Disbanded Groups

Padre Pio Prayer Groups

National Office

St. Francis Renewal Center
1901 Prior Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19809

The Lord give you His peace!

A number of individuals have called for various things (pilgrimages, religious articles, etc.). In the course of the conversation I find out that they once belonged to a Padre Pio Prayer Group, but that their Group no longer exists. They had disbanded after Padre Pio’s Canonization. It seems that many thought the Prayer Groups were supposed to pray for Padre Pio’s canonization, so when that took place they believed there was no more reason to continue as a Prayer Group. This is rather amusing. Since Padre Pio founded the Groups, would he have people pray for his own canonization?!. In fact, many of these people entered the Prayer Groups after 1968 and could quite easily believe that the Prayer Group Association was an immediate establishment after his death to gather donations and pray for this specific purpose.

What I am asking all the Prayer Group members to do with me and for me is to find out if there are any people in your area or elsewhere that you have known or know who used to belong to a Prayer Group. If their reason for not belonging anymore is one of the above – donations and/or canonization – please clarify the situation for them and offer them the opportunity to either enter your group, or contact me to establish a new one. Their continued love and devotion for Padre Pio might encourage them to establish a new group, thus strengthening the Association and “recruiting” new members into our “Militia of Prayer”.

The Association of Padre Pio Prayer Groups is mainly an association of people who want to grow in their relationship with God. Padre Pio’s life and counsels are the guiding force that helps each to accomplish this everyday. While donations to the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza are gratefully accepted and encouraged as an expression of the charitable works of each Group, donations are not the core issue or requisite of the Group’s establishment. This is an important matter when speaking with those who may have “problems” with the charity that all the Groups have manifested in their willingness to share in the Work of Padre Pio through their annual contributions.

If you know of anyone, please send me the person’s name, address (if possible), and phone number, so that I might contact them. The Church has always considered Spiritual Children of Padre Pio, in response to Padre Pio’s own directives, as those who belong to the Association of the Padre Pio Prayer Groups with Headquarters at San Giovanni Rotondo, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza. Help me try to approach all these sisters and brothers in the Prayer Group family of Padre Pio. What a wonderful gift we could make Padre Pio on the 40th anniversary of his entrance into eternity, by strengthening in spirit and number those devoted souls of his Militia of Prayer, his Spiritual Children united in his name in our Association.

May God bless you; Our Lady guide, guard, and protect you; and Padre Pio, look over each one of you, his Spiritual Children, with loving care.

Peace and Blessings
Fr. Francis A. Sariego, O.F.M. Cap.
National Coordinator