Holy Week's biggest crowds show for washing of feet on Thursday

Brazil
Holy Thursday
Easter & Holy Week
  • Large crowds gather for the washing of the feet in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church on Holy Thursday.
  • Interior of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the two baroque churches that anchor Holy Week festivities.
  • Parishioners begin to arrive for Holy Thursday services inside St. Francis Church.
  • The statue of Our Lady of Sorrows at St. Francis Church. In preparation for Holy Week, there are meditations on the sorrows of the Virgin at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows outside the center of town.
  • Holy Thursday services begin in St. Francis Church, a baroque church which holds a relatively small number of people.
  • The washing of the feet on Holy Thursday features young men from town, on a stage in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church.
  • A crowd gathers to watch the washing of the feet. The whole event, including preaching, lasts several hours.
  • Spectators watch the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church.
By
Thomas M. Landy

Holy Thursday features a Eucharist at St. Francis church at 7 p.m., but the largest crowd by far gathers in front of the church at 8:30, for the ceremony of the washing of the feet, which takes place on a big stage set up with professional lighting and TV projection screens.