The Gerardian Tercentenary is almost at hand. The inaugural ceremony in Materdomini is scheduled for April 6th, the anniversary of the birth of Saint Gerard. The date coincides with Easter Monday, and the solemn concelebration at 11:00 a.m. will be presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Superior General, Fr. Rogerio Gomes, the Provincial Superior, Fr. Gennaro Sorrentino, civil and military authorities, as well as confreres and a large portion of the people of God, are expected to be present.
The preparations for this event were overseen by a special Committee, composed of representatives of all parties involved, both religious and civil.
Some events will mark the Gerardino year, which will end on Sunday 4 April 2027. In addition to the traditional ones ( Day of the Sick, Day of Mothers and Children, Convocation of Associations, Traditional September Feast and Novena and Liturgical Feast of October, Offering of Oil, Exposition of the Urn etc.) some events specific to this anniversary are planned: Musical events, Regional Gathering of Consecrated Life, Formative Days for the Clergy, Study Conference, Gathering of Catechists , Day of Catholic Doctors, a School Competition between the Schools of the two Regions of Campania and Basilicata, etc. Particularly significant are: the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Redemptorist Brothers from all over the world (24 April) and the Meeting of Youth and Vocation Ministry of Southern Europe (6-9 August). And then the special presence of a statue with an important relic of Saint Gerard: first in his birthplace Muro Lucano and in Potenza (19 April – 3 May), then in Deliceto, where Saint Gerard spent most of his years as a Redemptorist (3 – 10 May), and in Pagani (10-24 May). The pilgrimage of this statue in Poland will be longer, where the Redemptorist Province of Warsaw has requested its presence for a full 4 months (from 25 October to the end of February).
All those who visit the Shrine have been granted Plenary Indulgence by His Holiness Leo XIV, who was also invited for a presence that would truly be a grace from God to obtain.
The Vatican City Philatelic Service has decided to issue a special commemorative stamp, now imminent. Discussions are underway with major Italian television stations to present the figure of Saint Gerard and the significance of this tercentenary.
For our brothers around the world, and especially the shrines that promote the devotion to Saint Gerard, the hope is that this will be an opportunity to learn and deepen our understanding of the spiritual message of this humble, great brother. For its part, the Shrine is promoting the initiative on the 16th of the month, from April 2026 to April 2027, with the proposal of a meeting of prayer, catechesis, and thanksgiving to God for having granted us this extraordinary witness to the joy of the Gospel.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the newly rebuilt website, www.sangerardo.it , as well as the Facebook page.
It goes without saying that we joyfully await the pilgrimage of confreres and faithful from all over the Redemptorist world, of whom we have had several arrivals in recent years.
Fr. Serafino Fiore, CSsR.
