About Us

About Us

       Though a relatively new saint in the Catholic Church, St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina has been revered by countless people around the world. Padre Pio’s extraordinary holiness was recognized during his lifetime as people of all faiths sought him out for his spiritual guidance and the intercession of his prayers. Padre Pio bore the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ’s passion, on his body, as physical evidence of his sanctity. In the long history of the Catholic Church, very few people have been signed with the stigmata.

        Francesco Forgione was born to a farm family in southern Italy. His father, Orazio, was a shepherd In his youth Francesco suffered several health problems and at one point his family thought he had tuberculosis. At age 15 he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars in Morcone and joined the order at 19 years old, taking the name of Pio. He was ordained at the age of 22 on August 10, 1910.

  On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix in the choir loft when he received the visible marks of the crucifixion, making him the first priest in the history of the Catholic Church to receive the stigmata. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds. Upon his death in 1968, the wounds had disappeared. In fact there was no scaring and the skin was completely renewed, fulfilling a prediction that Padre Pio had made 50 years prior that upon his death the wounds would heal.

Word of Padre Pio quickly spread, especially following World War II after American soldiers brought home stories of Padre Pio. The priest himself soon became a point of pilgrimage for both the pious and the curious. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed. He died on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one with the words, “Jesus”-“Mary” on his lips! Over 100,000 people attended his funeral.

Padre Pio’s canonization miracle involved the cure of Matteo Pio Colella, age 7, the son of a doctor who worked in the House for the Relief of Suffering, the hospital founded by Padre Pio. On the night of June 20, 2000, Matteo was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital with meningitis. By morning doctors had lost hope for him as nine of the boy’s internal organs had ceased to give signs of life. That night, during a prayer vigil attended by Matteo’s mother and some Capuchin friars of Padre Pio’s monastery, the child’s condition improved suddenly. When be awoke from the coma, Matteo said that he had seen an elderly man with a white beard and a long, brown habit, who said to him: “Don’t worry, you will soon be cured.” The miracle was approved by the Congregation for Saints and Pope John Paul II on December 20, 2001. On June 16, 2002 over 500,000 pilgrims gathered in Rome to witness Pope John Paul II proclaim Padre Pio as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.

The Parish/Shrine of St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina

On August 15, 2001, the Most Reverend Patrick F. Flores, D.D., Archbishop of San Antonio, appointed Rev. Patrick J. Ragsdale as the founding pastor of a new parish. At that time the new parish was without a name. Parishioners were invited to participate in choosing the name of a saint that the parish would be named after. Among those selected was Blessed Padre Pio, who at that time had not been canonized a saint. When the ballots were counted, the parishioners chose Blessed Padre Pio as the patron for their new parish. A few weeks later, the Vatican announced that Blessed Padre Pio would be canonized a saint on June 16, 2002!

On April 23, 2004 Archbishop Flores, in consultation with the Presbyterial Council of the Archdiocese, raised the parish to the level of a Diocesan Shrine to more fully honor this remarkable man of God. We believe this is the first parish in the United States named in honor of St. Padre Pio and certainly the first to build a shrine in his honor.

While the new parish of St. Padre Pio is relatively small, some 400 families, they are a parish family with a large vision. They have taken on the challenge of creating both a parish community that serves the spiritual needs of this growing family, as well as a shrine that will serve not only the people of San Antonio, but pilgrims from across the United States and around the world who seek the intercession of St. Padre Pio.

The new shrine will be built on twenty-nine acres of land on the north side of San Antonio. Plans call for a shrine that will seat 1200 people with a chapel dedicated to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and daily mass. The room for Reconciliation will be a focal point of importance allowing people the opportunity to be restored to full graces with the Lord. There will be a special gallery called, “Mary’s House”, that will have a statue or painting of each of the Madonna’s of the various major cultures of the people of the Archdiocese. In the future there will be a family life center, administration offices, education building, child development center and a retreat/conference center.

The shrine, with a traditional décor, will replicate as closely as possible the church in San Giovanni Rotondo where St. Padre Pio spent his life.

A pilgrim is one who strives to obtain salvation of their soul through a physical journey in which ‘caritas’, love for God, drives them. Pilgrimage, the journey to a distant sacred goal, is found in all the great religions of the world. It is a journey both outwards to hallowed places and inwards to spiritual improvement; it can express penance for past evils, or a search for future good. The pilgrim may pursue spiritual ecstasy in the sacred sites of a particular faith, or seek a miracle through the medium of God or a saint. Throughout the world, pilgrims move invisibly in huge numbers among the tourists of today, indistinguishable from them except in purpose.

For all those who make a pilgrimage, a shrine is both the end of a journey and the beginning of a new one. It is while on a pilgrimage that people are most open to God’s presence. It is with minds that God can work touching hearts, healing broken spirits, and revealing new directions. St. Padre Pio Shrine will be just that place.

The Shrine in honor of St. Padre Pio will be a destination for pilgrims from within the City and across the United States. These pilgrims will have an economic, cultural and spiritual impact on the City. Their presence will impact the tourism of the City. The cultural impact will be felt as we join with City or private forms of transportation to have pilgrimages to the Cathedral, the Mission of the City and the Shrine of St. Padre Pio.

What is a Shrine?

“Technically a shrine is a designated place, whose purpose is for pilgrimages, where some sacred object, whether a relic, statue or picture is acknowledged or venerated. The underlying purpose of a shrine is to foster Catholic beliefs or devotions. There are basically four types or categories of shrines to honor our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, particular saints, or Catholic beliefs or devotions. These are noted miracles or some phenomenon or prodigy believed to have been granted at their sanctuaries. Shrines have been found in many lands and have been recognized since the fourth century.” (New Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13, page 181).

The Code of Canon Law, which governs the universal and the particular churches of all dioceses in the Latin Church, was promulgated by Pope John Paul II on January 23, 1983. In chapter three, part IV-(Sacred Places) canons 1230-1234 govern the purpose and role of shrines. Canon 1230 states: “The term shrine signifies a church or other sacred place to which the faithful make pilgrimage for a particular pious reason with the approval of the local ordinary”. Canon 1232 states: “The local ordinary is competent to approve the statutes of a diocesan shrine; the Conference of Bishops for a national shrine; the Holy See for an international shrine”. Canon 1233 states: “Certain privileges can be granted to shrines as often as local circumstances, the large number of pilgrims and especially the good of the faithful seem to suggest it”. Canon 1234 states: “At shrines more abundant means of salvation are to be provided the faithful, the Word of God is to be carefully proclaimed; liturgical life is to be appropriately fostered especially through the celebration of the Eucharist and Penance; and approved forms of popular piety are to be cultivated. Votive gifts of popular art and piety are to be displayed in shrines or adjacent places and kept secure”.

Since September 23, 2001, before the parish patron or patroness had not been chosen Padre Pio was spiritually present with us. The date of our first mass was the day of his death in September. Through a democratic process the people chose the name of Blessed Padre Pio. Shortly thereafter, the canonization was announced in Rome for June 16, 2002. Several from our parish and the pastor were present for this momentous occasion. Archbishop Flores was instrumental in promoting and supporting the designation of this parish as a diocesan shrine. The hand of Padre Pio has been upon us from the first mass we celebrated until this very day. He will remain with us as we move forward to the construction phase of our shrine. Thanks be to God!

Why Build the Shrine of Padre Pio in San Antonio?

This question is one we need answer in order to achieve the purposes outlined in Canon Law. When I envision our shrine I quickly reflect upon the words of Jesus when he spoke of the importance of going to an ‘out of the way place for prayer, whether it be in the middle of a metropolitan area or on the quiet hillside in the country. A shrine allows us to move for a period of time from our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods and church communities to a place of prayer, regardless if that form of prayer is reflective silence, celebration of the Eucharist, restoring one’s spiritual life in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This shrine can become a place to evangelize the marginalized and lapsed Catholic. All things listed above are the very ‘fiber’ of the spirituality of Padre Pio. We are first and foremost a parish church, which will offer a unique opportunity for people to come on pilgrimage to be sacramentally and spiritually renewed. Mass will be available for every group of pilgrims as well as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through these two sacramental experiences ones life will be transformed. In this context the life and ministry of Padre Pio will be reflected upon. Devotions to Padre Pio will also be another part of our overall purpose.

The Shrine as an Edifice

The capacity of the shrine will be 1300. The retablo will be a replica of the one in the church Padre Pio celebrated mass. The décor and liturgical appointments will be traditional in nature offering the signs and symbols, which we Catholics are accustomed. There will be a pipe organ with the antiphonal located in the balcony. The entrance to the confessional will replicate the exterior façade of the one in San Giovanni Rotundo. There will be a vaulted ceiling in the sanctuary area with frescos and house the liturgical appointments as mandated by the bishops committee on sacred liturgy. There will be an adoration chapel for daily mass and adoration.

A special chapel will be within the church, which will be called “Mary’s House”. It will depict a statue or painting of the Madonna of major ethnic cultures within the Archdiocese of San Antonio. This chapel will also house memorabilia of Padre Pio. There will be a bell tower in the courtyard in front of the shrine, which will house bronze bells and have the capacity to be played from the console of the pipe organ. The entire edifice will breathe forth the semblance of an ‘Italian village”.

We have already opened up the doors of our hearts to all who comprise our young and vibrant parish. When people come for worship they quickly discover the people are the ‘walls, windows and doors’ of the community. With the help of many willing hearts, the intercession of Padre Pio one day we will have the walls, windows and doors to house and serve all who come to this ‘out of the way place to pray!”

To learn more about how you can become spiritually and financially involved and literally be woven into fabric of this challenging mission, please go to the ‘donation ’ page of our web site and see how you can help turn a ‘dream’ into a ‘reality’.

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The first building on the property.