An inspiring visit: St. Padre Pio relic visits Northwest Deanery

North Texas Catholic
(Jan 30, 2025) Local

Parishioners venerate the Relic of St. Padre Pio during Mass at parishes across the diocese. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

WICHITA FALLS — Parishioners and clergy of Sacred Heart Parish in Wichita Falls and St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Burkburnett were very grateful to be able to venerate a St. Padre Pio relic, on loan from its permanent home at St. Peter the Apostle in Fort Worth recently.

Deacon Bill Archer, a retired Sacred Heart deacon who leads a Bible study at the parish and visits the sick, said he was very moved by the “once in a lifetime experience” to venerate the relic for both the parishioners and school children of Holy Family Classical Academy, which is located on the Sacred Heart campus.

“It was absolutely incredible. It was very touching. It was very inspiring. It was a moment beyond any kind of explanation,” Dcn. Archer said.

Father Kyle Walterscheid, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Wichita Falls, came by Sacred Heart on Jan. 24 after the noon Mass and later celebrated the closing Mass in the evening.

"It was great to see a church completely filled twice on an ordinary Friday for the two Masses offered at Sacred Heart Parish and to see the large volume of people coming from all over the Wichita Falls area throughout the day,” said Fr. Walterscheid. “There truly is something within the soul of the faithful and curiosity that inspires us to seek and to come into contact with a saint like St. Padre Pio who lived such a holy life in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

“He helped make holy his penitents that sought him out by the thousands,” the dean of the Northwest Deanery continued. “Now we seek his intercessions by the tens of thousands each day.”

 

Small but great

Father Joseph Moreno, pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus in Burkburnett, Christ the King in Iowa Park, and St. Paul in Electra, said when he saw the email invitation to be a host parish, he prayed for the relic to visit one of his three rural parishes.

“We are out in the peripheries of the diocese, so opportunities like this don’t arise often,” Fr. Moreno said. “Additionally, when they do, it is generally to the larger parishes. But in the Gospel, Our Lord reminds us, ‘Truly, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ I believe this applies to our smallest parishes, as well.

“My parishes may be small, but the faith of the people is great,” he continued.

A closer view of the St. Padre Pio relic. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

Fr. Moreno said St. Jude Thaddeus had a small but steady stream of faithful visiting the relic all day on Jan. 22, including students and parents from Chesterton Academy of Wichita Falls, which is located at St. Jude Thaddeus. Later in the day, students, parents, and catechists from religious education and OCIA programs at Fr. Moreno’s three parishes also visited.

Caitlin Marchand, a Christ the King parishioner and catechist, asked her children to pick an object with which to touch to the relic. Her 12-year-old daughter Dulcie, who will receive the sacrament of confirmation this year, chose a rosary she had received as a gift and had never noticed was a Padre Pio rosary.

“She was very excited and loved Fr. Moreno’s presentation,” Marchand said, adding that they learned the Church’s teachings on relics and the distinction between adoration and veneration.

“She stayed extra to sit with the relic after we all left. I think she has begun a lifelong friendship with St. Pio,” said the mother of seven children.

 

A saint set to inspire

Noel Filer attended the Jan. 24 morning Mass at Sacred Heart with her father, Larry Wilhelm, and their close friend, Dcn. Archer. Filer and her husband Chip have been members of Our Lady Queen of Peace for about 25 years. Her father has been a longstanding member of Sacred Heart for 40 years, where he would attend Mass with his late wife, Lucille.

“Saint Padre Pio is one of the saints I find myself drawn to because of his example of living his faith so purposely, robustly, and persistently. I also believe him to be a powerful intercessor,” Filer said. “As such, I was moved to take advantage of the opportunity to venerate his relic and attend the Mass, seeking his intercession for the miracle of sight for a beloved family member.”

Filer’s husband wasn’t able to attend Mass, because he spent the afternoon volunteering as security along with several members of Sacred Heart.

Blake Winn, the parish music and liturgy coordinator, wrote a hymn to the tune “Aurelia (Our Church’s One Foundation)” honoring St. Padre Pio for the two Masses that day.

“My inspiration for the lyrics came from significant events in Padre Pio’s life, including his stigmata, his ability to read people’s hearts, and his visions of the future. I also incorporated one of his most well-known quotes, ‘Pray, hope and don't worry,’” he said.

A Latin, science, history, and music teacher for Holy Family Classical Academy, Winn brought his 2nd-5th grade music class to visit the relic.

“I have been preparing them for this Mass all week and teaching them about the different classifications of relics as well as why we venerate the relics of saints. We discussed the specific parts of the relic, including the theca, reliquary, and the wax seal on the back that proves its authenticity. The students even read the Latin inscription beneath the relic,” he said.

The St. Pio relic continues its travels in the diocese through Feb. 1. In the future, it will visit neighboring dioceses. Find out more information about its schedule and permanent home at stpeterfw.com/chapelofstpio.

St. Padre Pio, Relic veneration, Northwest Deanery, trending-english