Graciously overseen by the Saint Pio Foundation, with founder and CEO Maestro Luciano Lamonaca in attendance, a steady crowd of the faithful filed in to the hilltop church to venerate the relics which were comprised of Saint Pio’s crusts of the wounds, cotton-gauze with Saint Pio’s blood stains, a lock of Saint Pio’s hair, Saint Pio’s mantle, Saint Pio’s handkerchief soaked with his sweat hours before he died.
The Saint Foundation made available a variety of prayer and relic cards, as well as novenas, Rosaries, a sculpture of the Saint and a special commemorative necktie by E. Marinella of Naples, as well as a silk foulard with his image.
A special thanks to the Parish and the members of the Saint Pio Foundation for their tireless efforts to promote the faith and the legacy of Padre Pio and for their warm welcome to pilgrims and devotees, many of whom stayed for the evening mass.
Photos and article by Cav. Charles Sant’Elia and Silvia Sant’Elia
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| Immaculate Conception Church |
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| Saint Pio's relics on display near the sanctuary |
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| Devotees take turns venerating the relics |
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| A silk foulard with Padre Pio's image |
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| Cav. Charles Sant'Elia with Saint Pio Foundation founder and CEO Maestro Luciano Lamonaca |
