Praia Sacro Cuore Church

On the 30th of November 1916 the Sanctuary of  the Madonna  of the Cave was promoted to parish, being named ‘Parish of S. Maria’s Cave in Praia a Mare’. It is remained as such until 1958, when the new church dedicated to the ‘Sacro cuore’ was opened.

Recently, in 2004, the church of the ‘Sacro cuore’ was completely restored.Since the 27th of august 1977 the Sanctuary and the Parish of Santa Maria della Grotta have been put into the care of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate.The Cassano’s Archbishop Domenico Vecchiano (diocese to which once the only church of Praia belonged) former pupil, when he became a priest at Institute of ‘Holy Mary Immaculate’ – via del Mascherone in Rome, because of the poor health of the vicar don Domenico Petroni, felt it would have been opportune to have a religious community worshipping Maria.The initial refusal of the General Father, due to the lack of priests of that time, was made up for by the intervention of the Cardinal Agostino Casaroli (back then Secretary of State of the Pope Paul the VI) who used to go to Praia on summer vacation. His influence helped towards the acceptance of the Parish on the 27th of august 1977 and in september the first few vicars arrived from the Congregation.