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Oct. 10 - Oct. 17, 2004 |
St. Pio's Relics in T.O.
Father Antonio Belpiede honours saint from Pietrelcina
By Mariella Policheni
Originally Published: 2004-09-26
Tiny bits of Padre Pio, as his devotees still call St. Pio from Pietrelcina, have come to Toronto.
The precious relics were brought to our city by father Antonio Belpiede, the Superior of the Capuchin Monastery of Serracapriola, one of the 11 monasteries where St. Pio lived. "First of all I wish to clarify that these are not mere objects touched by Padre Pio, but actual parts of his body, e.g. his hair, teeth, stigmata scabs," said father Belpiede. "During the Novena in his honour, which will be held from September 18 to 26 at the parish church of St. Bernard, these relics will be offered to public worship."
This will be a special occasion and a moment of deep faith for the Italian-Canadian community of devotees of this saint. "These relics are a special gift that will enrich our preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ during the Novena," continued father Belpiede. "They were brought to Canada especially for those seniors who don't have the opportunity to visit St. Pio's body in Italy. Now they, too, will be able to worship the relics here in Canada."
Even though the faithful will be overjoyed to be able to venerate the saint's relics, father Antonio Belpiede deems it important not to lose sight of the essence of this celebration. "The focus of preaching during the Novena will remain the mystery of Jesus Christ, as it manifested itself during Padre Pio's life and as taught by the Vatican II Council."
The Novena will begin on September 18 to close on the 26th with a rosary recitation and a procession at 5 p.m.. "However, the Novena will reach its zenith on September 23, the anniversary of the saint's death in 1968 at San Giovanni Rotondo," added father Guglielmo Corbo, parish priest at St. Bernard, 1789 Lawrence Avenue West. "At 7:30 p.m., the rosary recitation will be followed by a prayer vigil, a Mass and an open-air procession with torches."
The presence of father Antonio will bring Toronto's faithful even closer to this saint, who spent his juvenile years in the monastery at Serracapriola studying theology. "Our monastery is the only one open to groups of pilgrims, who can make a good spiritual experience," explained father Belpiede, who's been visiting Canada for important religious functions repeatedly since 1988. "Some time ago, for instance, father Guglielmo Corbo came to visit with Luigi Bertolone and a group of 45 Torontonians. The participants, which included Tony Maniaci, Sandro Sordi, and Joe Primucci, judged the experience very positive, very enriching."
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