marian anniversaries     july

Last Sunday in July

Madonna tal-Karmnu, Balluta, St. Julian's, Malta

In 1859, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Valletta built a church on Balluta Bay, between the towns of Sliema and St. Julian's,  rebuilt several times since and rededicated December 12, 1984. Since 1877, Carmelite friars have run the church, which acquired its beautiful statue from their Valletta friary in 1890. The Balluta festa, with participants from both towns, is a typical Maltese spectacular with colorful decorations, fireworks, an hours-long procession, and music by its own group, the Banda Tal-Karmnu Balluta. 

Sources:

the band's website, www.geocities.com/bandaballuta (photo)
Archdiocese of Malta, www.maltachurch.org.mt

Also celebrated this date:

Nuestra Señora del Carmen, La Calera, Quillota, Valparaíso, Chile, Pachacamita locality. Fiesta: traditional dances, mass, procession.
Notre-Dame du Cap Lihou, Granville, Manche, Normandy, France. Grand Pardon de la Mer: procession, blessing of boats, memorial for those lost at sea.
Beata Vergine delle Grazie, Villanova d'Asti, Asti, Piedmont, Italy. Sat. evening, floral carpeting of petal mosaics. Sun., blessing ceremony at well; blessing of children, who launch balloons with messages for the Madonna.
Madonna del Pubblico Voto and Madonna del Soccorso, Bagnara di Romagna, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (Madonna of the Public Vow and Madonna of Aid)
Madonna della Marina, San Benedetto del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno, Marche, Italy
Madonna delle Traglie, Gambatesa, Molise, Italy (Madonna of the Sledges). Wheat festival.
Madonna di Noantri, Rome, Italy (2nd Sun. after July 16)
Madonna della Provvidenza, Sora, Frosinone, Latium, Italy
Santa Maria degli Angeli, Luogosanto, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy
Madonna d'Itria, Gavoi, Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy
Maria Ausiliatrice, Lanusei, Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy (Mary the Helper)
Madonna di San Giovanni, Pietramelara, Caserta, Campania, Italy (Madonna of St. Joseph)
Madonna del Carmine, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Madonna dei Miracoli, Caltabellotta, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Madonna del Carmine, Bovalino, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Santa Maria delle Grazie, Delianuova, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Madonna dell'Alto Mare, Palmi, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy (Madonna of the High Sea)
Madonna del Rosario, San Procopio, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
L'Annunziata, San Roberto, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Maria Santissima della Sanità, Badolato, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy (Most Holy Mary of Wellness)
Madonna di Porto Salvo, Catanzaro Marina, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy (Madonna of Safe Harbor)
Madonna della Salvazione, Jacurso, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy 
Madonna degli Abbandonati, Soveria Mannelli, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy, San Tommaso district, Sat.-Sun. (Madonna of the Abandoned)
Santa Maria del Monte, Acquaformosa, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy
Madonna delle Grazie, Luzzi, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy
Madonna del Carmine, Marsico Nuovo, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy (Our Lady of Carmel)
Madonna del Carmine, San Paolo Albanese, Potenza, Basilicata, Italy
Madonna di Mellitto, Grumo Appula, Bari, Puglia, Italy
Marija Addolorata, San Pawl il-Bahar, Malta (Sorrowful Mary, St Paul's Bay)
Nossa Senhora das Dores, Alijó, Vila Real, Douro, Norte, Portugal, Castedo district. Festa.
Nossa Senhora de Jerusalém, Pombal, Leiria, Centro, Portugal. Festa, procession.
Nossa Senhora da Paz, São Vicente, Madeira, Portugal, Feiteiras parish (Our Lady of Peace). Festa, churchyard procession.
Virgen de la Antigua, Bañares, La Rioja, Spain (Antique Virgin)
 

Where We Walked ~~~ Mary Ann Daly