Fri Nov 21 14:08:12 UTC 2025: News Article:
Virgin Mary Procession in Tunisia Unites Diverse Communities, Reviving Memories of “Little Sicily”
La Goulette, Tunisia – The annual procession of Our Lady of Trapani in La Goulette, a coastal suburb of Tunis, drew hundreds of Tunisians, Europeans, and sub-Saharan Africans on August 15th. The event, centered around a statue of the Virgin Mary carried through the town square, revived memories of the area’s rich history as “Little Sicily,” a hub for Sicilian immigrants in the late 1800s.
The procession, which began with a Catholic Mass, saw participants waving Tunisian flags and singing hymns. Isaac Lusafu, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, emphasized the unifying power of the Virgin Mary. The event highlights the area’s multicultural past, reflected in a mural of Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, who was born in La Goulette.
The feast of Our Lady of Trapani was brought to La Goulette by Sicilian immigrants. Hatem Bourial, a Tunisian journalist, recalled how native Tunisians, Muslims, and Jews would join the procession in the early 20th century, carrying the statue to the sea to bless the fishermen’s boats.
After Tunisia’s independence in 1956, most of the European residents left, and public Christian celebrations were halted in 1964. The procession was revived in 2017, initially within the church compound, and this year extended to the square.
The event attracts many young Tunisian Muslims, drawn by the Virgin Mary’s high status in Islam. Rania, a 26-year-old student, expressed nostalgia for the area’s multiethnic past, noting the importance of European immigration in Tunisia’s history.
The procession also reflects the recent influx of sub-Saharan African migrants, many of whom are Christian and now form a significant part of Tunisia’s churchgoing population. A mural in the church depicts the Virgin Mary sheltering Tunisians, Sicilians, and sub-Saharan Africans.
Archbishop of Tunis Nicolas Lhernould highlighted the event’s unifying nature, bringing together diverse groups, and emphasized that “Mary herself was a migrant.”
Rita Strazzera, born in Tunis to Sicilian parents, noted that while the Sicilian community has dwindled, its spirit remains, particularly during All Saints’ Day when Tunisians visit the graves of their Sicilian relatives, a reminder that “Little Sicily is still with us.”
First Piper 