Suffering Humanity receive Prayers during St Padre Pio’s Annual Feast Celebrations
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 September 23, 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 September 23. He 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 increasing number of devotees.
The Annual Feast celebrations of Saint Padre Pio is going on in full swing at the St Anne’s Friary, Bejai-Mangaluru, since 13 September, with the nine days novena started from 13 Sept till 21 September, in preparation for the Feast. This is the 51st year of celebrations, and the Flag hoisting to inaugurate the festal celebrations was held on 13 September 2019 at 5 pm, done by Rev Fr Alwyn Dias-provincial of Holy Trinity Province, who also said the inaugural mass.
Each day since 13 Sept, Feast celebrations were held as per the themes, namely- “St Padre Pio’s life is an inspiration to live in reconciliation in families” in favor of families on 13 Sept; “St Padre’s Pio’s obedient life is a call to live a true Christian Life” favouring the children on 14 Sept; ” St padre Pio’s committed life is an ideal for today’s religious”for Religious people on 15 Sept; “St Pio’s life of prayer paves the way for religious vocations”for vocations on 16 Sept; “St Pio’s selfless service is an inspiration for workers” for workers on 17 Sept;
“St Pio’s compassion and generosity calls us to be generous”for benefactors on 18 Sept; “St Pio’s thirst for souls is a light of life for teachers”in favour of teachers on 19 Sept; and yesterday with the theme “St Pio’s patient endurance is a consolation for the suffering humanity” in favour of the sick on 20 September. The main Celebrant of yesterday’s mass (20 Sept) was Fr. Prakash D’Cunha, OCD the Rector of Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte. The Retreat began at 10.00 a.m. followed by Mass and Praying over the sick, infirm and elderly, which was followed by a sumptuous meal for all the participants. The Friary clergy had expected a crowd of 750 people but more than 900 gathered for the religious ceremony.
Yesterday’s (20 Sept) celebration was mainly for the Sick and Suffering as envisaged by St. Padre Pio himself. Padre Pio had built a big hospital in Giovanni Rotondo (the place where he lived and died) to take care of the sick and the suffering, and that was the memory remembered on 20 September. Today, 21 September, with the theme “St Pio’s unsullied life is a call for youth to shun evil” especially favouring the Youth, where a large number of youth thronged the shrine to receive the blessings of Saint Padre Pio.
Tomorrow, Sunday, 22 September, the Festal solemn Eucharist will be held at 6 pm with a procession of the Relic prior to the Mass at 5 pm. The main celebrant of the Eucharistic will be Very Rev Fr Maxim Noronha, the Vicar General of Mangaluru Catholic Diocese. St Pio’s dedicated life is an inspiration for our Christian life. The Capuchin Friars of St Anne’s Friary have extended a warm welcome to all to join in the Festal Mass tomorrow (Sunday, 22 Sept at 6 pm)
