The faithful filled every pew, and then some, at a special Mass celebrated yesterday by The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, as the relics of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) were made available for veneration.
Arriving a half hour before Mass, visitors already found the parking lots overflowing and nearby streets lined with cars. The main body of the church filled quickly, while hundreds more gathered in the adjoining auditorium to watch a live video feed. The atmosphere was reverent, expectant, and deeply prayerful.
The Habit in the Sanctuary
For the first time in history, an authentic full-size habit worn by Padre Pio left Italy, accompanied by Padre Francesco Dileo, OFM Cap., Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Friars Minor, and a delegation of friars from Padre Pio’s own friary in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Moments before the opening hymn, the sanctuary grew silent as a full Capuchin habit worn by Saint Pio was carefully carried into the church and placed in the sanctuary to the right of the altar. This sacred relic, displayed in America for the first time, drew a deep stillness from the congregation. As the Mass began, there was a sense that the presence of holiness had descended upon the assembly.
A Higher Hall of Fame
In his homily, Bishop Reidy drew a striking comparison between relics of the saints and mementos of athletic greatness.
At Cooperstown, people line up to see Babe Ruth’s bat; in Canton, Tom Brady’s Super Bowl jersey; in Toronto, Bobby Orr’s skates. Such items connect us to superstars and unforgettable performances that stir our hearts.
Then, turning toward the sanctuary, he added:
We come here to venerate and pray before the habit worn by Saint Pio, who belongs to a far higher Hall of Fame: heaven. After a far more important contest, life, he achieved not seven World Series, seven Super Bowls, or two Stanley Cups, but eternity in the presence of God.
Bishop Reidy reflected that earthly fame fades, quoting the Latin phrase sic transit gloria mundi, meaning “thus passes the glory of the world.”
Athletes, no matter how gifted or fit, age. Their skills diminish. They retire. And like all of us, they die. When they do, they face the only contest that truly matters, the judgment before Almighty God. The saints are the true Hall of Famers. Their glory does not fade, because it reflects God’s eternal glory, which we are all invited to share.
The Life of a Saint
The Bishop recounted how Francesco Forgione, later known as Padre Pio, entered the Capuchin order at the age of fifteen and was ordained at twenty-three. For more than half a century, he lived a life of austerity, prayer, and obedience despite constant physical and spiritual suffering.
“He endured poor health, arthritis, gastritis, insomnia, and the attacks of the devil,” Bishop Reidy said. “He bore the stigmata and yet remained humble and obedient, never seeking attention or reward.”
Padre Pio rose daily to celebrate Mass at 5 a.m., heard confessions for up to sixteen hours, and spent countless hours blessing the sick and counseling pilgrims. “The life of a Christian,” Bishop Reidy quoted the saint, “is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self, no flowering of the soul to the beauty of perfection except at the price of pain.”
Bishop Reidy closed by echoing the day’s Gospel: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. That is the path Padre Pio walked, and the one we are called to follow.”
A Rare Spiritual Encounter
Following Mass, the faithful waited patiently to approach the relics. “You could feel the peace in the air,” said one attendee. “It was as if Padre Pio himself were present, reminding us that prayer still moves mountains.”
It's Not Too Late- All Are Invited
For the first time in history, an authentic full-size habit worn by Padre Pio has left Italy, accompanied by Padre Francesco Dileo, OFM Cap., Provincial Minister of the Capuchin Friars Minor, and a delegation of friars from Padre Pio’s own friary in San Giovanni Rotondo.
This special visit is hosted by the Padre Pio Foundation of America and the National Centre for Padre Pio, offering the faithful an extraordinary opportunity for prayer and veneration.
Join the friars at St. Pius X Church in Middletown, Connecticut. The visitation is free and open to the public. Visit www.padrepio.com for details.
Schedule of Masses and Veneration:
- Thursday, October 16 — 7:00 a.m. Mass in honor of Padre Pio; 8:00 a.m. Holy Hour; 9:00 a.m. Mass in Italian; veneration 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 6:00–9:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 18 — 9:00 a.m. Mass in honor of Padre Pio; veneration until noon; 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass followed by veneration until 8:00 p.m.
And while you are at it, you may want to visit the Padre Pio Foundation of America in Cromwell, CT.
Schedule at the Padre Pio Foundation of America in Cromwell, CT
Wednesday, October 15, 2025: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Thursday, October 16, 2025: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday, October 17, 2025: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
By Wayne Gignac
Four County Catholic Executive Editor