For the first time a city outside the Archdiocese of Siena will offer oil for the votive lamp on the occasion of the Catherine holidays: it will be Teramo. And together with the capital of Abruzzo, the municipality of Castellina in Chianti will also participate. “Monsignor Lorenzo Leuzzi, bishop of Teramo, and a large group of pilgrims will be present with us – said the archbishop of Siena Augusto Paolo Lojudice –. In that diocese there is a lot of curiosity towards the figure of Saint Catherine of Siena and a lot of enthusiasm for this event”. The offering will be held next Sunday 5 May at 10am at the Sienese sanctuary of the co-patroness of Europe (for 25 years) and patroness of Italy (for 85 years). First at 9.30 the procession of the districts will start from the public palace. The celebrations will begin next Monday 29 April. The appointment is at 11am at the Sanctuary-house of Santa Caterina in Fontebranda with the mass presided over by Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice. Then at 6pm in the Basilica of San Domenico the mass will be presided over by Lojudice (all the events here) “These days – added the cardinal – we cannot think about Europe and its Christian roots. And we cannot fail to ask for the intercession of the Saint to have the gift of Peace.” Presiding over the ceremony on May 5th will be Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-Sik, prefect of the dicastery for the clergy: “he has already visited Siena in the past and is enthusiastic about this city”
