stairways crossing over Mallorca Street The steps would go from Glory façade to Aragó street they will need to demolish several buildings which would see around 3,000 people evicted.  "We will finish Gaudí's work," Xavier Martínez general director of the Sagrada Família construction board told media outlets on Thursday during a press conference "Sooner or later," Martínez believes there will be a deal between the temple and those neighbors potentially affected by the construction plans Barcelona's deputy mayor Laia Bonet was asked about the residents in the area She said that negotiations are still ongoing and that it is required to face a solution to a problem caused by "temporality." she highlighted the need to ensure the right to housing all of affected residents Sagrada Família is starting to build the Glory Façade with its towers and sculptures and the managing team considers the stairways an "independent" project Earlier this week, the unfinished basilica announced that they had commissioned the creation of the proposals for the façace to three different artists such as Miquel Barceló, Cristina Iglesias, and Javier Marín. The city council is planning to reorganize the area surrounding the temple to make it more pedestrian-friendly and accommodate the thousands of visitors to the site. Local authorities will transform Marina Street into a large open area connecting the Plaça de Gaudí and the Provença and Mallorca streets. The proposal is to create a large open area that is both a square and an extension of the park near the building to allow large gatherings. The square will become a "meeting point," deputy mayor Bonet told journalists. A similar message said by the site's construction board director. "We are very happy as it will improve the area's mobility," Martínez told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) a day after the council unveiled its plans. Works are expected to start in September and will be ready by Spring next year, with an investment of around €2.7 million. The Sagrada Família's second edition of its Social Action Fund registered 530 projects, out of these 269 were eligible to be funded. After consideration, the construction board chose 94 different third sector entities, which almost doubles the 56 entities funded during the first edition of the event. The €3.5 million funding was shared across 26 municipalities, five more than last year's edition. Most of the projects, 27.66% focused on the fight against poverty, 26.6% on health issues, and 24.47% on children, teenagers, and youth. The next fund will be almost €5 million, around 40% more than last year's budget. the Museu Diocesà de Barcelona exhibition centre inaugurated an exhibition with five proposals for the Lamb that will go inside the cross on the tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família an essential element that Antoni Gaudí described in his plans of the Basilica published by the association developing the Temple while the architect was alive International proposals from five artists the Junta Constructora de la Sagrada Família Board of Trustees decided to hold a contest for artists to submit proposals for the Lamb (Agnus Dei) The Art Committee chose the following artists to take part in the contest: Italians Edoardo Tresoldi and Andrea Mastrovito Portuguese artist David Oliveira and Gonzalo Borondo and Jordi Alcaraz from Spain The five exhibition panels feature the models of each proposal with additional elements like drawings and materials used Plus there is an introductory panel explaining the nature of the commission The proposal submitted by Andrea Mastrovito was chosen for the elegance of its golden light and the “luminous” transparency of the Lamb The exhibition is on from 10/04/2025 to 09/06/2025 at Casa de la Almoina Home - Pope - The Pope has declared Gaudí, the Catalan architect who built the Sagrada Familia, "Venerable" The Pope has declared Antoni Gaudí, the famous Catalan architect, as Venerable. He is best known for dedicating much of his life to the construction of the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona. In fact, he considered this project “a mission entrusted to him by God”. Pope Francis declaring Gaudi Venerable means that the Church recognizes that he lived out the theological and cardinal virtues in an exemplary way. On the path to sainthood, there are three stages: Venerable, Blessed, and Saint. The title Gaudí has received is the first step in this long process. The decision was announced following the audience between the Pontiff and Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. In recent days, the Pope has increased his meetings with many members of the Curia. The Board of Trustees of the Sagrada Familia has commissioned Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló, Basque artist Cristina Iglesias, and Mexican artist Javier Marín to create artistic proposals for the design of the Glory Façade. These proposals will help the Board select the artist or artists who will ultimately carry out its execution.  Mallorcan artist Miquel Barceló has previously made his interest in creating a design for the Sagrada Familia known publicly. In October, he expressed interest in creating a large ceramic mural on the Glory façade. Barceló contacted the basilica to collaborate on the design, which would feature hundreds of sculptures and involve more artists.  The contemporary artist has previously designed the ceiling sculpture of the United Nations Palace in Geneva. Work on the Sagrada Família is continuing according to schedule, the basilica has explained in a press release. Currently, the focus is on finishing the tower of Jesus Christ, with the twelfth level of panels already in place, and starting on the cross pinnacle. At the same time, work on the Chapel of the Assumption, on Carrer de Provença, is also progressing on schedule.  Work has also begun on the four bell towers on the Glory façade, which will be the main entrance, on Carrer de Mallorca. For 2025, the goal is to finish the eight columns that will support these structures. the Sagrada Família took part in the global Earth Hour initiative switching off all its lights on Saturday 22 March from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm companies and people around the world to switch off their lights for one hour to raise awareness of climate change and the need to protect the environment Landmark buildings and monuments around the world also took part You can modify this consent whenever you wish.