Holy Week in San Cataldo 2026
San Cataldo: City of the "Scinnenza" and the "Sanpaoloni"Holy Week in San Cataldo: Faith and Tradition
Holy Week in San Cataldo is the most heartfelt religious celebration among the citizens. It is characterized by deep popular involvement and a rich calendar of processions and sacred performances that recall the final moments of Jesus Christ's life.
Holy Tuesday and Wednesday: The Beginning of the Rites
Holy Tuesday: The celebrations open with the procession of the “Little Mysteries” , papier-mâché statue groups that introduce the community to the themes of the Passion.
Holy Wednesday: It's the day of the great historical procession . Hundreds of participants in period costumes parade through the main streets, culminating with the evocative reenactment of the Trial of Jesus in Piazzale degli Eroi.
Holy Thursday: Search and Detachment
Holy Thursday is dedicated to intimate devotion. Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John roam the city in search of Christ, pausing to pray in front of churches. The most symbolic moment occurs at midnight at the chapel of 'U Ratò : the closing of the door prevents the meeting between Mother and Son, marking the beginning of mourning.
Good Friday: Sorrow and "Scinnenza"
Friday is the time of maximum emotional intensity:
Morning: In Piazza San Giuseppe , “U 'Ncuntru” (the meeting) between Mary, Saint John and the dying Christ takes place, accompanied by the moving “Crying of Mary”.
Noon: The Procession of the Mysteries meets the Madonna, who bows solemnly to her Son.
Evening: “Scinnenza” is staged , an ancient dramatization of the crucifixion and deposition, followed by the silent procession of the dead Christ in the Urn towards the Mother Church.
Easter Sunday: Joy and the “Sampauluna”
The celebration culminates with an explosion of joy on Easter Sunday. The protagonists are the "Sampauluna" , giant papier-mâché processional figures depicting the Apostles. Along with Mary Magdalene and the Madonna, the giants march down the main street, commemorating the discovery of the empty tomb and the Resurrection in a crescendo of collective celebration.
This centuries-old tradition, a synthesis of faith, history, and spectacle, makes Holy Week in San Cataldo a unique event among Sicilian Easter celebrations.
Note: The program may be subject to change due to unforeseen needs, which will 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 by the cultural association Giuseppe Amico Medico (BCCG Toniolo and San Michele Conference Hall, Piazza Francesco Crispi)
From April 2nd to April 5th 2026,
the "Small Mysteries" exhibition, curated by the Giuseppe Amico Medico cultural association (via La Scalinata, crossroads of via Umberto)
March 30 – HOLY MONDAY
THE LAST SUPPER
8:00 PM | Organized by the Diamond Event cultural and artistic association, directed by Davide Burcheri (Piazza degli Eroi)
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 (gathering in Piazza Monsignor Cataldo Naro)
8:00 PM | Start of the Procession with the participation of the laudatori of Marianopoli
8:30 PM | 'U CRISTU 'NNI L'URNA – Church of Santa Maria della Catena.
10:00 PM | L'URTIMU SALUTU Lament of Mary at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
April 1 – HOLY WEDNESDAY
6:30 PM | HISTORICAL PROCESSION with Roman legionaries on foot and on horseback, priests, princes and Jewish people.
(Via Don Bosco – Corso V. Emanuele – Corso Sicilia – Piazza degli Eroi)
8:00 PM | TRIAL OF JESUS
Directed by Ivano Ferrara and Arcangelo Galanti, assistant director Davide Burcheri (Piazza degli Eroi)
9:00 PM | ON THE ROAD TO CALVARY – the first fall – the second fall.
April 2 – HOLY THURSDAY
9:00 PM | PROCESSION OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS AND
SAINT JOHN (throughout the 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)
VISIT TO THE ALTARS OF REPOSITION
by the Amico Medico association
11.00 am | GATHERING OF THE MYSTERIES (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 | THRONEMENT OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS
(Piazza Calvario)
7.30 pm | PROCESSION OF THE SACRED URN
(from the Mother Church, Piazza Mons. Cataldo Naro to Piazza Calvario)
8:00 PM | 'A SCINNENZA Sacred representation in the folk tradition. Directed by Ivano Ferrara and Arcangelo Galanti, 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, attended by the clergy, the Confraternities, and civil and military authorities.
(from Piazza Calvario to the Mother Church)
Followed by the return of Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John
(Church of San Giuseppe)
April 5 – EASTER SUNDAY
Organized by the Giuseppe Amico Medico cultural association
6:00 PM | U 'NCUNTRU DI LI SANPAULUNA 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 Cataldo
Holy Week in a Camper
