Program of celebrations and festivities in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patron Saint of Aspra, September 6-15, 2025:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
5:00 PM Drummers’ tour of the “Cugini La Licata” through the streets of the town
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna.
6:00 PM Holy Mass
9:00 PM LIGHTING OF THE LIGHTS (Piazza C. Colombo)
9:30 PM MUSICAL SHOW: ZECCHINO D’ORO AND CABARET ENTERTAINMENT WITH “MAGO PLIP” (Promenade – Piano Stenditore)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
7:30 AM Alborata
8:00 AM Ringing of the festive bells.
9:00 AM: “Cugini La Licata” drummers’ tour through the town streets
10:00 AM: Eucharistic Celebration
3:00 PM: Procession of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows into the sea. At the end, the procession returns according to the route: Lungomare, Via G. D’Annunzio, Via F. Aiello, Piazza Mons Cipolla.
7:00 PM: Eucharistic Celebration presided over by His Excellency Most Reverend Archbishop Corrado Lorefice, Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo. (Piazza Mons Cipolla)
9:30 PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE WITH MEDITERRANEA: “The Story of Pooh” – Official Tribute Band 06 (Piano Stenditore)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and Hymn to the Madonna
6:00 PM Holy Mass presided over by Father Salvatore Biancorrosso
9:00 PM “Mary in the History of Salvation.” Mystagogical meeting on icons led by Professor Pippo Tuzzolino

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna
6:00 PM Holy Mass presided by Father Antonino Bruno
5:00-7:00 PM Summer Games organized by the Passio Christi Association

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
SOLIDARITY DAY
(Food collection for Brother Biagio Conte’s Mission. It will be possible to bring the items intended for the Mission using special containers located in the Parish or at the Anchovy Museum)
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna
6:00 PM Holy Mass presided by Father Pino Vitrano with the participation of Brother Biagio Conte’s “Missione Speranza e Carità”
9:00 PM EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT AT THE MUSEUM OF THE ANCHOVY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna
6:00 PM Holy Mass presided by Father Alerio Montalbano
9:30 PM Holy Rosary meditated at the “Fisherman’s Village” led by the Confraternity

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
7:30 AM Alborata
9:30 AM Tour of the “Cugini La Licata” drummers through the streets of the town
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Boat race: Leonardo Lo Coco’s first memorial trophy at Via Tempra – Scaro di Levante. Entertainment by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers. Followed by: “Antinna a mare” game – Piazza Crocicchia (formerly Colonia) at Lido Lapa Beach
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna.
6:00 PM Holy Mass presided over by Father Vincenzo Battaglia
9:30 PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE WITH “ATMOSFERA BLU” (Promenade – Piano Stenditore)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
7:30 AM Alborata
9:30 AM Tanino La Licata’s drummers perform through the town streets.
5:30 PM Rosary and hymn to the Madonna
5:45 PM Drummers’ “Cugini La Licata” tour through the streets of Aspra
6:00 PM Holy Mass presided over by Father Salvatore Pagano and blessing of couples commemorating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries
9:00 PM Beginning of the 11th Edition of the Aspra Flower Festival, created by Silvana Bordonaro (Piazza Mons Cipolla), open to the public from September 13th to 15th
9:30 PM MUSICAL PERFORMANCE WITH JOLINE 9.0 (Promenade – Piano Stenditore)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
7:30 AM Alborata
8:00 AM Festive bell ringing.
9:00 AM Tanino La Licata drummers and majorettes perform through the town streets.
10:00 AM Eucharistic Celebration
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Boat Race: First trophy in memory of Leonardo Lo Coco at Via Tempra – Scaro di Levante.
6:30 PM Entertainment by the “Cugini La Licata” drummers. Followed by the “Antinna a mare” game – Piazza Crocicchia (formerly Colonia) at Lido Lapa Beach. Tasting of typical products.
7:00 PM First Solemn Vespers
9:30 PM Eucharistic Celebration – (Seafront – Piano Stenditore)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS
DANCE MUSIC PERFORMANCE WITH TYPICAL AND NEJA IN CONCERT
7:30 AM Alborata
8:00 AM Ringing of the Bells
9:00 AM Tanino La Licata’s drummers and majorettes through the town streets
9:30 AM Aspra “P. Mascagni” marching band tour through the town streets
9:30 AM Eucharistic Celebration
11:30 AM Solemn Eucharistic Celebration with the participation of civil and military authorities, presided over by the parish priest. At the conclusion of the celebration: act of entrustment of the community to Our Lady of Sorrows and floral tribute from the Brothers.
12:30 PM Firing of the “masculiata” in Piazza Mons. Cipolla
5:00 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna
5:30 PM Eucharistic Celebration
7:30 PM Solemn Procession of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, following the following route: Piazza Mons. Cipolla, Via Zara, Via F. Tempra, Via Scordato, Fisherman’s Village, Via Tempra, Via G. D’Annunzio, Piazza Verdone, Via Creta, Via dei Cipressi, Via Amalfi, Via Marco Polo, Via Andrea Scordato, Corso Baldassare Scaduto, Via Fiumi d’Italia, Via Zara, arriving in Piazza Mons. Cipolla.
12:00 AM FIREWORKS DISPLAYS created by Pirolandia, owned by Giuseppe La Rosa

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna
6:00 PM Holy Mass

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna.
6:00 PM Holy Mass

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna.
6:00 PM Holy Mass
9:30 PM Eucharistic Adoration led by the Confraternity

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna.
6:00 PM Holy Mass

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
5:15 PM Holy Rosary and hymn to the Madonna.
6:00 PM Holy Mass
8:00 PM DRAWING OF THE WINNING NUMBERS FOR THE CHARITY LOTTERY.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
10:00 AM Holy Mass
6:00 PM Holy Rosary and Hymn to the Madonna
6:30 PM Solemn Mass and Repose of the Image of Our Lady of Sorrows