It is now time for San Calogero and his festival that leads the people of Agrigento into the height of summer. Because, traditionally, the hottest season does not really begin if we do not first pay homage to the Black Saint for two consecutive weekends, the first and second Sunday of the month. The various moments of the festival are all confirmed and there is also a novelty: the recovery of the so-called “Ntinna” or the competition on the greasy pole that recalls a game that belongs to a distant past, one that the older generations remember nostalgically. It will take place on Wednesday 10 July at 8:30 pm in San Leone in Piazzale Giglia. It is a competition for teams (made up of 6 or 7 people) who will have to climb a pole, made particularly slippery, on the top of which some prizes are displayed that must, in fact, be won by reaching the goal. Participation in the competition, presented by Domenico Vecchio, is free and it is already possible to register by calling 328 0459932.
All ready for the feast of San Calogero, the appeal to the police commissioner of the former mayor Sodano: “Let’s recover the traditions lost because of the church”
Also confirmed is the show “San Calogero embraces the Valley”, now in its eighth edition and organized by the “I tammura di Girgenti” association, scheduled for Tuesday 9 July at 8.30pm at the Panoramica dei Templi theatre. On stage the cabaret duo “Blue Sister”, the musical duo composed of Federico Mungiovì and Elisa Sciacca, the dancers of “Academy centro dance”, the Sicilian orchestra “I fiore del mandorlo” and the band Brisca. The show will be presented by Davide Sardo. The artistic direction is by Biagio Licata. The entrance ticket costs 7 euros. The entire proceeds will be used to issue shopping vouchers to be donated to poor families in the city.
The program
Friday 5 July
Holy mass at 7.30 and 9. At 7pm the mass with the pilgrims of the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Divine Providence and the switching on of the extraordinary lighting of the city. At 8.30 pm the inauguration of the “U venniri a villa” party in Piazza Marconi organized by the San Calogero porters’ association.
Saturday 6 July
Holy mass at 7.30 and 9. At 5pm the entrance to the “Giuseppe Verdi” band complex of San Biagio Platani which will tour the streets of the city. At 7pm the mass for the deceased friars and pallbearers.
Sunday 7 July
At 5 the opening of the sanctuary and at 6 the dawn with the firing of firecrackers and the Holy Mass with the pilgrims of the Pastoral Unit of San Nicola, San Giovanni Bantista and the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church. At 7:30 the mass and at 8:30 the entrance of the “Giuseppe Verdi” Band of San Biagio Platani which will tour the streets of the city accompanied by the “Motoapi parades”. At 9 the mass and at 10:30 the function presided over by the bishop Alessandro Damiano with the participation of the civil and military authorities. The “Magnificat” choir of Agrigento will animate the event. At midday, the daytime procession of the statue of the Saint carried on the shoulders of the devotees along the traditional route: via Roma, piazzale Aldo Moro, via Gieoni, via Atenea, via Porcello, salita Santo Spirito, via Santo Spirito, via Foderà, salita Cognata, via San Girolamo, via Duomo, piazza don Minzoni, salita Seminario, via Oblati. via Sferri, via Garibaldi and the sanctuary of the Addolorata. At 7 pm, mass in the churchyard of the sanctuary of the Addolorata and at 9 pm the preparation of the fercolo of the Saint for the evening procession. At 9:30 pm the opening of the procession by the “Motoapi parate”. The procession will move from the Addolorata to viale della Vittoria with the participation of the authorities, the brotherhoods and the faithful. At 11 pm, the fireworks and the return to the sanctuary in piazza San Calogero.
Monday 8th July
Masses at 7.30 and 9. At 5pm “San Calogero visits the retirement homes” organized by the Confraternity. At 7pm there will be mass with the pilgrims of the parish of San Francesco di Paola and at 8.30pm the inauguration of the photographic exhibition on the procession of San Calogero organized by the Confratenita.
Tuesday 9 July
At 7:30 and 9:00 the masses. At 19:00 the mass with the pilgrims of the parish of Santa Maria degli Angeli and San Michele – Badiola. At 20:00, in the sanctuary of San Calogero, the round table on “Art and faith: the places of San Calogero”. At 20:30, at the Panoramica dei Templi theater, the show “San Calogero embraces the Valley”.
Wednesday 10 July
Masses at 7.30 and 9. At 7pm the mass with the pilgrims of the parish of Our Lady of Fatima – Blessed Virgin Mary of Carmel with the ceremony of blessing the children and expectant mothers with the participation of the Life Help Center of Agrigento. At 8pm the community penitential liturgy. At 8.30 pm, in Piazzale Giglia in San Leone, the game of “Ntinna”.
Thursday 11 July
At 7:30 and 9:00 the masses with Eucharistic adoration. At midday the Ora media. At 19:00 the mass with the pilgrims of the parishes of San Giuseppe and San Giacomo. At 20:30 the Eucharistic adoration “Burning Bush” guided and animated by groups of Renewal in the Spirit of Agrigento.
Friday 12 July
At 7:30 and 9:00 the masses. At 18:00 the walk of the children of San Calogeto from Piazza Municipio to the sanctuary. At 19:00 the mass with the pilgrims of the sanctuary of the Addolorata and the participation of the devotees with disabilities by the association “Portatori di San Calogero”.
Saturday 13th July
At 7.30 am mass with the pilgrims from the parish of Santa Rosa da Viterbo and at 9 am mass with the pilgrims from the parish of San Leone. At 5pm the entrance to the “Giuseppe Verdi” band complex of San Biagio Platani which will tour the city. At 6pm the art and extemporaneous exhibition “San Caloriu di Girgenti: inkings of devotion” curated by Salvatore Alaimo “U Giurgintanu”. At 7pm the holy mass and at 8pm the performance of the band in the churchyard of the sanctuary of San Calogero.
Sunday 14 July
The sanctuary opens at 5 am and at 6 am the dawn with the firing of firecrackers. Two more masses at 6 am and 7:30 am and then, at 8:30 am, the entrance of the band. At 9 am another mass and at 9:30 am the 39th edition of the Sagra del grano. The offertory procession is planned with the participation of the devotees and the faithful with the ex voto, with the products of the land and the artisanal works, followed by the procession of the Sicilian carts of the “Motoapi” and the mules dressed up, the band and the traditional drums from the sanctuary of the Addolorata to Viale della Vittoria. At 10:30 am the Holy Mass and at 11 am the arrival of the offertory procession in the sanctuary, the blessing of the procession and the delivery of the commemorative parchments by the local authorities. At 11:30 am the Holy Mass presided over by Don Giuseppe Cumbo, Vicar General. The choir “Totus tuus” will animate the procession. At 1 pm the daytime procession of the simulacrum of San Calogero through via Atenea, piazza Pirandello, via Amendola and via Garibaldi to the sanctuary of the Addolorata. At 7 pm the mass in the churchyard of the sanctuary of the Addolorata. At 9 pm the preparation of the fercolo and at 9:30 pm the start of the evening procession with the opening entrusted to the “Motoapi parate”. The simulacrum, from the sanctuary of the Addolorata, will reach viale della Vittoria and will be accompanied by the authorities, the brotherhoods and the faithful. At 11:30 pm the fireworks and the return of the simulacrum to the sanctuary in piazza San Calogero.
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