The Diocese of the Algarve’s Pastoral Care for Tourism has organised a series of Easter celebrations in English, to serve the English-speaking Catholic community in the Algarve and visitors, who wish to participate in the liturgies and traditions of this sacred time in the Christian calendar.
Holy Week events in Tavira
During Holy Week, which begins on Sunday 13 April, 2025, there will be four Masses in English at the Church of Santiago in Tavira: Palm Sunday (10:30AM), Holy Thursday (6PM), Good Friday (5PM), and Easter Sunday (10:30AM).
All visitors will receive handouts including the Order of the Mass, scripture readings and music lyrics, for the congregation to accompany our cantor in singing sacred hymns (on Sundays only).
On Holy Wednesday (April 16), the “Way of the Cross” will begin at 6PM at the Church of Santiago in Tavira. This popular Lenten devotion will consist of walking through 14 stations in the historic center of Tavira, to commemorate the path that Jesus took while carrying his cross to his crucifixion.
Although this event takes place every year in Portuguese, the Tavira parish priest, Father Miguel Neto, is now offering to lead this devotion in English, following the rapid growth of the English-speaking Catholic community in the Tavira area.
Lastly, for those who wish to attend confession, English-speaking priests will be available at the Church of Santiago on Holy Tuesday, April 15, from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
About Tavira’s English-speaking Catholic community
The parish of Tavira is home to a growing English-speaking community of Roman Catholics from all over the world, including North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and continental Europe.
With an average of 70 people attending each week, English Masses are celebrated every Sunday at 10:30 AM at the Church of Santiago (in addition to other holy days such as Easter and Christmas Day).
Contact information
You can find out more about Tavira’s English-speaking Catholic community by visiting the website or joining the Facebook group.
Address: Igreja de Santiago R. Dom Paio Peres Correia 42, 8800-407 Tavira
Website: https://englishcommunitytavira.org/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/englishcommunitytaviraparish
Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
