The Sagrada Família boosts almost a hundred social projects with 3.5 million

Almost a hundred projects by social entities will see their work strengthened with the support they will receive from the Fundación Junta Constructora de la Sagrada Família. In total, the foundation will allocate 3.5 million euros to these projects, all of them in the social sphere and within the Archdiocese of Barcelona.

Furthermore, the foundation has done so with a focus on proximity: nine of the projects operate in the Sagrada Família neighborhood, 10% of the total, as detailed by the general director of the Junta Constructora, Xavier Martínez, in an event at the basilica alongside representatives of the social entities, bathed in sunlight filtered through the temple's stained glass windows.

This second call for proposals received applications from 530 projects by non-profit organizations, of which 269 projects from a total of 253 entities were finally deemed eligible. Of these, 94 were selected, most of which focus on areas such as poverty, social exclusion, health, personal autonomy, childhood, adolescence, and youth.

Through these projects, the Sagrada Família initiative reaches 26 municipalities, five more than the previous call. And now, it plans to grow even further: it is already preparing the bases for the next edition which, as a novelty, expands its territorial scope and will reach not only the Archdiocese of Barcelona, but also those of Terrassa and Sant Feliu de Llobregat.

This third call will grow in territorial scope, and also in economic endowment. After the positive balance of the first two editions, the new one will offer almost five million euros to social projects. This figure will double the resources of the first call, which allocated 2.3 million to 56 projects. As Martínez detailed, entities will be able to submit their projects starting in May, and the beneficiaries will be announced at the end of the year. The new call and the number of projects selected in the third edition demonstrate "the vitality and involvement of the social fabric and the consolidation of this project," defended the secretary of the board of trustees of the construction board, Jaume Solé.

And the board not only watches over the construction of the Sagrada Família, but also for "the construction of a more just and more equitable world," as the Archbishop of Barcelona, Joan Josep Omella, has assured: "That is why we collaborate with social entities with these small aids; we are the ones who are grateful for the work they carry out."

A new square and the commitment to the staircase

"We will finish the Sagrada Família and continue with Antoni Gaudí's social vision," guaranteed the president of the fund, Núria Vendrell. But, in parallel, this construction of the temple continues its course, and looks beyond its walls. In fact, the construction board has reviewed this third call shortly after the announcement that the space on Marina street in front of the temple will become a large square. Thus, the space between Mallorca, Provença, Gaudí Square and the Nativity Façade will give way to a versatile space that will act as an extension of the park and an antechamber to the basilica, with about 6,200 square meters. The proposal, already presented to the neighbors, has a budget of 2.7 million euros —in which the temple will participate— and is expected to begin execution in September, with a duration of about eight months.

Despite this announcement, the staircase planned on Mallorca street continues to be the protagonist of the debate. Martínez has reaffirmed the construction board's commitment to the project, and has guaranteed that the board "will carry out Antoni Gaudí's will to the end," to build a grand staircase in front of the Glory Façade. Precisely this week, work has begun on what will be the main façade of the temple, Martínez explained. And the general director of the construction board is convinced that "sooner or later" an agreement will be reached to move forward with the staircase, which is not included in the temple's current building permit and affects the homes located opposite.