ARCHIVED - March 31 to April 9, Semana Santa in Mazarron and Puerto de Mazarron

The traditional Easter processions in Mazarrón go back to the 16^th century

The documented history of the Semana Santa processions in Mazarrón goes back to 1579, and the oldest “cofradia” or brotherhood taking part in the events is that of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, which was formed between 1653 and 1655 and then reconstituted in 1876.

It was in the second half of the 19th century that the brotherhoods grew sharply in popularity – at the same time as the town grew due to the increased mining activity – and others were formed at around the same time, including those of La Verónica, San Juan and Nuestro Padre Jesús. However, by 1981 the traditions had practically died out before a group oc locals decided to breathe life back into them by uniting the different brotherhoods as one, that of the Santo Cáliz de la Preciosísima Sangre de Cristo. As the processions grew in popularity again the brotherhoods once more beacame separate entities.

The schedule for the main events of Semana Santa 2023 is as follows (although the programme may be modified due to adverse weather conditions):

(NOTE: Some of these events take place in Mazarrón, others in Puerto de Mazarrón)

March 31, Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows)

The figure of the Virgen de la Amargura is on display throughout the day in the Church of la Purísima.

21.00: The annual Vía Crucis leaves from the church of San Antonio, featuring the brotherhoods of San Juan and Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno. The procession ends with Holy Mass and the kissing of the Virgen’s hands in the church of La Purísima.

Saturday April 1

18.30: Semana Santa drums and cornets are played in the Plaza del Convento. 

April 2, Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)

10.00: Holy Mass in La Azohía.

10.30: Holy Mass in Bolnuevo.

11.00: Palm procession followed by Mass in Isla Plana.

11.15: Blessing of the palms at the Santuario de La Purísima followed by the main Procession of the Palms to the church of San Andrés, where Mass is held. Route: Convento, Calle del Pino, Alfonso X El Sabio and San Andrés Apóstol, where Mass is held.

12.00: Blessing of the palms and olive branches in the church of San Isidro in Puerto de Mazarrón, followed by a procession to the parish church, where Mass is held. 

17.00: Homage is paid to the Monumento del Nazareno, followed by drumming from the various groups of the municipality in the Plaza del Romeral.

19.30: Holy Mass in the Iglesia de San Andrés.

20.00: Holy Mass in Puerto de Mazarrón.

Tuesday April 4, Easter Tuesday

21.00: Penitential Via Crucis in Puerto de Mazarrón, beginning at the parish church and with brief musical pauses on the seafront Paseo and at the door of the church. 

Wednesday April 5

20.45: Via Crucis in Puerto de Mazarrón.

22.00: Procesión de las Promesas in Mazarrón. Paso: Cristo de las Promesas. 

Route: Residencia de Ancianos "La Purísima", Calle Filomeno Hostench, Calle Covadonga, Avenida Constitución, Plaza del Callao, Plaza del Convento.

April 6, Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)

19.00: Celebration of the Last Supper in the church of San Andrés.

21.00: Procesión del Prendimiento (the procession of the taking of Christ)

Pasos: Cristo de la Columna, Verónica, Jesús Nazareno, Calvario, Cristo de la Soledad and Virgen de la Amargura.

Route: Plaza del Convento (Iglesia de la Purísima), Plaza Callao, Avda. Constitución, San José, Jardín de la Purísima, Calle Primavera, Calle del Pino, Calle del Pilar, Calle Boquera, Pintor Miguel García Vivancos, Plaza del Calvario, Monche Ríos, General Gómez Jordana, San Antonio, Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

23.00: Vigil in the Iglesia de San Andrés.

Midnight: Easter vigil lasting all night in Puerto de Mazarrón.

April 7, Viernes Santo (Good Friday)

In Puerto de Mazarrón the main event is the evening Procesión de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, after which the church remains open until midnight.

6.30: Vía Crucis in silence, an early morning procession visiting the Stations of the Cross from the Iglesia de la Purísima in Mazarrón.

Route: Plaza del Convento, Calle Pintor Agustín Navarro, Calle Lardines, Calle Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, Calle San Andrés, Calle Santa Rita, Calle Cuesta Carrión, Calle Ceballos, Calle de la Cruz, Plaza del Calvario, Calle Monche Ríos, Calle Cuesta Carrión, Calle General Gómez Jordana, Calle San Antonio, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Calle Pintor Agustín Navarro, Plaza del Convento.

Pasos: Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno and the Virgen de la Amargura.

9.30: Via Crucis on the seafront in Puerto de Mazarrón. 

17.30: Passion Mass in the church of San Andrés.

18.30: Procession of Solitude in Isla Plana. 

20.00: Procesión del Santo Entierro (the burial of Christ). A sombre procession featuring the Cristo del Sagrario, La Piedad, Virgen de la Cruz, Santo Sepulcro, San Juan Evangelista and the Virgen de la Soledad.

Route: Plaza del Convento, Plaza del Callao, Avenida Constitución, San José, Calle Primavera, Calle del Pino, Calle del Pilar, Calle Boquera, General Gómez Jordana, Calle San Antonio, Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

After the procession the Holy Sepulchre and the Virgen de la Soledad are taken to the Iglesia de San Andrés, where the figure of Cristo Yacente is worshipped.

A similar procession is held in Puerto de Mazarrón starting at 21.30 and finishing in the Plaza de la Iglesia.

April 8, Sábado Santo (Easter Saturday)

22.30: Easter Vigil in the church of San Andrés and in Puerto de Mazarrón.

April 9, Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday)

10.00: Easter Mass in La Azohía.

10.30: Easter Mass in the church of Bolnuevo.

11.00: Easter Mass in Isla Plana.

11.15: Procesión del Resucitado, the procession of Christ re-born. Paso: El Resucitado. Route: Plaza del Convento, Calle del Pino, Calle Alfonso X El Sabio, Calle Escultor Salzillo, Calle Pablo Picasso, Iglesia de San Andrés.

12.00 and 19.30: Easter Mass in the church of San Andrés.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Mazarrón Today.