Our Lady of Fatima Feast

A devotion born from the heart

The Our Lady of Fatima Feast is the most attended religious event in San Leucio del Sannio, a small town in the province of Benevento, Campania, just a few kilometers from the regional capital. It is celebrated every year on May 13th, the date commemorating the Virgin's first apparition to the three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—in 1917 in the Portuguese town of Fatima.

Unlike many traditional patronal feasts in the Sannio region, this celebration does not have centuries of history; it was born from an individual gesture, which is what makes it so unique. In June 2023, a local resident, Franco Iannace, funded the construction of a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fatima, nestled in the greenery of via Ariarella/Piano Alfieri. Designed as a "house of prayer" according to Church guidelines, it remains open to the elderly, the sick, and the youth. The first Holy Mass was celebrated by the parish priest, Father Michele Villani, on June 25, 2023. In just a few years, the chapel has become a gathering point and a place of silent meditation for the entire community.

May 13th: The candlelight procession and solemn Mass

The heart of the feast is the evening candlelight procession. At 7:00 PM, the procession departs from Piazza Chiesa, in front of the parish church of San Leucio Vescovo, and travels through the town streets, carrying the image of the Virgin amidst Marian hymns and the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Upon arrival at the chapel, a solemn Eucharistic celebration is held, presided over by the parish priest. The evening concludes with a fireworks display, managed by pyrotechnician Pasquale Mazzone.

The procession is attended by faithful of all ages—from children to the elderly—as well as the mayor and municipal administration, while the Carabinieri and Civil Protection volunteers from Benevento ensure the safety of the route. For the sick and those unable to leave their homes, the celebrations are live-streamed on the chapel's social media channels, a choice that has significantly expanded the feast's reach.

Beyond May: Monthly gatherings

The devotion of the local community does not end on May 13th. From May to October, on the 13th of each month, the community gathers at the chapel for the recitation of the Holy Rosary followed by Holy Mass, in memory of the Fatima apparitions. In July 2024, the first anniversary of the chapel's construction was celebrated with an evening Mass in via Ariarella. The site, dedicated to Mary of the Holy Rosary, Jesus, and Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, remains open throughout the year as a space for personal prayer.

San Leucio del Sannio and its surroundings

With just over three thousand inhabitants and a territory of only ten square kilometers, San Leucio del Sannio stretches across the hills south of Benevento, about six kilometers away, and approximately fifty kilometers northeast of Naples. It is a town of scattered houses and districts—including Ariarella and Piano Alfieri—where social life revolves around the parish. Visitors arriving for May 13th will find an authentic town, free from the tourist trappings of large Campanian festivals: a community gathered in prayer, a procession winding through the houses, and the typical warmth of the Sannio hinterland.

Why attend

• A highly evocative evening candlelight procession, with the entire town walking together as dusk falls.
• A visit to the Fatima Chapel, a rare example of a place of worship born from a private initiative of devotion that has become a collective heritage.
• The concluding fireworks display, a traditional highlight of Sannio festivals.
• The opportunity to combine the day with a visit to Benevento, featuring the Arch of Trajan, the Roman Theater, and the Church of Santa Sofia—a UNESCO World Heritage site—just six kilometers away.
• Completely free participation in all parts of the feast.