Holy Week is one of the most important seasons for followers of the Catholic religion. In the case of Cundinamarca, numerous celebrations are held to remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
And although all Catholic churches have different activities in their programming, in the Sabana there are temples where these have become traditional and with massive attendance of parishioners.
Therefore, if you plan to take a religious and tourist tour of the Savannah, there are five municipalities that will hold masses, stations of the cross, washing of feet and children’s Easter in their respective churches.
Saint Francis de Sales
This municipality is in the middle of the Cundinamarca mountains, in the province of Gualivá, 55 kilometers northwest of Bogotá.
The church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and the main park are the most attractive points for tourists.
You can attend the Eucharist at the church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal:
– Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 4 pm
– Holy Saturday: Celebration of the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary, 2:30 pm And Solemn Easter Vigil, 6 pm
– Easter Sunday: Eucharist of the Risen Christ, 9:30 am
If you like walking you can also go to the Virgen De La Milagrosa Sanctuary, also known as Alto de la Virgen.
Please note that there is no vehicle access. It is a 6.5 km walk up to the peak of a mountain where the sanctuary is located.
The path is surrounded by fauna and flora, making it very attractive to find harmony with nature, in addition to the mild climate.
At night there will also be Holy Week celebrations, such as the Solemn Easter Vigil at 6 pm and 8 pm, on Holy Saturday. The church invites families, children and adults to attend the event.
Tocancipá
40 minutes from Bogotá, off the North Highway, is the church of Our Lady of Fátima, one of the main destinations for followers during Holy Week.
Guarded by the Foundation of the Knights of the Virgin, the faithful can come from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
With plants and bouquets, on March 24, Palm Sunday, approximately 11 thousand people attended the masses held.
To accommodate the multitude of parishioners, the church prepares several environments with chairs and screens, so that visitors can comfortably receive the celebration.
To prepare, the church will have four ceremonies, from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday:
– Holy Thursday: Lord’s Supper Ceremony, 6 pm (The church will remain open until 11 pm to visit the monument)
– Good Friday: Ceremony of the Passion of the Lord, 3 pm And via crosses, 6 pm
– Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil Mass, 6:30 pm
– Easter Sunday: Usual Mass; 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. m, 12:00 m and 4:00 pm
The parish of Nuestra Señora de Tránsito, located in the main park, will also have various celebrations during the four days of Holy Week.
Bojaca
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Health of Bojacá is one of the most visited religious temples in Colombia. The faithful usually go to commend themselves and raise their prayers.
The Sanctuary is well known because drivers bring their vehicles and their families to be blessed.
For Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday, the Sanctuary of Bojacá has activities for tourists and faithful to learn about, such as Eucharists, foot washing, Stations of the Cross and the Holy Mass every day.
In addition, near Bojacá there are other tourist places that visitors can visit. If you like hiking, you can go to Chivo Negro park and ride horses at the Cortijo de la Merced farm.
Near Bojacá you can also find the Tunjo stones, in Facatativá. This site is highly visited by those who want to have contact with nature and enjoy the landscape.
Zipaquira
The Salt Cathedral is a must-see place for a religious tour in Cundinamarca. Its historical, cultural and architectural milestone make it the first wonder of Colombia.
There not only parishioners gather to receive Holy Week, but also national and international tourists who want to see the emblematic religious sanctuary.
For Holy Week, the cathedral prepares a series of Eucharists in the central nave and in the chapel, which expects to receive thousands of citizens.
The municipality offers a variety of gastronomic and cultural options so that visitors can enjoy their stay.
The funny thing is that you can arrive by train. The savannah train that leaves from Bogotá goes to Zipaquirá, a journey of approximately two hours.
The round trip price for children from 2 to 12 years old and adults over 60 years old is 70 thousand pesos and for adults from 13 to 59 years old, 78 thousand pesos.
Soacha
The municipality closest to Bogotá also celebrates Holy Week in its own way. The cathedral is located in the León XIII neighborhood and is the most important religious building in this town.
It is the congregation point of the faithful of Soacha, which has approximately 556,268 inhabitants.
In the celebrations that will take place from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, the Holy Mass for the sick, the visit to the Holy Sepulcher, the Solemn Easter Vigil and the procession of the risen Jesus, among others, will be celebrated.
DIEGO SALINAS
SCHOOL OF MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM
TIME
