Šaštín-Stráže hosts National Pilgrimage to the Seven Sorrows of Mary

The National Pilgrimage to the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary is scheduled to take place in Šaštín-Stráže from Saturday, September 12, to Wednesday, September 16, 2026. This year’s theme is ‘Seven Sorrows of Mary – Mother of Life.’

Due to a specific agreement between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See, the feast day on September 15 will exceptionally not be a public holiday in 2026. Consequently, the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia (KBS) is primarily inviting believers to attend the main celebrations on Sunday, September 13.

The event also marks the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’s visit to Slovakia, which concluded in Šaštín in September 2021. The pilgrimage program includes spiritual and cultural activities, concerts, and prayers for Slovakia. The main Sunday Mass will be celebrated by Bratislava Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský, with Jozef Haľko serving as the preacher.