Story and photos by Emily Clark
FAIRFIELD – On the third evening of the novena in honor of Saint Padre Pio, the faithful braved the beginnings of a nor’easter to gather at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for Holy Mass and to venerate the relics of this humble priest and friar. Placed just to the right of the altar, the five relics, including a lock of the saint’s hair and a piece of his mantle, were visible throughout the Mass.
During his homily, pastor Father David Roman, who concelebrated with Father Herley Mendez, said that he always connected with the motto of Padre Pio – “Pray, hope, don’t worry.”
“These are such powerful, simple words from the heart of a man who understood the nature of suffering. There is just something about Padre Pio that really connects to our hearts,” he said.
In referencing the lines from Ecclesiastes in the first reading, Father Roman recounted some of the most well-loved: a time for everything under heaven, a time to be born, a time to suffer. “When we look at the life of Padre Pio, whatever time he found himself in, he trusted God, no matter what situation he found himself in life,” he said.
That life, Father Roman explained, was one filled with poor health and suffering. At age 15, the saint, known in his native Italy as Pio of Pietrelcina, was called to enter religious life and later joined the Franciscans. While celebrating Mass in 1918, he was gifted with an extraordinary mystical experience.
“It was the wounds of Christ which we know as the stigmata,” Father Roman said. “Even with that and all the attention that came his way, Padre Pio never sought to be built up for himself.”
Because of that stigmata, he explained, he was prevented from celebrating the sacraments and hearing confessions. Yet he remained faithful and trusted in God, knowing that something deeper was at work.
“Through this, we can encounter God’s love in a very relatable and loving human being. It’s what he did with his sufferings,” Father Roman said. “He didn’t allow that pain to break him or allow the wounds to close in on him. Instead, that suffering opened his heart, and he became all the more connected to people who are in pain.
Following the homily, those in attendance said the novena for the third day and were encouraged to ask for Padre Pio’s intercession for whatever season of life they were in.
Veneration commenced after Mass as the faithful waited to touch, kiss or press a prayer or rosary to the glass that protected the relics of Padre Pio. Fernando and Fabiana Neupmann of Our Lady of Aparecida Parish were two of the first in line, having driven down from Danbury before the storm because of their strong devotion to the saint.
“We love him. We love all the saints, but he is special with his love for the Church and his devotion to Mary,” said Fabiana, holding a rosary in her hands.
Victor Collet, who attended Mass with his mother, was hoping to complete the novena by visiting the other parishes throughout the week where the relics could be venerated.
“I really wanted to come and pray before the relics. I like what Padre Pio said about ‘pray, hope, don’t worry,” said the 20-year-old from Bridgeport. “When I need a peaceful place, I go in my room and pray, like he did, and I feel the Holy Spirit in me.”
One of the youngest attendees was 9-year-old Justin Melaragno, an altar server at St. Thomas Aquinas who assisted with the evening’s Mass. Standing with his parents after veneration, he talked about wanting to serve God and help Father Roman on the altar.
“When I’m carrying the cross, I’m carrying the Lord,” Justin said, adding that he had been looking forward to serving at the Mass for Padre Pio.
After leaving St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, the relics moved onto the Cathedral Parish of St. Augustine in Bridgeport for the fourth night of the Novena.
