The community of Raffadali is preparing to welcome, from Saturday 8th to Friday 14th June, the relics of Saint Anthony of Padua on the occasion of the solemn reopening of the church of the same name after the restoration work and the consecration of the new altar. The ecclesial and civil authorities will join the community of the faithful to welcome and express their devotion to the reliquary bust containing the relics of the Saint’s body extracted from the tomb in the 1981 reconnaissance. The relic is a precious treasure of the faith which has visited numerous parishes and communities to bring the peace and comfort of Saint Anthony to those who suffer in body and spirit.
The relics will be welcomed at the church of San Giacinto Giordano Ansalone and will be accompanied in procession to the church of Sant’Antonino, where the Holy Mass will be celebrated.
The relic will visit all the parishes of the country and during the week there will be countless moments for prayer, meditation and brotherhood, which will end on June 14th with the solemn Eucharistic celebration of consecration of the new altar, presided over by the bishop, Msgr. . Alessandro Damiano, date on which the restored church will be reopened to the worship of the faithful. A moment of grace and celebration for the town of Raffadali, which at this moment prays and finds itself celebrating around Saint Anthony, in the period of his thirteenth birthday. The promoters of the initiative thank the parish priest Don Aldo Sciabbarrasi for having once again brought the community together in the sign of prayer and devotion and Father Giovanni Milano, responsible for the peregrinatio reliquiae of Saint Anthony.
The program
SATURDAY 8 JUNE
5.00 pm: Gathering of the clergy, civil and military authorities, the OFSS Damiano fraternity, the people of God at the SGG Ansalone Church
5.30 pm: Reception of the Relics from Padua at the Church of San Giacinto Giordano Ansalone. Followed by a procession accompanied by the “L. Parisi” musical band towards the Church of S. Antonio through the streets of the town: Via Murano – Bivio – Via P.ta Agrigento – Via Minerallo – Piazza S. Antonino.
6.15 pm: Solemn opening of the Church after the restoration
6.30 pm: Solemn Eucharistic Concelebration presided over by Don Aldo Sciabbarrasi
7.30pm – 8.30pm: Prayer vigil animated by the OFSS Damiano Fraternity
SUNDAY 9 JUNE
08.30 am: Eucharistic celebration at the Church of S. Antonio
11.00 am: Eucharistic celebration and entrustment of children and young people to S. Antonio.
4.00pm – 6.30pm: End of catechism and oratory activity party with games organized by community catechists and volunteers from the S. Domenico Savio oratory in Piazza S. Antonino for all children and teenagers. Animation by BIM BUM PARTY. Grest 2024 launch
6.30 pm: Tredicina in Sant’Antonio
7.00 pm: Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fra Giovanni Milani, custodian of the Relic and entrustment of the families to S. Antonio. Followed by a meeting with the families
MONDAY 10 JUNE
09.00 am: Morning Prayer in the Church of S. Antonio
09.30 – 12.00: The Relics visit the retirement homes of the town
5.00 pm: The pastoral workers meet Fra Giovanni
6.00 pm: Tredicina a Sant’Antonio – Church of S. Antonio
6.30 pm: Procession towards the Mother Church
7.00 pm: Eucharistic celebration presided over by Don Luigi Lo Mascolo, followed by a fraternal agape
TUESDAY 11 JUNE
9.00 am: Morning Prayer in the Church of S. Antonio
09.30 – 12.00: The Relics visit the sick people of the town
4.00 pm – 5.30 pm: Confessions and personal prayer in front of the relics
5.30 pm: Tredicina a Sant’Antonio – Church of S. Antonio
6.00 pm: Reception of the Relic at the chapel of the Crucifix in via Porta Palermo. Followed by procession towards the Church of S. Gemma
7.00 pm: Eucharistic celebration presided over by Don Gioacchino Venturella, followed by sharing of bread
WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE
9.00 am: Morning Prayer in the Church of S. Antonio
09.30 – 12.00: The Relics visit the sick people of the town
5.00pm – 6.00pm: Confessions and personal prayer in front of the relics
6.00 pm: Tredicina in Sant’Antonio
6.30 pm: Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fra Giovanni Milani and Solemn Vespers of Saint Anthony. Followed by blessing of the bread and distribution
8.00 pm: Five-a-side football for children and games organized by the volunteers “S. Domenico Savio” Oratory in Piazza S. Antonino
THURSDAY 13 JUNE
FESTIVAL OF S. ANTONIO DI PADUA – COMMUNITY DAY
09.00 am: Morning Prayer in the Church
6.30 pm: Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Dedication of the Church and the Altar presided over by His Excellency Mons. Alessandro Damiano, Archbishop of Agrigento
8.00 pm: Buffet in Piazza S. Antonino and evening animated by the “Amici della Musica” musical band. Fireworks in Piazza S. Antonino
FRIDAY 14 JUNE
9.00 am: Morning Prayer in the Church of S. Antonio
09.30 – 12.00: Confessions and personal prayer in front of the relics
4.30pm: RnS Prayer Meeting
6.30 pm: Eucharistic Celebration of Thanksgiving to St. Anthony presided over by Don Salvatore Casa
8.00 pm: Eucharistic Adoration with young people and delivery of t-shirts to the GREST animators
9.30 pm: Evening with the “Centoquattro” group and aperitif in Piazza S. Antonino.
