Easter will be celebrated in Loulé with the start of the “biggest religious celebration south of Fátima”.
The ‘Festa da Mãe Soberana’ is held every year in honour of the town’s patron saint Nossa Senhora da Piedade.
Festivities begin on Easter Sunday (April 9) with the Festa Pequena (Small Party) which will see the image of the patron saint carried in a procession at 5pm from Ermida da Nossa Senhora da Piedade to Igreja de São Francisco.
Religious celebrations will continue to be held at Igreja de São Francisco between April 10 and 12, while communications designer Andreia Pintassilgo will unveil the “new graphical identity” of the patron saint on April 12 at 9pm. The goal is to “standardise the image of these festivities” which are gaining an increasingly important role in the promotion of religious tourism in Loulé, the local council says.
The programme also features a performance by the Loulé Music Conservatory ‘Professor Francisco Rosado’ on April 15 at 6.30pm, while a lecture on the ‘Cult and Spirituality of Senhora da Piedade’ is scheduled for April 19, also at 6.30pm. Those looking to stay active will also be able to take part in the ‘Grande Prémio da Mãe Soberana’, a run starting and ending at Largo de São Francisco due to begin at 3pm on April 21.
But perhaps the biggest novelty this year is that the patron saint’s image will be taken on April 21 at 9pm in a new procession to Loulé’s recently renovated Igreja Matriz, where it will remain until April 23.
“While in previous years the festivities were only associated with Igreja de São Francisco, organisers wanted this year to include the Igreja Matriz, also as a way of showcasing its renovations,” the council said.
Also planned is a Eucharist on April 22 at 9pm, while the usual blessing of the Loulé Riding Club will take place at the Igreja Matriz churchyard at 10.30pm.
The grand finale is scheduled for April 23 with the ‘Festa Grande’ (Big Party), starting at 10am at Igreja Matriz with a Mass, followed by a procession leading to Largo do Monumento Engº Duarte Pacheco, where at 4pm an outdoor Mass will be held.
The big final procession will then continue along the town’s streets until the image of the patron saint is returned to Ermida da Nossa Senhora da Piedade.
The festivities are brought to an end with a firework show at night.
