Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore
(St. Mary Major)
via Dante 23/25 - 85010 Pignola (PZ)
Archdiocese of Potenza-Muro Lucano-Marsiconuovo
Don Giovanni Conte - Parish Priest
Parish office - via Dante 23
open workdays 9 to 11 a.m.
email: mariassdegliangeli@gmail.com
phone: 0039 0971 430008 (also to book a visit to the Parish Museum)
TAX CODE: 96002180766
IBAN: IT 28 J 07601 04200 00013119854
Postal Current Account : 000013119854
MASS TIMETABLE
HOLIDAYS
11:00 MAIN CHURCH
S.ROCCO 18:30
11:30 PANTANO 18:30
Working days
S.ROCCO 18:30 (at Main Church from 3rd Sunday of May to 3rd Sunday of Sept.)
PANTANO 19:15
The Parish Priest is available daily for confession or interviews after each evening Mass
ArticlES
Saint Clare: Place your eyes in front of the mirror of eternity
On August 11th, the Church commemorates Saint Clare of Assisi. Captivated by the example of Francis while still very young, she fled her father’s home to follow him, eventually becoming the founder of the Poor Clares.
In anticipation of the solemn profession of Sr. Chiara Grazia -born Eliana Valentino- our parish community meet for a moment of Franciscan spirituality. We came together to thank the Lord for the gift of her vocation and to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers for His kingdom.
At just eighteen years of age, Clare did not hesitate to leave her father’s home to follow Francis and his companions, thereby initiating a form of Christian life that continues to fascinate, attract, and challenge us today. "Pilgrims arriving at Saint Clare’s tomb just thirty years after her death were confronted with these images"…
In her writings, Chiara does not speak explicitly of hope, yet her life is entirely oriented towards hope: she conveys her identity as the daughter of a Good Father. This holds true until the very end, when, at the moment of death, she says: “Blessed be You, Lord, for creating me and looking upon me as a mother looks at the child she loves.”
The monastery has granted us a relic to mark the beginning of these days of prayer. It is surrounded by olive branches evoking the scene from Palm Sunday: while all the young women hasten toward the altar to receive a palm frond, Clare, in an act of humility, remains in her place. Guido, the Bishop of Assisi, moves toward her and places the palm in her hands. This is the last morning Clare spends at home, because on the night following Palm Sunday—the date chosen by Francis—she will leave her house to join the *Poverello* and the friars at the Porziuncola.
The choice made by Clare and her first companions was remarkable looking at the times in which they lived: “Though wealthy and noble, they chose to embrace poverty, thus defying the conventions—social, cultural, and even religious—of the era. It was by no means easy for a woman in such a context to make an autonomous decision about her own life” (Franciscan sources).
In one of her letters to Agnes of Prague -as the preaching friar recalled- Clare writes: “Place your eyes infront of the mirror of eternity, place your soul in the splendor of glory, place your heart in the One who is the image of the divine substance, and transform yourself entirely, through contemplation, into the image of His divinity.”
The three-day program featured: hospitality, on the first day; contemplation on the second day, including opportunities for Adoration and confession, followed in the evening by a concert-catechesis by the parish of Santa Maria del Sepolcro in Potenza; and mission on the third day, marked by participation in the Solemn Profession at the monastery in Potenza.
It was a deeply moving occasion: Sister Chiara Grazia, already a cloistered nun but previously under temporary vows, chose with full freedom to renew the "forever" of her cloistered vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, alongside the fourth vow of definitive enclosure. This commitment transforms her existence into a life of prayer, silence, and contemplation in support of all humanity—and, unconditionally, of our own parish community as well.
I repeat in my heart the words of Sergio Zavoli following a visit to a cloistered convent: “I expected to find weary, chastened, sorrowful souls. Instead, I saw souls of rare serenity.” For Augustine, God is not found by rushing far away across space, but by turning inward to one’s own inner self: the famous "In te ipsum redi".
From the time of St. Francis’s funeral, the eight-hundredth anniversary of which falls this year, attended by a vast crowd and celebrated by Pope Innocent IV and the cardinals of the Curia, the fragrance of Clare’s holiness spread immediately, drawing a multitude of faithful. Her appeal continues to attract many young people to this day.
A thought for the younger generations searching for their vocation: “Saint Clare sought life in its fullness. She was not happy with the life others had proposed for her: she wanted to be the true protagonist of her own life. Every young person today, despite the complexities of our world, shares that same thirst for life, for fullness, for an authentic existence. I believe Clare can be an example and a model even today. She is a woman who lived life to the fullest—with courage, determination, and great serenity.”
don Giovanni
June 27, 2026 – 61st Anniversary of the Coronation of the Madonna
There are evenings when time seems to stand still, allowing history to embrace the present; last Saturday, we experienced such an evening commemorating a milestone that left an indelible mark. Together, we revisited June 27, 1965, the day of the Coronation of our Queen of the Angels, seeking to rekindle the fire of faith passed down to us by our fathers and grandfathers. Our church welcomed the prayers of a people bearing witness to their faith through the maternal mystery of Mary. Under the Virgin’s gaze, five new Knights consecrated their commitment, choosing to become servants of our Patroness and guardians of the community.
And immediately after the liturgy, that place of prayer became a treasure trove of emotions. Guided by the narration that took us back to those days in 1965, we relived the anticipation of an entire people, the prayers, the rosaries, the dawn Masses at Pantano, and the thrill and deep emotion felt when Cardinal Enrico Dante placed the golden crown upon the Virgin’s head: a "historic and magnificent testament to the generosity and Marian devotion of the people of Pignola."
We followed an extraordinary visual journey through the projection of a collection of photographs, most of them previously unseen, that had been carefully preserved for decades in the parish archives and by the Piro family (Riccardo). Through these images, we encountered the tear-filled eyes, smiles, and whispered prayers of those present that day. In those gazes, we recognized ourselves, our roots, our history, and our identity. Yet, the emotion deepened even further in front of the crown; that we could admire very closely.
The joy of faith is meant to be shared, and so the celebration moved outside to the church forecourt. Amidst music, conversation, and fun, we rediscover the simple beauty of being one big family.
The Crown, the images, and the celebration remind us of who we are.
Let us cherish this wonder in our hearts, ready to walk together into the future under the gentle gaze of our Heavenly Mother—the sure path that leads us to Christ.
Mariangela Perone
It is called Christian initiation. What does it mean?
The word itself is unappealing, but the meaning is not.
On the surface, the term “initiation” suggests a closed group, perhaps a sect one seeks to join. It is nothing of the sort! The journey of Christian initiation aims to introduce children and young people to the life of a believer, in the light of the Gospel of Jesus. The task to be undertaken together by the community, families, and catechists is to provide the necessary tools so that each person can walk through life recognizing the reality of God’s Word and embodying the qualities of charity.
Catechesis for Christian Initiation is, therefore, not a kind of school or an additional religious education class. Rather, it is a lived experience that helps individuals interpret themselves and the world in light of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The aim of the meetings led by catechists is to provide keys for interpreting oneself and the world:
• mastering the languages of faith,
• grasping the meaning of the gestures practiced by the Church,
• entering into the spirit to be used by believers to face life.
A journey shared as a community.
We might put it this way: “The message is the Gospel, yet it takes shape through personal choices and within the community” thanks also to the formation the community itself offers its children. Obviously this undertaking requires time, a sense of belonging, collaboration between parish and family, and the active engagement of children and young people. Catechesis certainly cannot be viewed merely as a course run solely by catechists or just as a service designed to introduce people to religious practice.
Father Giovanni
To educate people to think as Christ does, to view history as He does, to judge life as He does, to choose and love as He does, to hope as He teaches, and to live in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In a word, to nourish and guide a mindset of faith: this is the fundamental mission of those who provide catechesis in the name of the Church.
June 19 – Confirmations
Confirmation derives from the Greek chrisma, meaning "anointing," and therefore expresses both the gesture itself and the material (oil) with which it is performed; it is the moment in which people confirms and reaffirms their faith.
To make an earthly comparison, we might think of a long journey on a subway: at the beginning, we have the ticket (Baptism), but we must hold it carefully, without creasing it or, worse, losing it, because sooner or later we will have to show and validate it to continue the journey. Thus, on the day of Confirmation, we are called to "validate" the ticket for our journey of faith.
But let's get back to the day we experienced on June 19th.
The Mother Church fills up quickly and well in advance, and we don't believe this is primarily due to the coolness of the place compared to the muggy heat outside (so much so that some decided to give up wearing that instrument of torture known as a tie), or to the current traffic problems that make it impossible to park the car nearby: no, we believe it's rather a sort of intimate impatience for the event.
While waiting, since humans are “social animals”, it's natural to exchange a few words, albeit quietly, with the person sitting next to us. However, given the crowd, this turns into a background noise of significant intensity, forcing our pastor to quietly suggest silence, which immediately achieves the desired effect... but only for a very short time.
The situation stabilizes when a female voice rises above all the others, intoning a prayer, which is followed by many others, thus making the "sound" more appropriate for a sacred place.
After the welcome to our Bishop, the confirmands make their entrance: illuminated by the sun's rays streaming through the portal, lined up in two orderly rows, they approach the altar, their faces expressing a mixture of happiness and emotion.
We recently celebrated First Communion, and we saw a similar small procession: but, unlike the girls and boys marching today, they were all dressed in white. It's certainly a small detail, but it indicates that we are not dealing with children but with girls and boys, albeit each at a different stage of development.
As parents well know, it's that age when we're "too old" for certain things but "too young" for others: they're like saplings and buds that will soon become young men and women.
Once they reach the altar steps, they genuflect; and at least a couple, perhaps mindful of some catechists' recommendations, glance furtively at each other to make sure they bow at the same time.
In his homily, the Bishop explains the meaning of the ceremony in simple terms, punctuating his remarks with questions to the children, who -obviously, we must admit- are reluctant to provide answers (hey, that's the Bishop: what if I'm wrong?).
At the moment of receiving the seal of the Holy Spirit, someone almost returned the Bishop's embrace, and those nearby must have noticed the incomparable smiles that spread across their faces. Thus, having completed the essential part and returned to their seats, they felt the tension that had kept them almost breathless ease, and they energetically sang the hymn to the Patron Saint along with everyone present.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, they receive the souvenir certificates. We're now in the pixel age, so that card might seem outdated to some; but are we really sure that that "handcrafted" souvenir can't find a place among the things that, in a long time, even if a little crumpled and slightly faded, they won't be happy to see again and, above all, physically hold in their hands?
We conclude by trusting that the adults who received Confirmation on this occasion won't be offended and will understand that we've only spoken about the children because this was, above all, "their" celebration.
db
June 7 - Corpus Domini Homily - "Living in Memory is Being Present"
“Take, therefore, and eat the body of Christ (…); take and drink the blood of Christ. So as not to separate yourselves, eat what unites you; so as not to consider yourselves of little value, drink your price” (Augustine, In. Io. Ev. tr. 26, 6, 13)
Brothers and sisters, our entire life begins with a simple gesture: eating. Eating means allowing something to enter us, transform us, become part of our story. This is why the Bible can be read as a long education in eating: from Eden to the desert, from Passover to the Last Supper. Every page asks us: what do you nourish yourself with?
Beware of internal poisons! Man often thinks he knows what the right food is, and ends up poisoning himself: words that wound, relationships that consume, meaningless pursuits, desires that fail to satisfy. God, however, teaches his people to recognize the food that gives life: the manna in the desert, small and daily, which said only one thing: "You will not starve." It was an invitation to trust, to live in the present, to not fill our hearts with fear. We must inhabit memory! It's important to remember! Memory is the place where God teaches his people to recognize that nothing is the fruit of human strength alone. By remembering, you are taught to recognize that everything is a gift; without memory, the heart hardens and deludes itself into thinking it's self-sufficient. When God prepares the liberation from Egypt, he asks for a dinner. A simple dinner. But one capable of becoming a memorial, that is, a way to make present what saves. And when Jesus, on the night before his death, breaks the bread, he does the same thing: he gives us a gesture that not only remembers, but makes us present.
Because in faith, dwelling in memory means making ourselves present: present to his Passover, present to his love, present to his life that is given. The Eucharist is not a memory of the past, but a present that reaches us. Every time we break that Bread, Christ says, "I am here. I am for you. I am in you." The Eucharist then becomes for us a grateful memory, a thanksgiving to Jesus who not only wants to walk with us, but wants to dwell in us. Jesus does not nourish us with things, but with himself. He gives us his body so that we can learn that to live is to give, not holding back. That loving is letting ourselves be broken, not defending ourselves. That being present is truly being there, not just passing by.
And then we understand that the Eucharist is not just what we receive, but what we become: bread. What does it mean to be bread? It means becoming nourishment for someone: a kind word when someone is tired, a presence when someone is lonely, forgiveness when someone has made a mistake, a smile when someone has lost hope. To be bread means allowing yourself to be broken for love, as Christ does. It means that our life is not fulfilled when it holds back, but when it gives. To be bread means that, if we nourish ourselves with the same Christ, we can no longer be divided. The communion we receive must become the communion we experience.
A Jewish tale can help us understand better. The teachers of Israel tell of a disciple who asked his rabbi: “Why do we remember so much? Why is every feast a memorial?” The rabbi took a piece of bread, broke it, and said: “If you only look at it, it remains bread. If you only remember it, it remains the past. But if you eat it, it becomes you. It becomes life. Memory for us is like bread: it doesn’t serve to preserve the past, but to make it live in the present.” Then he added: “True memory is that which changes you. If memory doesn’t make you better, it isn’t memory: it’s nostalgia. But if it turns you into bread for someone, then it is God who lives in you.”
Brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the Bread that makes us present. Christ becomes bread for us, so that we can become bread for the world. Living the memory of his Easter means letting him live within us, transforming us, making ourselves present wherever someone hungers for love, for listening, for peace. And so, as we bring Jesus into the streets of our country so that he may touch our lives and our hearts, let us ask ourselves: who needs my bread today? Who awaits a crumb of my presence? May the Lord grant us to live in his memory, to be a living presence in the world and a sign of his caress and his blessing. Amen.
May 31, 2026
First Communion: a great secret of love that Jesus left for us.
Here we are on this special day, filled with emotion, to welcome Jesus into your hearts for the first time.
At school, on the street, at catechism, you have many encounters every day... But today, during the Holy Mass, you met the Friend with whom you share every moment of your life. Now on, you'll have with Him an unbreakable friendship, having just received His Body and His Blood.
Now that Jesus is inside you, speak to Him and let yourselves be guided by His love. Renew this profound friendship every Sunday, because we all need the Word of the Lord to grow in faith and become authentic bearers of peace, love, and hope.
Be a light in your families, at school, and throughout our community.
With love, your catechists
clic here for children's names and other images =======>
May 24 - Enthronement of the Madonna
May 17 - Procession of the Virgin from Sanctuary to Main Church
and Octave of Our Lady
Saturday, April 25th, was a special day for the children who experienced their first Confession, an important step in their journey of faith, filled with emotion and meaning.
It is a fundamental moment in Christian initiation, representing a personal encounter with God's merciful love, which helps them understand forgiveness, repent of wrongdoing, and feel the joy of being welcomed back.
The celebration took place in the afternoon at the Mother Church, in a festive and serene atmosphere created by the entire community, led this year by our new parish priest, don Giovanni Conte. He put the visibly excited children at ease as he administered the sacrament of reconciliation, making them feel listened and forgiven.
The joy and carefree of these children we met through catechism, is the greatest reward we could receive. Thank you, children.
The catechists
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
The Easter Triduum is not just a remembrance, a recurrence, a legacy of the past, but a living event, the beating heart of the liturgical year, the culmination of every other celebration. It is the Solemnity of solemnities. This year also marks a "first" for our parish family.
Christ, who makes all things new, is also making our community new through a new leadership.
We have lived these holy days guided by Don Giovanni: it's his first Easter with us and our first with him. And even nature seems to have celebrated life with us; the weather, in fact, has translated the mystery of Redemption into tangible symbols.
This Triduum that our community has just experienced became a true liturgy of creation.
It's Thursday, it's been raining for days now, and it's raining again today. This rain, although persistent, is a rain that prepares to receive seeds, like that Seed that will bear fruit only by dying.
It is a rain that seems to mirror the kenosis of Christ, a God who bends down gently to wash the feet of humanity, represented this year by the members of our country's associations.
It's Friday, and the sky is still dark, a reflection of the drama of the Cross. The clouds, still heavy with rain, have accompanied us to the moment when Christ falls silent in death. The cold during the marvelous representation of the Stations of the Cross wasn't simply felt by our bodies, but meant the loneliness coming from our mistakes. Yet, God chose to be right there, in the coldest place of our hearts, to never leave us alone.
It's Saturday, a few more drops of rain, and then the silence. The clearing of the clouds, just at the hour of the New Fire, gave meaning to Christ's definitive victory over death.
The Easter sun, then, marked the true passage from darkness to light, illuminating our hearts and reminding us of the beauty of being Christians, brothers and sisters in the same community.
Mariangela Perone
images =>
THE SEARCH FOR HUMANITY IN THE HORROR OF WAR
The search for humanity in the horror of war is increasingly necessary in a world torn apart by a "world war in pieces," as Pope Francis often reiterated. This theme was the focus of a well-attended meeting organized in Pignola by the adult section of Parish Catholic Action.
A clear testimony of how we must combat the danger of indifference was offered by Alberto Petracca, OFS National Councillor, former national delegate for evangelization in the world, who from 4 to 10 October was one of the 110 passengers on the train that went for a humanitarian mission in Ukraine.
The initiative was part of the project named European Movement for Non-Violent Action, which involved men and women from all over Italy and mostly belonging to secular and especially Catholic associations.
The goal was to create a support network capable of combating indifference, promoting accurate information, and building the conditions for a future solidarity network to support our brothers and sisters who are being devastated by the horrors of war since more than three years.
The significant and touching testimony wanted to demonstrate that humanity can only be achieved through sharing and respect for others and, as Don Giovanni Conte, the new parish priest of Pignola, rightly concluded, in a time marked by the horror of war, true peace is the one which takes shape within every human conscience. Therefore, only by training your heart to welcome and share you can be a real builder of peace.
Angela Guma
Presidente Parrocchiale Azione Cattolica
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
The Easter Triduum is not just a remembrance, a recurrence, a legacy of the past, but a living event, the beating heart of the liturgical year, the culmination of every other celebration. It is the Solemnity of solemnities. This year also marks a "first" for our parish family.
Christ, who makes all things new, is also making our community new through a new leadership.
We have lived these holy days guided by Don Giovanni: it's his first Easter with us and our first with him. And even nature seems to have celebrated life with us; the weather, in fact, has translated the mystery of Redemption into tangible symbols.
This Triduum that our community has just experienced became a true liturgy of creation.
It's Thursday, it's been raining for days now, and it's raining again today. This rain, although persistent, is a rain that prepares to receive seeds, like that Seed that will bear fruit only by dying.
It is a rain that seems to mirror the kenosis of Christ, a God who bends down gently to wash the feet of humanity, represented this year by the members of our country's associations.
It's Friday, and the sky is still dark, a reflection of the drama of the Cross. The clouds, still heavy with rain, have accompanied us to the moment when Christ falls silent in death. The cold during the marvelous representation of the Stations of the Cross wasn't simply felt by our bodies, but meant the loneliness coming from our mistakes. Yet, God chose to be right there, in the coldest place of our hearts, to never leave us alone.
It's Saturday, a few more drops of rain, and then the silence. The clearing of the clouds, just at the hour of the New Fire, gave meaning to Christ's definitive victory over death.
The Easter sun, then, marked the true passage from darkness to light, illuminating our hearts and reminding us of the beauty of being Christians, brothers and sisters in the same community.
Mariangela Perone
images =>
Happy Easter greetings
Dear brothers and sisters,
While the world forces us to be often helpless, but not indifferent or disinterested, spectators of violence, oppression, lies, and death, as is the case with current wars, the Lord invites us, as he does every year, to participate in and enjoy the fruits of his Easter.
He places in our hands an unprecedented legacy, ever new and purchased at the price of his blood: the gift of PEACE. Our invitation and hope is that we may become attentive and intelligent custodians of this gift, becoming "artisans of peace," as Pope Francis and now Pope Leo XIV have reminded us, according to the Spirit of the Gospel, within our daily public and private relationships.
"I," writes Saint Paul, "a prisoner for the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph 4:1-3).
Don Mario and myself wish Happy Easter to the ministers and collaborators of the Parish and the Shrine; to the elderly and the sick, to families, to children, teenagers, and young people; to students and workers, to associations, to all who volunteer to serve the common good in its many forms, to all who serve government for the good of its citizens.
Jesus, Lord of life...
You, only you, who conquered death with your resurrection,
can give wings to our hope.
Grant us, Lord, to believe in you, alive and present
with your consoling Spirit,
a love stronger than death.
Amen.
(Anna Maria Canopi, Miseria e consolazione)
Happy Easter... Don Giovanni and Don Mario
Pignola, February 15, 2026
The Mayor's greeting to the new Parish Priest and Assistant Parish Priest
Dear Don Giovanni and Don Mario,
I would like to publicly greet you on behalf of the entire Pignola community. I felt it important to share these words because they tell the story, the identity, and the journey of our community, which today welcomes you with respect, trust, and a sense of responsibility.
I extend my respectful greetings and sincere thanks to our Bishop for his willingness to accompany us on this significant journey in the life of our town. Your arrival opens a new era for the religious and social life of Pignola, one which will see you engaged in the spiritual guidance of the entire town and the numerous districts that comprise our vast municipal territory.
Our territory is vast and diverse, with a rich historical and environmental heritage, characterized by the presence of numerous districts that play an integral part in community life. Particularly significant is the connection with the Sanctuary of Pantano, dedicated to our Patron Saint, Maria SS. degli Angeli, a spiritual reference and identity for the entire population. All districts - from Pantano to Tora, from Sciffra to Rifreddo, and the other territorial communities that comprise our Municipality - express vitality and participation.
Over the years, the parish community has made a crucial contribution to the town's growth, not only religiously but also humanly and socially.
I cannot omit the priests who have profoundly impacted the life of our community. A grateful thought goes to our unforgettable Don Rocco Piro, a caring guide and a point of reference for entire generations, particularly close to young people and always committed to social work for the common good.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Don Antonio Laurita, who devotedly accompanied our community in his pastoral service before being called to another role, leaving a significant mark on the history of our parish.
A fond memory also goes to Don Antonio Meliante, who carried out his ministry in Pantano and left us prematurely following the tragic accident that interrupted his earthly journey. His testimony lives on in the community's memory. Their commitment has helped shape generations of aware and responsible citizens.
I extend my best wishes to both of you for a fruitful and peaceful ministry, certain that you will be able to integrate yourselves with dedication and sensitivity into the life of Pignola.
In this spirit, we welcome you and wish you a good journey. Thank you.
The Mayor of Pignola
Dr. Antonio De Luca
Saturday, February 14, 6:30 p.m. - Church of Saints Anne and Joachim
Eucharistic celebration for the arrival of the new parish priest don Antonio Laurita
"Dear brothers and sisters": these are the words with which I often begun my homilies; but this time it is different. I know you will understand my emotion in this moment.
As you all already know, after sixteen years the time has come for me to embark on a new journey and to place my ministry at the service of the parish community of Sant'Anna in Potenza.
These have been years of service and, above all, of sharing with each of you, who have been to me like sons, fathers, mothers, brothers. I have spent a long part of my human and priestly life with you, and for this I express gratitude to the Lord and to you. Of course, it is not easy nor simple to leave this parish; however, we must accept everything as God's will, because everything works for the good of those who love Him. You see, the priest can change, but the community remains and continues its journey of faith.
I am sincerely grateful for the time we spent together, for the experiences shared with you, for the joys and challenges we faced united in faith, and every single moment spent in this parish will forever remain etched in my heart and memory, like a precious treasure I will jealously guard.
I have tried to pour all my love and dedication into serving the community, listening to your needs, comforting you in difficult times, and sharing moments of joy and prayer. I am well aware of my failures in many ways, and for this I ask your forgiveness. I also apologize to those who felt unappreciated, to those who were not involved as they would have liked, to those who distanced themselves because of some inappropriate word I said, to those I was unable to connect with as they might have wished.
I entered your homes, we participated in the Holy Eucharist many times, in moments of prayer and relaxation, we have shared meals, we have also laughed and celebrated together, and we have cried and prayed together when life's trials knocked on the door of our community; and when words were not enough, we simply exchanged glances, a hug, and together we continued on our journey.
I have vivid memories of the liturgical feasts we celebrated together -Christmas, Holy Week, children's Baptisms, First Communions- but also of the daily Masses, adoration, confessions, listening, and even -why not- the invitations to convivial gatherings, as well as, sadly, the moments of the passing of so many members of our community.
Along the streets, greetings are exchanged, and it's easy, spontaneous, and pleasant to stop and chat with those you meet. Over the years, I've shared so much with many of you: a gift and a precious enrichment. I'm sure you, too, will treasure all the beautiful things we've experienced together. I have a very long list of people to thank, from the Mayor to the smallest of the many collaborators, including the catechists, the church workers, the feast organizers, and so on; but there are so many people to thank, so to avoid forgetting someone, I prefer to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who, with discretion and generosity, have been close to me helping in various areas of parish life: your work is a blessing for the parish.
I ask you to welcome and love the new parish priest as you have loved me; even more, because many of you knew me before I entered the seminary, while Don Giovanni arrives in a country he doesn't know, among people he doesn't know, and will therefore need even more support from you. God has given us an immeasurable capacity to love. There's room for everyone!
I also ask you to pray for me in this new chapter of my life, that I may continue to serve God's people with zeal and dedication in my new assignment. You will be present in my prayers, for this parish will always remain a place of joy and blessing for me. Our bond does not end with a new assignment, because among you I have not simply fulfilled a task, but shared life and faith with you.
You will always be in my heart, wherever I go, and I will remember with joy, love, and gratitude the time spent with each of you. Remember me as a humble reflection of that light of God that will continue to shine brightly in this blessed parish of ours.
And may Mary Most Holy of the Angels continue to keep her benevolent gaze upon you and accompany me in this new journey.
don Antonio
Greetings from the Mayor of Pignola - February 8, 2026
Dear don Antonio,
Today, as the mayor of this community, I want to greet you on behalf of everyone with sincere affection, gratitude and respect.
Farewells are never easy, especially when they concern someone like you, who for so many years was not just a parish priest, but a daily, familiar presence. Today, we accompany your journey to a new parish with diverse yet united sentiments: gratitude for what has been and sincere wishes for what is to come.
Your priestly journey began on February 9, 1991, the day of your ordination in this Church. After years of service in the Abriola community, you came to Pignola, bringing with you experience, sobriety, and a pastoral style based on listening, proximity, and concreteness. Here, you welcomed a vibrant and complex community, choosing to serve it with discretion but with profound commitment.
You’ve been a parish priest attentive to individuals as well to the community as a whole. You knew how to listen before speaking, to accompany without judging. Your presence marked moments of celebration and of difficulty, with a genuine closeness that made everyone feel part of a larger family.
Alongside your pastoral care, you demonstrated a sincere love for our town, its history and identity. Your commitment to the restoration and enhancement of our historical, artistic, and cultural heritage was an integral part of your ministry. Your attention to our churches and to the restoration of sacred images was not merely a matter of material protection, but a true act of responsibility toward our collective memory.
You reminded us that preserving memory does not mean looking back with nostalgia, but rather handing down to new generations the roots on which to build the future.
This is the spirit behind the creation of the Parish Museum – Museum Vineolanus, the fruit of a farsighted vision and a virtuous collaboration with young people and the entire community. A museum conceived as a place capable of telling the story of Pignola, making it accessible, and transmitting values, faith, and identity.
You always sought to offer young people opportunities for growth, responsibility, and participation, demonstrating trust in the new generations and actively involving them in the life of both the parish and the town. In them, you saw not only the future, but also the present of the community, valuing their energy, ideas, and commitment.
To families, the elderly, and those experiencing difficulties, fragility, or loneliness, you offered understanding, especially when a shared word or silence was more valuable than many explanations.
A strong aspect of your ministry was your profound relationship with Our Lady of the Angels, our Patron Saint. You’ve been able to make her image closer, accessible, and more present in our daily life.
We experienced it particularly in moments we will never forget: like the procession during the Covid period, when, despite distance and fear, you found a way to make everyone feel the closeness and protection of the Madonna; or like Her enthronement during the patronal feast, something with high meaning, linking faith, identity, and popular participation.
Another extraordinary moment was the 50th anniversary of the coronation of the image of the Madonna, our Patron, culminating in the pilgrimage to Rome and the blessing by the Holy Father. An event that mixed faith, tradition, and community pride, leaving a profound mark on Pignola's memory.
An equally profound sign was the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Trust, which you strongly desired: an experience that brought the image of Mary into homes, among families, making concrete the image of a Church that enters into people's daily stories, strengthening the sense of community and belonging.
Moreover, we must remember your commitment to the Listening Center with the parish Caritas and various solidarity initiatives. Through your silent service, your collections, and the attention to the most vulnerable, you have made visible a Church that doesn't just talk, but is also close, concrete, and responsible.
Your ministry also had a broader vision, going beyond the borders of our town. Your commitment to the "Basilicata Sacra" project, and your cultural and spiritual contributions at the regional and national levels, have brought the name and identity of Pignola into a larger narrative, demonstrating how faith, art, and culture can dialogue and become instruments of growth and hope.
Summing up all these years is not easy.
Perhaps, however, the best summary is just what we have here today: a church filled with people, who are here to greet you, to thank you, and to accompany you with affection in the new role; and this is the truest sign of the bond you have built with the community.
Thank you for the shared journey, for your dedication, passion, and the love with which you lived your ministry among us. Thank you for helping Pignola preserve its roots and, at the same time, look to the future with greater awareness. We accompany you with the sincere affection of an entire community. We are confident that you will bring the same style, the same humanity, and the same care you have given us to your new parish.
I want to close this greeting with the words from Aldo Moro, who spoke about the time we are given to live:
"If it was possible to skip this time and go straight to tomorrow, I believe everybody would agree. But that's not possible: today we must live, today is our responsibility. It's about being courageous and confident at the same time, living the time we are given to live, with all its difficulties."
May this time, dear Don Antonio, be rich in good fruits, new encounters, new paths to follow with the same spirit of service you gave to Pignola. And may our community continue its journey with responsibility, protecting its roots and looking to the future, treasuring what we have experienced together.
Today Pignola thanks and embraces you, with a round of applause coming from the heart, a sign of the affection and gratitude of the entire community. Thank you, Don Antonio!
The Mayor of Pignola, Dr. Antonio De Luca
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