San Giuseppe da Copertino Festival

A patronal feast in the heart of Rome's southern suburbs

The San Giuseppe da Copertino Festival is the most anticipated event of the year for the community living between Laurentino and Cecchignola, in the municipality of Rome (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio region). The hub of the festivities is the parish at Via dei Genieri 12, a building that embodies the history of this part of the city: constructed between 1951 and 1956 and consecrated on December 7, 1956, under the title of Saint Mark the Evangelist, it was originally built to serve the Julian and Dalmatian refugees who settled in the area after the war. Since October 1, 1979, the church has been an autonomous parish dedicated to the Franciscan saint from Copertino, and every September since, the neighborhood has united for this celebration.

Who was San Giuseppe da Copertino

Giuseppe Desa, born in Copertino in Salento in 1603 and who died in Osimo in 1663, is the Conventual Franciscan friar who entered popular devotion as the saint of flight, due to the ecstasies that, according to his canonization process, lifted him off the ground during prayer. He is the patron saint of students and those facing exams, and his liturgical feast day falls on September 18th: the entire calendar of the Roman festival is built around this date. The parish maintains a strong bond with the saint, which was reinforced in April 2013 when his body was hosted here during the pilgrimage of his remains to Rome.

The novena and religious program

The festival is not limited to a single day: it opens with a novena of prayer, which in recent years has begun around September 9th, accompanying the faithful until the Sunday following the feast day with daily celebrations, catechesis, and moments of reflection. The liturgical calendar typically includes:

• the solemn mass on September 18th, the saint's feast day, presided over by a bishop or a representative of the Diocese of Rome;
• the procession through the streets of the district with the statue and relics of San Giuseppe da Copertino;
• the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, on the days indicated by the parish;
• the concluding mass on Sunday, which also marks the start of the new pastoral year.

The parish is led by Father Giuseppe Russo, appointed pastor on September 1, 2025; his installation, which took place during that year's festivities, remains one of the community's most recent cherished memories.

The secular side: stalls, sports, and shows

Alongside the religious dimension, the San Giuseppe da Copertino Festival Committee creates a secular program every year that transforms the square and the oratory grounds into a small neighborhood hub. Recent editions have featured food and association stalls, volleyball and five-a-side football tournaments, amateur theatrical performances, music and dance evenings, outdoor functional training classes, magic shows for children, fun runs for all ages, a lottery draw, and the fireworks display that closes the festivities.

An opportunity to discover a non-touristy neighborhood

Visitors from outside the area will find a different side of Rome here, far from the postcards: residential neighborhoods developed from the 1950s onwards, characterized by a dense social life and a strong sense of community. The patronal feast is the moment when this identity becomes visible, remaining one of the most authentic examples of a Roman neighborhood festival, where popular devotion intertwines with local conviviality. Access to events is generally free, with voluntary contributions welcomed for the lottery and food stalls.

Good to know

• The festival is an annual, recurring event, always held in the second half of September around the 18th.
• The detailed program is usually published by the parish and the Committee at the end of the summer on the parish website and social media channels.
• Many activities take place outdoors: in case of bad weather, schedules may be subject to change.