Anno Giubilare Gerardino

Three centuries since the birth of a beloved saint

Saint Gerard Majella, born in Muro Lucano in 1726, is one of the most revered saints in Southern Italy, invoked especially as the protector of mothers and children. On the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his birth, his hometown has declared an entire Gerardine Jubilee Year, an event of regional and national significance that attracts pilgrims from all over Italy.

A year of celebrations

The Jubilee Year opens on April 23, 2026, the anniversary of the Saint's baptism, and concludes on April 26, 2027. Between April 19 and 25, 2026, the arrival of the relics is scheduled, a moment of intense spiritual significance. The calendar alternates processions, prayer vigils, and Eucharistic celebrations with ecclesiastical and civil authorities, with historical-theological conferences, museum exhibitions, and documentaries produced with the regional television RAI.

The civic patronal festival on September 2

The heart of devotion in Muro Lucano remains the patronal festival, which in the jubilee year falls on September 2, 2026, preceded by the traditional novena. A day when the entire community gathers around its fellow saint, amidst solemn rites and popular participation. The celebrations also include October 16, the anniversary of the Saint's death.

Faith, culture, and social commitment

Coordinated by an official civic committee along with the parish, the Municipality, Catholic Action, and the diocesan Caritas, the Gerardine Year combines spiritual, cultural, and social dimensions: from the restoration of Saint Gerard's throne in the Cathedral to charity initiatives for mothers and children, and the recovery and lighting of the Gerardine sites. An opportunity to discover Muro Lucano, the "nativity village" perched among the Lucanian Apennine mountains.