Around the world
Democratic Republic of the Congo
KINKOLE – Devotion to the Saint is also deeply felt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Saint Rita Group of the Saint-Jacques Parish of Kinshasa-Kinkole officially presented itself to the community in 2010, with great participation by all parishioners.
Brazil
SANTA CRUZ – The highest Catholic religious statue in the world has been erected in Santa Cruz. Fifty-six metres high and built of concrete blocks, it dominates the hill of Santa Cruz del Rio Grande do Norte. The colossal statue is dedicated to Saint Rita, becoming a pole of attraction that will see the light of faith shine.
Lebanon
BEIRUT – An Italian who visits the churches of Beirut and the Christian areas in Lebanon experiences the joyful welcome of a known and much venerated “fellow citizen”. Lebanon, like Iraq and the rest of the Middle East, follows the course of Saint Rita’s life with the hope of seeing in it the trajectory of its resurrection.
Syria
ALEPPO – Devotion to Rita, the saint of dialogue, is very strong in Aleppo. In almost all Churches, of all rites, there is her statue. Many pray to Saint Rita of impossible cases. Her feast, on May 22, is particularly felt and people care about taking home the rose blessed in her honour for the occasion.
Poland
GLEBINOW – The cult of Saint Rita is connected to the Augustinian nuns who have shown this extraordinary figure to the Polish people. Krakow, the only city in which the nuns work, is the place where Saint Rita has been known for longest. Nevertheless, the fame of this unique saint has spread throughout the whole country.
United Kingdom
HONITON – The British Sanctuary dedicated to Saint Rita of Cascia is located at the Augustinian Recollets Centre in Honiton, Devon. On May 22 each year, hundreds of her devotees visit the sanctuary for Mass and the traditional blessing of the roses.
Romania
CHIHERU DE JOS – For the Feast of the Assumption, on August 15, 2011, many pilgrims gathered in prayer in Chiheru de Jos (Transylvania), venerating the relic of Saint Rita from the Monastery of Cascia.
Spain
MONACHIL – In Monachil, near Granada, the “Saint Rita and the Christian people” magazine has been published since 1905. It is widespread throughout Spain, with a circulation of almost 19,000 copies. Many address their letters to the editorial staff, recounting their suffering and asking for prayers, or giving thanks with immense joy.
Switzerland
FRIBOURG – In the small chapel of the Cité St-Justin in Fribourg, the inhabitants devoted to Saint Rita and the students who reside in the house meet almost every day to pray in front of the new statue of Saint Rita in the chapel dedicated to her.
In Italy
Calabria
ROMBIOLO (VV) – In Rombiolo, province of Vibo Valentia, the community is very active for the feast of Saint Rita, celebrated every year in the Parish of Maria SS. Annunziata in Orsigliadi.
Campania
AVELLINO – In Campania, in Avellino, the celebrations in honour of Saint Rita begin with the start of the Novena, on May 13. Saint Rita is highly venerated in Avellino, and although she is not the patron saint of this city, devotion to her figure is deeply felt, and is increasing year by year.
Lombardy
CONSIGLIO DI RUMO (COMO) – Saint Rita is highly venerated in the community, and a statue stands in the chapel of the Parish named after her.
Piedmont
TURIN – The Sanctuary of Saint Rita in Turin has a peculiarity: it is a Sanctuary-Parish. The title of “sanctuary” was given by the people, on their own initiative. The Bishop and the Curia have never written anything in the official documents. It is Christian people who did what devotion inspired them to do.
Puglia
CONVERSANO – Since 2016, the group of Divine Mercy of Molfetta has been coming on pilgrimage to Conversano, the town of Saint Rita’s third miracle. Thus they can gather in prayer in the splendid Baroque-style church and convent of Saints Cosmas and Damian.
Sardinia
PATTADA – The Parish of Pattada has had the fathers of the Sanctuary of Saint Rita of Cascia bless a splendid tapestry created by Lucia Vargiu, as testimony of devotion to the Saint by the entire community.
Sicily
CASTELVETRANO (TP) – The community cultivates a special devotion to the figure of the Saint, to whom it dedicates a historical procession representing the most significant moments of her life through eight living paintings that parade through the streets of the town of Castelvetrano.
Tuscany
SESTO FIORENTINO (FI) – On the occasion of the feast of Saint Rita, the community of Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) works with participation and profound devotion for the saint of the impossible. In particular, the group of “Friends of Saint Rita” meets every year in the parish to participate in the celebrations that culminate on May 22, first of all recitation of the Holy Rosary.