Women carrying Christ and young people in the front row: the 'miracle' of the Pineda de Mar procession

GironaBy Easter weekThe streets of Pineda de Mar, in the Maresme region, are packed to the brim to follow one of the processions that inspires the greatest devotion and enthusiasm in all of Catalonia. It moves on to the Poblenou neighborhood, far from the municipality's historic center, where many working-class families live. Every year, during the Easter holidays, they take to the streets and balconies to follow the footsteps of Christ and the Virgin Mary with silence, applause, and emotion. The procession is organized by the Poblenou brotherhood, linked to the neighborhood parish, which this year celebrates its fortieth anniversary, at a moment of maximum splendor: far from declining and losing followers, the brotherhood continues to grow, especially after the pandemic, and adds more than 300 members from all those participating in this festivity.

"In this neighborhood we are humble people, and faith moves us. Some participate out of devotion, others out of a sense of community. Each person experiences it in their own way, and that's the most beautiful thing," explains María José Sánchez, president of the brotherhood, who also points out that many non-believers enjoy it: they come to see the procession because it's part of our culture and it's very important not to forget where we come from."

Overcoming prejudices

In the Poblenou brotherhood, the Holy Week liturgy begins on Holy Wednesday, when the images are carried from the parish church to the interior of the Church of San Juan Bautista. However, it's on Good Friday that the big day arrives and the entire procession takes to the streets, accompanied by the Cerdanyola band. Three iconic images parade: Christ the Nazarene—who, since he joined the brotherhood, as a distinctive feature that makes the neighborhood proud—the Virgin of Sorrows, and Christ Jacent. "Anyone can carry the image, and that's a very powerful symbol," argues Sánchez.

Despite prejudices that attribute an archaic and outmoded atmosphere to the processions and parishes, the Poblenou brotherhood survives with great strength because it has managed to connect with new generations. Noelia Pérez, 24, a neighborhood resident, for example, is one of the most involved. She has participated for nine years, began by bringing pillows, spiked wreaths, and small banners with other children, and now carries the Nazarene float with the rest of the women in the procession: "When I was little, my parents didn't talk to me about the processions, but my aunt accompanied me. We carried my feelings, a feeling of something, a faith that's difficult to express in words, linked to that liturgy," says Pérez. She continues: "Then I started going with my cousin, and now it's like a second family to me."

Pérez also highlights that, despite the widespread idea that young people have lost interest in these ancient traditions, there are many young people and children around them who are part of parishes and brotherhoods: "In the Poblenou brotherhood there are many young people, and in those in the surrounding towns, they never know what it's about, I would encourage them to come and, if they are touched in one way or another by what they see, then they should sign up with us."