The Novena from June 18th to 26th, the Holy Mass will be presided over by Archbishop Antonio De Luca, C.Ss.R., on Saturday, June 27th—the Solemnity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help—and follows the procession with the sacred icon are the central moments of the annual celebration in the Church of Sant’Alfonso in Rome. In 2026, the celebrations will also be available for streaming, an invitation to devotees of Our Lady around the world to participate.
What does this year’s program look like? “There are some things that have a very long tradition,” explains Father Gianni Congiu, C.Ss.R., rector of the Church of Sant’Alfonso, “but this year we’ve tried to involve all the ethnic groups at the Shrine in the preparatory novena. The nine days of the novena have been assigned to the various groups, who will also enliven the celebration with songs in their own languages, while the priest in charge will offer a Marian reflection each day.”
This year’s new feature concerns the day after the feast: “On Sunday the 28th, we plan to meet again with all the ethnic groups to perform a series of Marian songs in their respective languages: from Latin America, the Philippines, Poland, and of course Italy, where we will try to highlight the Marian songs of St. Alphonsus in particular.”
On the feast day, June 27, the Sanctuary will have the joy of welcoming Monsignor Antonio De Luca, a Redemptorist confrere, who willingly accepted the invitation to preside over the solemn Eucharistic celebration and lead the procession.
The program also includes several concerts: on Saturday, June 20th, after Mass, at 7:30 pm, there will be a concert by Russian soprano Natalia Pavlova, who has performed in other concerts at the church, along with guitarist Claudio Giuliani. On Friday, June 26th, at 5:30 pm, the Musica Creator polyphonic choir will perform a concert of Marian songs, which will also enliven the liturgical celebration the following day.
Another aspect worth highlighting is: “Since last year, the Shrine’s celebrations have been livestreamed, allowing them to reach the homes of many devotees of Our Lady around the world,” observes Father Gianni. “I’m thinking especially of the sick and the elderly: I know young people who help their grandparents tune in to follow the celebration. I think it’s a very beautiful thing.”
Online broadcasts are available on the YouTube channel of the Sanctuary of Perpetual Help Rome , @santuariodelperpetuosoccorso.
Program of celebrations (June 18-28, 2026)
The Novena in preparation for the annual feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help begins on Thursday, June 18th. Every day until Friday, June 26th, the Perpetual Novena prayer will be held at 6:30 pm and Mass with a Marian reflection will be celebrated at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, June 27, the day of the Feast: at 5:30 pm the prayer of the Perpetual Novena, at 6:00 pm the Eucharistic concelebration presided over by HE Mons. Antonio De Luca C.Ss.R. The traditional procession through the streets of the Esquilino Region will follow. At the end, a final blessing will be given from the steps of the Sanctuary.
Concerts:
Saturday 20 June, at approximately 7.30 pm: concert by Natalia Pavlova, soprano, and Claudio Giuliani, guitarist.
Friday 26 June, at 5.30 pm: concert of Marian songs by the Musica Creator polyphonic choir, which will also enliven the liturgical celebration.
Sunday, June 28, at 7:30 pm: concert of Marian songs in Italian, Polish, Spanish, and English, performed by the ethnic groups of the Sanctuary.
