Crotone is preparing to experience the month dedicated to the Madonna of Capocolonna. Thirty intense days in which the whole community finds itself united next to its Mother. If for some this may represent an annual repetition, in many respects it is not: the people of Crotone await this moment of the year with trepidation – not only the faithful – and many who live outside the region – or even outside the country – return there specifically to experience them fully.
This year we start with something new: as is known, the Crotone Cathedral – which houses the Holy Effigy in the dedicated Altar – is closed for renovation works. Therefore, the usual “lowering” of the Framework on 30 April will not take place when the church is open to the faithful, but will take place outside. The Venerated Effigy, in fact, will be carried in procession from the churchyard of the Cathedral towards the nearby church of the Immaculate Conception which was chosen as the home of Mary for the entire time in which the Cathedral Basilica will be closed for works.
The events of the Marian month have remained unchanged: Thursday 9 May the Traditional Kiss; Saturday 11th the Procession of the Painting towards the San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, and – on the night between the third Saturday and Sunday of the month – the traditional pilgrimage of the Holy Effigy towards Capocolonna; the return in the evening on board the Port Authority patrol boat to the Lega Navale pier.
All the events of the Marian month were illustrated during a press conference called by the archbishop of Crotone-Santa Severina, mons. Angelo Panzetta, together with Monsignor Alessandro Saraco, rector of the Cathedral Basilica, Don Ezio Limina, vice president of the Cathedral Chapter, Don Bernardino Mongelluzzi, Rector of the Sanctuary of Capo Colonna, and Domenico Ruggiero, president of the Marian celebrations committee.
interview:
mgr. Angelo Panzetta – archbishop of Crotone-Santa Severina
