Festa Maggiore, the patronal festivals committee: “Excellent balance”

A grandiose Major Party and beyond all expectations for the Maria SS. of Sovereto. A few days after the climax of the celebrations in honor of the Black Madonna, an articulated picture of what has been achieved is outlined, collecting in a panoramic view the various pieces that are stuck in the Terlizzese mosaic.

«The city – writes the committee – has hosted thousands of people, not only residents, but also from neighboring countries, relatives away from home and numerous foreigners who have come to Puglia to spend the holidays. The rich program of religious, cultural and entertainment initiatives held starting from the end of July strongly attracted the curiosity of others, resulting in a very substantial participation that cannot be calculated in advance.

After two years of forced detention due to the pandemic, the local community felt the need to gather on the streets and to physically pay homage to the Virgin Mary since Thursday 4 August with the displacement of the Triumphal Chariot from the Lamione, then Saturday 6 with the procession and, finally, Sunday 7 with the parade of the mobile bell tower. A one-of-a-kind, magnificent, surprising manifestation of faith.

Terlizzi was colored by an atmosphere of shared joy. The tradition of the Carro has crossed its purely municipal boundaries: from outside they flocked to witness a real folkloric masterpiece. The image of the wood and papier-mâché structure twenty-two meters high has remained indelibly engraved in the minds of the observers.

The suggestion of the journey covered, with the tow of a hundred children, thanks to the strength of the four helmsmen, the head of the wedding and the caravan of sixty volunteers between men and women, has turned the spotlight even more on the prestigious scope of the Festival and on the reflections reverberated on the community.

It was a huge undertaking that was studied in detail by the competent staff of the Committee through investments of multiple energies and resources. Particular attention was paid to communication: the many cross-cutting events were adequately disclosed over the months with the collaboration of newspapers and TV, with the use of social platforms, with the creation of videos that have become viral and with the printing of the magazines developed on the occasion of the Festival.

Yet, despite the efforts made upstream, there were nevertheless some unpredictable shades of difficulty which were, however, stemmed and resolved directly on the field. The numerous pre-established stops made it possible to enjoy the passage of the Cart in the various collection points, so as to provide each one with a moment of interior and community recollection in admiring the imposing machine and addressing a prayer to Our Lady.

It should be noted that the adoration of many faithful present in some areas has hindered sudden maneuvers of the Chariot, so as to require a massive intervention of the institutions, the police, the security officers and local voluntary associations to allow the journey continued in the utmost serenity in the absence of risks to public safety.

The procession, however, was marked by multiple symbolic stages that echoed the customs consolidated over the years: viale Roma, corso Vittorio Emanuele, piazza IV Novembre, corso Garibaldi, corso Dante Alighieri, piazza Cavour, corso Umberto I and piazza Don Tonino Bello in front of the Co-Cathedral. The different turns of the wagon to the curves left everyone with bated breath and then resulted in a roar of applause for the strength of the pushers and the leaders at the helm.

An excellent balance, therefore, for the three days of worship of the Festival: Terlizzi was inhabited by an oceanic crowd of devotees and visitors who wanted to tread the streets in order to take part in a majestic celebration presided over on Saturday and Sunday, 6 and 7 August, by the bishop Mons. Domenico Cornacchia. A symbiotic union between spirituality and the sumptuous expression of love for the Co-Patron.

The concerts held in the week of the Festa Maggiore were also highly appreciated, highlighting the strong interest of the Terlizzese population and not only in combining the moments of exclusive devotion with spaces dedicated to culturally high music, pop and light. The “M’illumino di jazz” festival, the chamber orchestra of “Note di Puglia”, the opera performance, Fabrizio Moro, Alfio Lombardi and the Italian orchestra, all personalities of indubitable depth, have satisfied the tastes by large slices of spectators.

Promoting even more the enthusiasm and the consensus found, the Committee continues to organize the further appointments on the calendar: the Festa Maggiore will end on August 28 with the return of the Triumphal Car to Lamione and the festival of grilled meat ».