In March 1370, a Spanish merchant ship set sail from a Spanish port. While sailing, it encountered a great storm, and the sailors threw all the merchandise overboard to save the vessel . This included a heavy chest, which, driven by the sea currents, washed ashore on the slopes of the Bonaria hill, where it was welcomed by the Mercedarian Fathers. Inside was the statue of the Madonna of Bonaria. Over the years, news of the miraculous event spread far and wide, even encouraging pilgrimages to Bonaria. In those years, the first set sail from Sinnai, as recounted twenty years ago (at a conference organized in Sinnai by the "Il Segno" association) by Don Giovanni Cadeddu, a priest from Sinnai, also recalling the studies of the historian Father Sulis. "Every year, for the feast of Bonaria," said Don Cadeddu, who passed away years ago, "we set sail from Sinnai from the little churches of Santa Vittoria and San Marco, in the Segossini district. Everyone sang the Rosary with a lit candle in their hand and from time to time the launeddas players accompanied the singing of the Lauds and Verses that the groups of singers intoned in honor of the Most Holy Mary."
"It's good to know," said Don Cadeddu, "that Sinnai supported the pilgrimage as organized as it was, until the outbreak of the Second World War." Pilgrimages were revived in modern times, in 1987. A group of friends from Communion and Liberation proposed to the then parish priest of Santa Barbara, Don Giovanni Abis, the ancient tradition of their town: "The pilgrimage to Bonaria." With Don Abis, 250 of them set out on foot: in Bonaria, they were welcomed by Monsignor Giovanni Canestri, Archbishop of Cagliari. The following year, there were 800 of them, and over the years, over 10,000 pilgrims arrived on foot, from Sinnai to Settimo, Selargius, Monserrato, Pirri, and Bonaria. A journey of prayer, at times in the rain and cold.
"Among our guests," said Pierangelo Soi, president of the Il Segno association, "we have had extraordinary religious figures, such as Monsignor Fouard Twal, Patriarch of the Latins of Jerusalem; Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo of Nazareth; and also Jean Benjamin Sleiman, Archbishop of the Latins of Baghdad; Monsignor George Abou Khazen, Apostolic Vicar of the Latins of Aleppo; Father Botros Pietro Fahim of the Discalced Carmelites; and Polish Dominican Father Damian Mrugakski. Monsignors Mani, Canestrari Alberti, Arrigo Miglio, and Baturi came to Sinnai to celebrate Mass or welcomed us in Bonaria."
This year, the pilgrimage from Sinnai to Bonaria was included among the events planned to mark the centenary of the consecration of the Sanctuary of the Basilica of Bonaria and the 40th anniversary of the pilgrimage to Bonaria itself. "An extraordinary event," said Father Gabriele Biccai, parish priest of Santa Barbara, "in 2025, coinciding with the Jubilee Year with plenary indulgence for pilgrims, the Jubilee Cross, made by inmates of the Uta prison, was also carried on the pilgrimage."
On Saturday morning, volunteers from the "Il Segno" association brought the torch with the copper effigy of the Madonna to Olbia. After a blessing from Bishop Fornaciari, the torch began its journey through the sites of the "Cammino di Bonaria" (Bonaria Way), joined by athletes from the Italian Sports Center, the "Cammino di Bonaria" Committee, and anyone else who wishes to be present, stage by stage. Tomorrow, April 15th, they will be in Nuoro, and in the following days they will reach Monte Ortobene, Monte Gonare, Orani, Sarule and Orotelli, Ottana, Sedilo, Ghilarza, and Fordongianus. They will also reach Mogorella, Usellus, Sini, Genuri, Setzu, and Tuili, arriving in Barumini. From there, on April 22nd, they will reach Villanovafranca and Guasila. On the 23rd, they will reach Samatzai and Ussana. On April 24th, they will arrive in Monserrato, with a stop at the juvenile detention center and return to Monserrato. Then, at 10:30 PM, they ran on foot, carrying the torch, to Sinnai, in time to take part in the night pilgrimage to Bonaria. "It's the same torch that ten years ago," recalls Pierangelo Soi, president of "Il Segno," "traveled 1,200 kilometers, stopping at the main Marian shrines in the Sardinian dioceses."
As mentioned, this year's pilgrimage from Sinnai to Bonaria was part of the celebrations organized by the Mercedarian Fathers for the centenary of the Consecration of the Shrine of Bonaria. A Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Shrine in Cagliari on April 24th at 11:00 a.m., presided over by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference. The entire Episcopate of Sardinia will be present.
