22nd January 2025 – At the General Council of the Agrupación de Cofradías, held yesterday, Tuesday 21st January, the members of the Plenary were informed of the progress, proposals and decisions on which the Great Passion Procession (Magna) Organising Committee is working in relation to the events planned, God willing, for 27th September 2025.
In this regard, the Committee has now finalised the slogan for the celebration, adopting the proposal put forward by Antonio Gómez Sabán: «Lucena vive la Pasión» (Lucena lives the Passion). The poster announcing the Great Passion Procession (Magna) has also been commissioned from Lucena-born artist Víctor Manjón-Cabeza. Completing the list of agreements, the route of the Official Processional Route was presented. It will run along Alcaide Street, Julio Romero de Torres Street, the side of Plaza Nueva, the centre of Plaza Nueva, Cuatro Esquinas and El Peso Street as far as the corner with El Agua Street. The order of the processional thrones and the participation of each brotherhood were also established, with two drums; one ‘torralbo’, where applicable; a maximum of two ‘porrillas’ for each ‘cuadrillas’, the brotherhood’s insignia and four poles carried by members of its governing board; one steward; and two attendants responsible for the thuribles.
As regard the musical accompaniment, work is under way to engage the Agrupación Musical Santísimo Cristo de la Humillación and the Sociedad Didáctico Musical Banda de Música, both from Lucena, as well as other highly regarded ensembles from outside the town, whose participation and contracts have yet to be confirmed.
The Committee is considering the possibility of installing seating along the Official Processional Route, together with perimeter barriers. The feasibility of these measures will have to be assessed and approved by the relevant authorities, with safety requirements guaranteed at all times. These matters will be resolved at the meetings scheduled to take place before Lent.
The budget has not yet been finalised, as it remains subject to the Great Passion Procession Committee’s approval of certain events, the financial contributions of the brotherhoods, and possible public and private funding. For this reason, the final breakdown of expenditure and income cannot be provided until after Holy Week.
Among the notable initiatives it is worth noting the special collectors’ edition of ‘El Torralbo’, devoted to the Great Passion Procession (Magna), featuring all the ‘cuadrillas’ and information about the processional thrones. This publication will be distributed by the participating brotherhoods and confraternities and at the usual outlets.
In addition, the times, departure points, assembly points for the processional thrones and their route after the Official Processional Route have yet to be determined. These details will be finalised in coordination with the relevant authorities and announced after Holy Week.
Lastly, the initial economic assessments carried out by the Great Passion Procession (Magna) Committee suggest a positive impact on Lucena, with figures close to those generated during Holy Week. This will provide a boost to the local hospitality and tourism sectors, while also raising Lucena’s profile across local, provincial, regional and national media, as well as on social media.
