Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

The patronal feast of Balestrate

On September 15th, the town of Balestrate, overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare halfway between Palermo and Trapani, pauses to honor its patron saint, Mary Most Holy of Sorrows. It is the community's most heartfelt celebration, an event that every year draws local residents and those living abroad together around the statue of the Virgin of Sorrows.

Religious celebrations

The liturgical heart of the feast is the Mother Church of Sant'Anna, the town's main church located in Piazza Rettore Evola, which represents the original core of Balestrate. This is where the main religious services take place and where the solemn procession begins. The eve of the feast features a Holy Mass in the votive chapel dedicated to the Madonna, located at the entrance to the town on the west side.

The procession of the statue

The most anticipated moment is the procession of the statue of the Addolorata, carried on shoulders through the streets of the center. It is led by the Congregation of the Addolorata, which guards this devotional tradition: during the procession, the confreres carry official insignia, including the banner featuring the hand-painted image of Mary's sorrowful face, set within a rich gold decoration with embossed floral motifs. To this day, all confreres wear an oval silver medallion around their necks bearing the same image of the Virgin.

Along the route, the statue stops in front of the Town Hall: the mayor offers a floral tribute to the Virgin and reads the Act of Entrustment to Mary, a prayer that renews the community's bond with its patron saint.

A recent yet deep-rooted tradition

The September 15th procession is a relatively young custom: it has only been held in Balestrate since the late 1980s, whereas previously the anniversary was celebrated solely with Holy Mass in the Mother Church. The Addolorata is also carried in procession a second time during the year, on Good Friday, together with the Dead Christ, confirming how deeply rooted this devotion is in the town's identity.

The setting: Balestrate and the Gulf of Castellammare

A seaside village founded in the 17th century around the tuna fishery of the Fardella family, Balestrate is today a lively coastal town in the province of Palermo, Sicily. The Feast of the Addolorata is part of a calendar of traditions that marks the Balestrate year, from the Carnival with the Shepherd's Dance to the Feast of Saint Joseph, from the Feast of the Madonna del Ponte to the Feast of Saint Peter, patron saint of fishermen.