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Padre Pio

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Padre Pio
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
On Friday, September 23rd, 2005, the Feast of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina--"Padre Pio", The Catholic Faith Community of Rensselaer and the Sons of Italy - Roma Intangible Lodge co-sponsored a service at the Church of St. John the Evangelist. A six foot, fiberglass, bronze-tine statue of Padre Pio from Italy was dedicated in the new "Garden of Good Wind" in the corner section of Elm and Herrick Streets. A Eucharist followed with veneration of one of the mittens worn by Padre Pio and the Sacrament of the Sick was celebrated. 500 people attended this first annual feast day celebration. You may ask whois Padre Pio? A brief biography follows:

   

Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione on 25 May 1887 in Castello di Pietrelcina, southern Italy, in the area of Benvento. On 22 January 1903 he entered the Franciscans (Capuchins) under the name of Fra Pio. His was a life of illness and persecutions, plagued with condemnations, slanders and humiliations. He was able to endure such suffering becuase of his strong character, enduring faith and his resistance to such evils. The beauty of his life lay in his unique character: sweet yet surly, joyful yet lonely, quiet and impetuous and often hot-tempered. One cannot know Padre Pio without becoming endeared to him.



On 20 September 1918, and for the next 50 years until his death, St. Pio bore the 5 wounds of our Lord's Passion-- the "Stigmata". He is the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. 34 years after his death in 1968 and the subsequent examination of hundreds of documents, testimonies and miracles Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002 by Pope John Paul II. Padre Pio preached but one message: love is the only miracle that noone could ever destroy. Due to the great devotion of Padre Pio images of the saint can easily be found in any Italian home. St. John the Evangelist will be the only site in the Capital District to have an outdoor shrine dedicated to St. Pio of Pietrelcina.



Come visit the shrine of Padre Pio day or night. Also, in the church of St. John an image of Padre Pio stands near the statue of the Pieta. There a second-class relic of St. Pio of Pietrelcina can be found for veneration along with pray cards and votive candles for lighting. A second-class relic is usually a very small swatch from an article of the saint's clothing. A frist-class relic, for example, would be a fraction of the saint's hair or bone. In the church's vault we possess the formal documentation of its authenticity.



Saint Padre Pio Links:

National Centre For Padre Pio

Padre Pio Foundation of America

Padre Pio Paryer Groups - USA