Florida Catholic | St. Padre Pio Celebrated With Mass And Devotions

BOB REDDY | FC
Franciscan Father Gino D’Allesandro carries a life-size banner of St. Pio to the shrine after Mass.

St. Padre Pio celebrated with Mass and devotions

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish shrine draws hundreds from across the country.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 03.07.08

SARASOTA | Not everyone is called to be a saint like St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, but everyone has the responsibility to put the word of faith out there, Bishop Frank J. Dewane said during the second anniversary Mass marking the unveiling of the St. Padre Pio shrine at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish.

Bishop Dewane added at the Feb. 23 Mass that the devotion of Padre Pio needs to be a force in people’s lives.

“Talking about faith and the power of God in your life, in my life, is important,” he said. “It’s not something someone can tell you, the power of faith. There is no science to explain it. We should let it be our faith that draws us in to serve God.”

A Mass in Italian was followed by a procession led by a Knights of Columbus honor guard, a simple ceremony and a few prayers at the shrine, then a reception for devotees from across the county, most first-generation Italians.

Many of the devotees of St. Padre Pio were from other parts of the country, brought to Sarasota by the inspiration of Gino D’Allesandro.

D’Allesandro conceived of the shrine in his dreams, picturing a church in Florida as the place Padre Pio wanted the shrine built.

“I came over here because Padre Pio told me to come over here,” he said. “To see this church, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, everything he told me in my dream, everything came true.”

He has started registered prayer groups for the saint in the area.

St. Pio, who was canonized in 2002, is known for being the first priest to receive the stigmata, and many miracles are said to have occurred because of his powers. Other miracles are reported to have occurred to devotees around the world.

Devotees from Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Indianapolis and elsewhere came to the ceremony and reception afterwards.

As the only shrine to the Italian saint in Florida, Father Joseph Connolly said, it is a big attraction to people all over the state.

“This is real opportunity for all of those people who have devotion,” Connolly said. The devotees come year-round and give the parish a high profile.

The Mass collection and a raffle at the reception raised more than $1,000 for a group of parish youths who are raising money to go to World Youth Day in Australia in September.

Bishop Dewane mentioned the Gospel reading was about the story of the prodigal son, but he emphasized that Padre Pio was the faithful son, with his father to the end.

“That is how we should all live,” he said.

Ellie Longo of Incarnation Parish in Sarasota said St. Padre Pio is a special saint to her.

“Padre Pio was a favorite of my husband, (Joseph), and gave him great comfort before he died,” Longo said. “Now he provides me with great comfort. I pray to him for my son, who is at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He’s in the Marines.”

Her devotion includes a statue of her own, but she said the statue at Our Lady of Martyrs brings out a stronger emotion.

“It gets to me every time I see it,” she said. “He was an amazing man and you can see it when you get close.”

Father Connolly said that with the growing number of devotees, the reception will most likely have to take place at another location next year.

“I am just so amazed by the growth,” he said.

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St. Padre Pio celebrated with Mass and devotions

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