Santa Maria Ausiliatrice Patronal Feast

The May 24, 2026 solemnity

In 2026, the liturgical feast of Mary Help of Christians fell on Sunday, May 24th, allowing the parish to concentrate the entire patronal feast program over the weekend. The Marian month was prepared through the recitation of the rosary in the square, the solemn novena, and musical events led by parish groups and the Salesian youth center.

The procession

The highlight was the Sunday evening procession, which departed at 7:30 PM from Piazza di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice. The parade, with about 4,000 faithful expected, traveled along via Tuscolana, via Don Rua, via Costamagna, via Deruta, piazza Montecastrilli, via Norcia, via Gualdo Tadino, viale Nocera Umbra, and viale Furio Camillo, before returning to the square. The City of Rome had arranged closures and diversions for bus lines 16, 85, and 590 for the occasion.

The festival in the square

Around the basilica, as is tradition, the streets were closed to traffic to host stalls, children's attractions, and street food and craft stands, which remained open until late in the evening throughout the event.

Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23, 2026

• Eucharistic celebrations and Marian prayer events in the basilica (novena and rosary)
• Opening of stalls, inflatables, and food stands in Piazza di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice and adjacent streets

Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians

• Solemn masses in the Basilica according to the parish holiday schedule
• 7:30 PM — Departure of the procession with the statue of Mary Help of Christians from Piazza di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice
• Route: via Tuscolana, via Don Rua, via Costamagna, via Deruta, piazza Montecastrilli, via Norcia, via Gualdo Tadino, viale Nocera Umbra, viale Furio Camillo, via Tuscolana
• Return of the procession to the square and conclusion of the feast
• Stalls, attractions, and stands open throughout the evening

The detailed liturgical program (mass and novena times) is distributed by the parish in the weeks preceding the feast.

• The evening procession on May 24th with about 4,000 faithful expected through the streets of Appio Latino-Tuscolano
• Windows and balconies of the neighborhood decorated for the passage of the statue
• The neo-baroque Salesian Basilica, a minor basilica since 1969
• Stalls and inflatables in the square, a fixed appointment for neighborhood families
• Street food and craft stands along Via Santa Maria Ausiliatrice

How to get there

The basilica is located in Piazza di Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, on Via Tuscolana, in the Tuscolano district (Furio Camillo area). By metro: take Line A to Furio Camillo station, located about 300 meters away. By bus: lines 16, 85, and 590 (note: temporary diversions and closures occur during the procession). By train/plane: from Roma Termini, it is a short ride on Metro A towards Anagnina; from Ciampino Airport, the area can be reached in about 20 minutes.

Admission and costs

Religious celebrations, the procession, and access to the market area are free. You only pay for what you purchase at food stands and children's attractions.

Practical tips

• Arrive early on the evening of the procession: the square fills up quickly and streets are closed.
• It is better to leave the car behind and use Metro A: parking in the area is extremely difficult during the festival weekend.
• Stalls remain open until late; the most evocative moment is the return of the procession to the square.
• For updated mass and novena schedules, check the parish website or call the office.

Where to stay

The Appio-Tuscolano district offers numerous mid-range accommodation options that are more affordable than the city center and well-connected by Metro Line A; alternatively, the San Giovanni area is just two stops away.