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
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
click here to see images of Catania's trip >>>
