---
title: "Panama City’s Casco Antiguo fills with faithful for Holy Thursday procession"
date: 2026-04-02
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/04/02/holy-thursday-panama-casco-antiguo-procession/
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Casco Antiguo"
  - "Catholic Church"
  - "Hermandad de la Santa Cena"
  - "Holy Thursday"
  - "Panama City"
  - "Semana Santa"
---

# Panama City’s Casco Antiguo fills with faithful for Holy Thursday procession

## What Happened

Dozens of faithful gathered on Thursday, April 2, in Panama City’s Casco Antiguo for the traditional procession of the Hermandad de la Santa Cena, one of the most attended expressions of devotion during Holy Week in the capital.

From the afternoon onward, worshippers and visitors lined the colonial district’s streets to follow the route in an atmosphere of solemnity and reflection. Security personnel and support staff remained in the area to help maintain order as the procession moved through the historic center.

## Religious Observance in the Capital

Earlier in the day, Holy Thursday Mass was celebrated at the Catedral Basílica Santa María la Antigua, led by Panama’s Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa. The liturgy included the traditional washing of the feet, a rite that recalls Jesus Christ’s gesture of humility and service during the Last Supper.

Holy Thursday is one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar, especially for Catholic communities that mark the start of the Easter Triduum with processions, Masses, and acts of devotion. In Panama City, these observances regularly draw both local faithful and visitors who take part in the city’s religious traditions.

## Why It Matters

The procession in Casco Antiguo reflects the strong place that Holy Week holds in Panama’s cultural and religious life. The colonial district has become a focal point for these observances, combining public devotion with one of the city’s most recognizable historic settings.

Each year, the Holy Thursday program in the capital brings together church services and street processions that highlight the continuity of Catholic traditions in Panama. For many participants, the day is marked by prayer, community participation, and the solemn remembrance of the Last Supper.