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, characterized by strong popular participation and a rich calendar of processions and sacred representations of the final moments of the life of Jesus Christ.
Holy Monday: The Last Supper
The celebrations begin with the sacred representation of theLast Supper, the first touching act that introduces the faithful to the heart of the Passion.
Holy Tuesday: The "Little Mysteries"
The city comes alive with the procession of the Little Mysteries: delicate papier-mâché statues that carry the symbols of Jesus' sacrifice through the city streets.
Holy Wednesday: The Great Historical Procession
A leap into the past with hundreds of participants in period costumes. The procession passes through the main streets and culminates in Piazzale degli Eroi with the moving reenactment of the Trial of Jesus.
Holy Thursday: The Search and the Night of 'U Ratò
The day of silent devotion. Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint John wander the city in search of Christ. The most moving moment occurs at midnight at the chapel of 'U Ratò: the closing of the door symbolizes the impossibility of the encounter between Mother and Son, in an atmosphere of profound emotion.
Good Friday: The Passion and the "Scinnenza"
It is the most intense and emotional day, divided into three key moments:
Morning: In Piazza San Giuseppe, “U 'Ncuntru” between Mary and the dying Christ, accompanied by the thrill of the “Cry of Mary”.
Noon: The meeting between the Madonna and her Son represented in the majestic statuary groups of the Mysteries.
Evening: The “Scinnenza”, an ancient and evocative representation of the crucifixion and deposition, followed by the solemn procession of the Urn of the Dead Christ towards the Mother Church.
Easter Sunday: The Joy of the "Sanpauluna"
Holy Week ends in an explosion of celebration. The protagonists of Sunday are the Sanpauluna: imposing papier-mâché giants representing the Apostles.
Along with Mary Magdalene and the Madonna, the giants march down the main street, reenacting the announcement of the Resurrection. It's a crescendo of collective joy that blends faith and spectacle, making Easter in San Cataldese a unique experience in Sicily.
Come and discover the roots of our people. A tradition where history becomes emotion.
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
