St Padre Pio Feast! Five Days of Novena Completed from 9 October-13 October
Mangaluru: St. Padre Pio was an Italian priest who was known for his piety, charity, and the quality of his preaching, as well as the gift of the stigmata, which has never been explained. Padre Pio became internationally famous, and He famously advised, “Pray, hope and don’t worry.” Padre Pio died on 23 September 1968. His funeral was attended by over 100,000 people. Pope John Paul II recognized Padre Pio as a Saint on June 16, 2002. His feast day is on September 23, but due to the pandemic, the Feast celebrations were postponed, and therefore, today (9 October), the flag hoisting was done to mark the beginning of the Novena, which will culminate with the Festal mass on 18 October, celebrated by Fr J B Saldanha-the Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Bejai, Mangaluru at 5.45 pm
St Padre Pio is the patron of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and the village of Pietrelcina. Devotion to St. Padre Pio began in 2003 in St. Anne’s Friary, Mangaluru. As the number of people drawing towards the Saint increased, there began the Novena to the Saint which continues till today with an increasing number of devotees. 2018 was the centenary year of the Stigmata of St. Padre Pio and it was 50 years since the Saint went to Heaven. But this year due to the pandemic, the celebrations will be a low-key matter, unlike every year devotees and St Anne’s Friary gear up to celebrate the occasion on a very grand scale. The Flag hoisting to inaugurate the festal celebrations and the nine-days Novena was done by Lancelot Pinto MCC Corporator of Bejai Ward, along with Fr Royson Fernandes, from Udupi diocese and Editor of Konkani publication ‘Uzvad’, Fr Melwyn D’souza-Superior, St Anne’s Friary, Fr Lancy Rebello- Animator of Fr Pio Shrine, amidst the other Friary clergy and Catholic faithful.
For more details on St Padre Pio and Flag Hoisting Ceremony click on this link : Flag Hoisting Mark Start of Novena and Feast Celebrations of St Padre Pio at St Anne’s Friary )
Novena of St Padre Pio Day- 1 October 9
Theme : St Padre Pio and Holy Catholic Church
Main Celebrant Fr Fr Royson Fernandes, from Udupi diocese and Editor of Konkani publication ‘Uzvad’
Novena of Padre Pio (Day 2) October 10
Theme: Word of God and St Padre Pio
Main celebrant – Rev. Fr. Roshan D’cunha -Parish Priest of Pangla Church
Padre Pio Novena, Day 3 -October 11
Theme: Padre Pio and His Concern for Sick
Main celebrant Rev. Fr. Andrew D’Souza, Parish Priest of Bajal Church
St Padre Pio Novena , Day- 4 October 12
Theme: Padre Pio and Stigmata (Suffering)
Main celebrant: Rev. Fr. Fredrick Braggs Capuchin-Ujire
St Padre Pio Novena , Day- 5 October 13
Theme: Padre Pio and Sacrament of Confession
Main celebrant: Rev. Fr Vincent D’souza, Parish Priest- Kulur Church
At the end of nine-days novena, the Solemn Festal Mass will be held on 18 October at 5.45 p.m. presided over by Fr J B Saldanha-parish priest of Bejai church. On that day there will be masses at 6.30 a.m. and 10 am . Special prayers and Healing Prayer and Mass for the Sick and the Aged will also be held.
For more details on remaining Novena days and Festal mass refer to the poster below :
Click here To View More Photos
