Patronal Feast of Saint Gaudenzio

The feast of Ostra's patron saint

Saint Gaudenzio is the patron saint of Ostra, a small hilltop village in the Valmisa, in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. His feast day, set for October 14th, has been the most anticipated event of the year for the community for generations: a day when the religious and civil dimensions merge, involving the entire historic center enclosed within the ancient village walls.

Religious moments

The celebrations begin with a preparatory triduum in the preceding days, featuring Eucharistic adoration, a penitential Mass, and a Mass for the sick at the Church of San Francesco. On the patron saint's day, there is a morning Holy Mass at San Francesco and, in the late afternoon, a solemn Mass in the square with the Saint's image, followed by the Blessing of the City and a procession through the streets of the center. The Mayor with the Gonfalon and the municipal administration, the confraternities from the parishes, and the "Ovidio Bartoletti" Civic Band of Ostra participate in the rite, accompanying the procession.

The Saint Gaudenzio Lottery

The civil heart of the feast is the Saint Gaudenzio Lottery, organized by Pro Loco Ostra APS with the patronage of the Municipality. It is a very long-standing tradition: an archival document recalls that as early as October 14, 1846, a grand lottery was held in Ostra to celebrate the patron saint and the election of Pope Pius IX. Today, the drawing takes place in Piazza dei Martiri and typically draws over a thousand participants from Ostra and neighboring towns, with substantial cash prizes. The evening is enlivened by games that have become classics, such as "Il Mostro" (The Monster) and the quiz "Vinci con la Vita" (Win with Life) offered by the local branches of AVIS and AIDO.

Activities, entertainment, and fair

In the morning, the historic center comes alive with the children from Ostra's schools, who are the protagonists of an outdoor painting competition. After the procession, next to the Civic Tower, "San Gaudenzio Insieme" (Saint Gaudenzio Together) takes place, with entertainment, games, and creative workshops for families and children. The festivities conclude with the fair that occupies the village streets the following weekend, featuring stalls, local products, and crafts. The Patronal Feast of Saint Gaudenzio thus remains, year after year, the event that best tells the identity of the Municipality of Ostra and the bond of its people with their roots.