Holy Week in San Cataldese 2026
City of Scinnenza and SanpaoloiniHoly Week in San Cataldo is the most heartfelt religious celebration among the citizens, characterized by strong popular participation and a rich calendar of processions and sacred representations of the final moments of the life of Jesus Christ.
It opens on Holy Tuesday with the procession of the "Piccoli Misteri," papier-mâché statues that introduce the community to the Passion. Holy Wednesday is dedicated to the great historical procession, with hundreds of participants in period costumes marching through the main streets, culminating with the reenactment of the Trial of Jesus in Piazzale degli Eroi.
Holy Thursday is a day of devotion: Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John roam the city in search of Christ, pausing in front of churches. At midnight, in front of the chapel of 'U Ratò, the closing of the door symbolically prevents the encounter between Mother and Son.
Good Friday is the most intense moment. In the morning, in Piazza San Giuseppe, "U 'Ncuntru" takes place, the encounter between Mary, Saint John, and the dying Christ, shrouded in a spiritual silence that is broken by the "Cry of Mary." At midday, the Procession of the Mysteries encounters the Madonna, who bows to her Son, and in the evening, the "Scinnenza" is performed, an ancient dramatization of the crucifixion and deposition, followed by the procession of the dead Christ in the Urn to the Mother Church.
The celebration culminates on Easter Sunday with the "Sampauluna," giant papier-mâché processionals depicting the Apostles, who, along with Mary Magdalene and the Madonna, make their way down the main street several times. They recall the discovery of the Resurrection, first by Mary Magdalene, then by the Mother, and finally by the Apostles, in a crescendo of collective joy.
This centuries-old tradition, which combines faith, history, and spectacle, makes Holy Week in San Cataldese unique among Sicilian Easter celebrations.
The program may be subject to changes due to unforeseen needs, which will however be communicated in advance.
Exhibitions
From March 29th to April 5th,
EXHIBITION OF THE SANPAOLONI of the Madonna and the Magdalene of Easter Sunday.
Organized by the Amico Medico Association.
– Conference Room BCC G. Toniolo and San Michele – Piazza Francesco Crispi
From April 2nd to April 5th,
EXHIBITION OF THE SMALL MYSTERIES. Organized by the SS. Passione di Cristo Cultural Association.
– New premises on Via Scalinata.
General Program
The Holy Week program may be subject to changes, which will be appropriately announced.From March 29th to April 5th 2026
Exhibition of the Sanpaoloni, the Madonna and the Magdalene of Easter Sunday
Location: BCCG Toniolo and San Michele Conference Hall (Piazza Francesco
Crispi)
From April 2nd to April 5th 2026,
SMALL MYSTERIES EXHIBITION
March 30 – HOLY MONDAY
THE LAST SUPPER
8:00 PM | Organized by the Diamond Event cultural and artistic association. Directed by Davide Burcheri.
– Heroes' Square
March 31 – HOLY TUESDAY
PROCESSION OF THE SMALL MYSTERIES
Organized by the SS. Passione di Cristo cultural association.
7:00 PM | 'A NISCIUTA' of the Little Mysteries from the Mother Church.
8:00 PM | Start of the Procession.
8.30 pm | 'U CRISTU 'NNI THE URNA – Church of Santa Maria della Catena.
10.00 pm | L'URTIMU SALUTU – Mary's tears at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
April 1 – HOLY WEDNESDAY
6:30 PM | HISTORICAL PROCESSION with: chariot, Roman legionaries, priests, princes and Jewish people.
– Via Don Bosco – Piazza San Francesco – Corso V. Emanuele – Corso Sicilia – Piazza degli Eroi
8:00 PM | TRIAL OF JESUS
Directed by Ivano Ferrara – assistant director Davide Burcheri – Piazza degli Eroi
9:00 PM | ON THE ROAD TO CALVARY – the first fall – the second fall
9:30 PM | AFFACCIA AFFACCIA – Churchyard of San Giuseppe
by the Teatro Insieme stable company
Directed by Giuseppe Cazzetta.
April 2 – HOLY THURSDAY
9:00 PM | PROCESSION OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS AND SAINT JOHN
through the traditional streets of the historic center.
11:45 PM | TRADITIONAL CLOSING OF THE “U RATÒ” DOOR AND CRYING OF MARY
, followed by the return of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John to the Church of San Giuseppe.
12:00 AM | NIGHT VIGIL OF CHRIST ON THE CATHOLIC BOW
April 3 – GOOD FRIDAY
6.30 am | MORNING
7.00 am | PROCESSION OF THE DEAD CHRIST ON THE
TRADITIONAL CATHOL MEETING WITH OUR LADY OF SORROWS AND ST. JOHN with a homily by HE Monsignor Mario Russotto Bishop of the Diocese of Caltanissetta. – Piazza San Giuseppe
followed by VISIT TO THE ALTARS OF REPOSITION (the Sepulchres) in the city's Churches
11.00 am | GATHERING OF THE MYSTERIES and arrival of the hooded ones accompanied by the band – Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII
11.30 am | PROCESSION OF THE MYSTERIES
12.00 pm | TRADITIONAL 'NCUNTRU DI MAZZIURNU
of Jesus of Nazareth with Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John. Weeping of Mary.
– Corso Vittorio Emanuele
1.00 pm | ENTHRONMENT OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS
– Piazza Calvario
7:30 PM | PROCESSION OF THE SACRED URN
– from the Mother Church to Piazza Calvario
8:00 PM | 'A SCINNENZA Sacred representation in the folk tradition. Directed by Ivano Ferrara, assistant director Davide Burcheri – Piazza Calvario
9:00 PM | SOLEMN PROCESSION OF THE DEAD CHRIST IN THE SACRED URN
with Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John, the participation of the clergy, the
Confraternities, civil and military authorities.
– from Piazza Calvario to the Mother Church.
Followed by the return of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John to the Church of San Giuseppe.
April 5 – EASTER SUNDAY
Organized by the Giuseppe Amico Medico cultural association.
6:00 PM | U 'NCUNTRU DI LI SAMPAULUNA with the Risen Jesus, the Madonna, and the Magdalene. Followed by a floral tribute from the Municipal Administration at the Chapel of “Lu Signuri Scitatu.”
6:30 PM | SOLEMN PROCESSION OF THE RISEN JESUS with the Madonna, the Magdalene, and the Sanpaoloni to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
7:15 PM | Return of the Sanpaoloni to the headquarters in Via Amico.
Holy Week Events in San Cataldese
