First-class relic of St. Padre Pio to be installed in St. Peter the Apostle Parish on Sept. 18

A photograph of St. Pio by Elia Stelluto, St. Pio's historical photographer. (courtesy photo/Saint Pio Foundation)

FORT WORTH — St. Padre Pio has a home in the hearts of many Catholics in the diocese, and soon a relic of the beloved saint will have a permanent home in the Diocese of Fort Worth.

On Sept. 18, a first-class relic of St. Pio will be installed in front of the altar at St. Peter the Apostle Church, located at 1201 South Cherry Lane in west Fort Worth, where it will remain on permanent display.

The diocese obtained the relic in partnership with the Saint Pio Foundation, which has granted relics to five U.S. dioceses — in the north, south, west, east, and center of the nation, forming a giant cross. Fort Worth will be the southern end of the cross and is the second location to receive a relic.

About Padre Pio

St. Pio was born in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy, and joined the Capuchin order at the age of 15. He was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1910 and served in the military as a friar during World War I.

In 1918, he received the stigmata, the five wounds Jesus suffered during His Passion, and the painful wounds remained for 50 years. He was also known for having visions and the gift of healing. His holiness and love for others drew many to seek him in the celebration of Mass and in the confessional, where he sometimes remained from sunrise to sunset.

He endured spiritual suffering and poor health with courage, obedience, and devotion to prayer.

After his death in 1968, his reputation for sanctity and miraculous manifestations grew across the world. Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio in 1999 and canonized him on June 16, 2002.

The relic

The first-class relic to be displayed at St. Peter the Apostle is a bandage stained with blood from the wound on St. Pio’s side. 

A relic is a physical object associated with a saint, such as a part of the body or a personal possession. The Catholic Church teaches that relics are venerated to help the faithful focus on the saint’s life and virtues and to draw closer to God through prayer and intercession of the saint.

In Fort Worth

The relic will be placed at St. Peter the Apostle Church in time for the 8 a.m. celebration of Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Veneration of the relic will continue until 4:00 p.m.

At 6 p.m. on Sept. 18, Bishop Michael Olson will celebrate Mass at St. Peter the Apostle to bless the installation of the relic. A livestream of the Mass can be viewed at fwdioc.org.

After the evening Mass on Sept. 18, a one-hour docudrama, “Saint Pio of Pietrelcina: a Man of Hope and Healing,” will premiere in the parish gym.

Prayer cards, books, rosaries, and other gifts will be available for purchase.

Beginning Sept. 19 and beyond, the parish will make the relic available for veneration. The parish also has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday.
More information will be available on the parish website, StPeterFW.com.