Patronal Feast of Saint Paul the Apostle

A Feast That Tells the Identity of Concordia sulla Secchia

The Patronal Feast of Saint Paul the Apostle is the most cherished religious and civil event in Concordia sulla Secchia, a small municipality in the Bassa modenese overlooking the Secchia river, in the province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna. The occasion is linked to the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, a liturgical feast that the Church commemorates on January 25th and celebrates the episode narrated in the Acts of the Apostles: the blinding light on the road to Damascus that transforms Saul, the persecutor of Christians, into the apostle of the Gentiles.

The Religious Celebration

The central moment of the feast is the solemn Eucharistic celebration, traditionally presided over by the bishop of the Diocese of Carpi, Monsignor Erio Castellucci, and enlivened by the parish choir Cantate Domino. Civil and military authorities from the area participate in the mass, along with delegations from civil protection, law enforcement, and representatives of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, testifying to the community value that the occasion holds for the town.

The Community Dinner

The religious celebration is followed by a community dinner hosted in the parish hall, a convivial moment that brings together dozens of participants and represents the warmest heart of the feast: an opportunity to reconnect, thank the volunteers, and strengthen the bonds of a community that has been able to rise again after the difficulties of past years.

The Church and Its History

The feast is preserved by the Church of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, the parish church of Concordia. The dedication of the first place of worship dates back to 1396; the 18th-century building, with its bell tower and rectory, contains valuable paintings attributed to Aureliano Milani. The complex was severely damaged by the Emilia earthquake of 2012: since then, the patronal celebrations have taken place in the new church of Concordia, a symbol of the community's rebirth.

Tradition and Territory

More than just a religious festival, the Feast of Saint Paul is a piece of the collective identity of Concordia sulla Secchia. The occasion intertwines devotion, historical memory, and a sense of belonging, offering visitors to the Bassa modenese in winter the chance to discover the authentic life of an Emilian village and the warmth of its people.