Blessed Weekend: Padre Pio Shrine

Last Saturday morning, Sweets asked if we can go to Padre Pio Shrine in Sto Tomas Batangas.  Since we are really heading to Laguna to visit my family, I called up Mama and asked her if she can accompany us and go to Padre Pio.  She mentioned that she really intended to go to Padre Pio this weekend -- I believe that this is not a coincidence - this is a blessing from Him.

St. Pio was born to Grazio Mario Forgione and Maria Giuseppa Di Nunzio Forgione in Pietrelcina, a farming town in Southern Italy.  St. Padre Pio was ordained a priest in 1910.  On September 4, 1916, Father Pio was ordered to return to his community life.  Thus he was moved to an agriculture community, Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, located in San Giovanni, Rotonda in Foggia.  He stayed there until death, bearing the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ for fifty years.

Padre Pio become a spiritual director, guiding many spirituality, considering them as his spiritual daughters and sons.  He had five rules for spiritual growth, namely:
1. Weekly Confession
2. Daily Communion
3. Spiritual Reading
4. Meditatin
5. Examination of Conscience

His advice on pratical application of theology he often summed up his now famous quote, "Pray. Hope. Don't Worry."  He directed Christians to recognize God in all things and to desire above all things to do the will of God.

To learn more about him -- please visit his Biography --> Pio of Pietrelcina!

The Padre Pio Shrine in Sto Tomas Batangas is less than 10 kilometers from San Pablo City, Laguna town proper, and is another 1 1/2 kilometers from the highway.

As envisioned by Rev. Fr. Joselin "Jojo" C. Gonda, the newly built church is a product of a nature and eco-friendly, Filipino and tropical design.  Wood, stone, bamboo, and sasa define the Filipino character of the structure.

The roof of the church is shaped like a giant ant salakot to remind the faithful of how God protects us from evil and harm just as how the salakot protects farmers and fishermen from the rains and from the heat of the sun.  The whole concept created a unique, serene, and welcoming church that naturally draws people to pray and be inspired by God and nature. -- from St Padre Pio Parish and Shrine brochure.

Once you reached the parking space (one side is soil and rocks, the other side is cemented), you will already see the stairs going up the church.

This view is looking at the church and where you can put your candles.

This view is looking at the Chapel of the Living Water and Images of Mary (below entrance).   This Chapel is at the basement of the Belfry tower where devotees come here to be blessed by the Holy Water.

The tower is the Mary, Mother of Mercy Belfry.  As you go up each floor of the tower, you will see the life of Padre Pio on how he started his mission.  At the top of the tower are the church' bells.

This is another place where in you can also say your prayer.

Now on to the church itself. It is an open space and it's very calm and relaxing.  You can feel the serenity and love of God that you will want to lift everything to Him.

After praying, you can opt to light a candle and pray for the wish of your heart.  My husband and I, we always pray for Love, Family, Forgiveness and Hope! 

I recommend that you visit Padre Pio on a non mass hour or non feast day. So you will feel the solemnity of the place and you can be focused with your prayer.

The feast of St. Padre Pio is celebrated every 23rd of the month but the real Feast Day where there is a month long celebration happens every 23rd of September.

I hope that you can have some time to visit this place to reflect and thank Him for all the blessings that came our way.  If you are too far from Batangas, you can also visit Padre Pio at Libis, Eastwood.

Xoxo