by Br. Marvin Bearis

One of the most well-known and most beloved Capuchin saints drew thousands of the faithful to Connecticut in October.

They came to St. Pius X, our parish in Middletown, to venerate holy relics connected to St. Pio of Pietrelcina, our Padre Pio. For the first time, Padre Pio’s full-size habit—a garment he actually wore—left Italy to be exhibited across the United States.

The relics came to Middletown through a joint effort of the Padre Pio Foundation of America in Cromwell, Conn.; the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto, Pa.; and our parish. The event was one of the largest religious gatherings in central Connecticut in 2025. It offered a rare opportunity for people to connect in an immediate and tangible way with the life and spirituality of a Capuchin saint who continues to inspire the faithful around the world.

A Saint Known Worldwide

Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887 in southern Italy, grew up in a humble farming family. From a young age, he felt called to religious life and eventually became a Capuchin friar and priest. He is best known for his deep prayer life, his compassion for the suffering, and the stigmata—the wounds of Jesus Christ—that appeared on his hands, feet, and side in 1918 and remained with him for 50 years. Pio wore gloves every day to cover the marks on his hands, both for modesty and because the wounds often caused him pain. These gloves, now considered important relics, were also exhibited on this U.S. tour.

Pio spent most of his priesthood at Our Lady of Grace, the Capuchin friary in San Giovanni Rotondo in southeastern Italy. There, he became famous for hearing confessions for long hours—sometimes 12 to 16 hours a day. People traveled from around the world to meet him, seek spiritual help, or ask for healing. He died in 1968 at the age of 81 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

An Unprecedented Tour

The relics the friars presented in Middletown included:

• A full-size habit worn by Padre Pio
• A pair of gloves he used to cover the wounds on his hands
• Additional devotional items related to his daily life

A delegation of Capuchin friars from Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo accompanied the relics on their U.S. tour. We thank Brs. Pasquale Cianci, Antonio Gabrielli, Italo Santagostino, and Francesco Vilayil for making this journey to America. The presence of our Italian friars gave our visitors a more personal connection to the saint. It was a privilege for them to speak with men who live in the same religious community where Padre Pio served for decades.

Several friars from our Province were on hand for the event: Br. Ernie Bedard, parochial vicar of St. Pius X; and Brs. Gabriel Conlon, Samuel Fuller, Arlen Harris, Erik Lenhart, Scott Surrency, and Matthias Wesnofske. Two Capuchins of the Our Lady of Angels Province, California, also joined us, Brs. Joseph Seraphin Dederick and Christopher Iwancio. All of them lent a hand, celebrating Masses, hearing confessions, giving blessings, and leading our recitation of the rosary. 

Large Crowds

Over three days, Oct. 15-18, more than 5,000 people came through the doors of St. Pius X. Pilgrims arrived from cities and towns throughout Connecticut, from the New England region, and beyond. A few pilgrims came from California, Florida, and Texas. They came individually and in families. Many pilgrims journeyed here with parish groups or Padre Pio Prayer Groups. Some were new to St. Pio, while others were longtime devotees who have followed the saint for years.

On the first day at St. Pius X Church, two of the Italian Capuchins presented the habit and slowly draped it over a mannequin for all to see and venerate. Bishop Richard Reidy of the Diocese of Norwich celebrated Mass and welcomed the habit into the diocese. Our sanctuary could not hold the 1,300 people who came to worship, but this did not deter the few hundred people who stood outside. At the conclusion of the Mass, the friars brought Pio’s habit the center of the sanctuary. People waited in patiently in line for their turn to venerate it. Many visitors knelt in front of it or stood reverently and spent several moments in silent prayer.

The pilgrims also received a blessing with Pio’s gloves. The friars held the gloves gently over the heads, shoulders, or hands of visitors while offering short prayers. Some people wept; others simply closed their eyes and prayed quietly. People brought their rosaries and sacramentals to be blessed by Pio’s relics. While waiting their turn for these blessings, they went to confession, prayed the rosary with the friars, and spent time in front of the blessed sacrament.

A Community Effort

To accommodate such a volume of people in the church and the social hall, we prepared for weeks in advance with the Padre Pio Foundation. We couldn’t have done this without Julie Fitts Ritter, executive director of the Padre Pio Foundation, and her amazing staff. They organized and promoted the event. They provided our parish the resources we needed for people to come and pray to St. Pio in a safe and secure environment. They secured the police detail, extra bathrooms, a parking shuttle, and meals and snacks for the friars. As the pastor of St. Pius X, I am grateful for the overwhelming support of our parish.  This includes the parochial staff, organist, cantor, choir, and the dozens of volunteers who assisted us with hospitality, security, ushering, and overall organization.

Padre Pio Prayer Group

St. Pius X Parish has now organized its own Padre Pio Prayer Group. We meet every first Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. We begin with Eucharistic adoration, including a rosary and confessions. We celebrate the Eucharist at 7 p.m. and conclude with a blessing using a relic of St. Pio. All are welcome to attend.

Br. Marvin Bearis is the pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Middletown, Conn.