On Wednesday, October 23, Saints John and Paul Church in Larchmont was filled with Catholics from around Westchester for a healing Mass and blessing with a relic of St. Padre Pio. The Catholic Community of Larchmont’s newly established Padre Pio Prayer Group organized the evening. Father Louis Masi, administrator of the parish, offered the Mass in the presence of Bishop John Bonnici, the Larchmont parishes’ pastor and vicar of Westchester and Rockland counties.

In his homily, Masi spoke about the healing power of the wounds of Christ Crucified and their connection to the life of Padre Pio. Padre Pio experienced the stigmata (the presence of the wounds of Christ) in his own body. It was by embracing the suffering of Christ that Padre Pio became an instrument of God’s healing in the world.

After the Mass, everyone joined together in praying Padre Pio’s prayer after receiving Holy Communion, “Stay with me, Lord.” Then attendees were invited to come forward to be blessed with a relic of Padre Pio and to place their written intentions and candles before the altar. Finally, attendees were invited to a social in the Nazareth Parish Center.

The idea for a Padre Pio Prayer Group in the parish arose a little over a year ago when one parishioner, Anthony D’Andrea, a relative of Padre Pio, passed away. After his passing, parishioners came together to create a Padre Pio Prayer Garden behind the Nazareth Parish Center and next to the parish’s Sacred Heart Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (which also houses a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis). The garden has been a peaceful place for people to spend time in prayer. With many people coming to pray in the garden, the parish decided to establish a monthly prayer group centered on the spirituality of Padre Pio. Last month the group made a pilgrimage to the Padre Pio Shrine in Barto, Pa. This month the group sponsored the healing Mass and reception.

Next month, on November 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Saints John and Paul Church, there will be Eucharistic Adoration along with a talk on Padre Pio and the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, followed by a social in the Nazareth Parish Center. All are invited to join the Padre Pio Prayer Group. Please visit the parish website for more information, photos, and upcoming events.