Heart of Padre Pio visits heart of Davao church

DAVAO CITY—The incorrupt heart of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina has made its visit to the heart of the local church of Davao—the seminary.

During the Day of Clergy and Consecrated Persons, October 16, priests and consecrated men and women of Davao and neighboring dioceses in Mindanao flocked to the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary to venerate the relic of saint who was famous for acquiring the stigmata, the wounds inflicted to Christ.

Seminarians from the nearby St. Francis Xavier College Seminary and other seminarians from different religious congregations have also been given the opportunity to venerate the saint’s relic.

“The seminary has been forming the hearts of the future priests and having Padre Pio’s relic is a way of promoting his spirituality since he is a good model for priests,” said Fr. Marbendear L. Morallas, professor of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary who is also part of the local organizing committee of this visit.

During the visit, series of conferences or talks were also done during the whole day visit at the seminary and a Holy Mass officiated by Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commision on Clergy.

“The heart of Padre Pio reminds us of the heart of Jesus,” said Fr. Ronald Lunas prior to the final blessing on the mass celebrated in REMASE for the relic’s visit.

He added that the heart of Padre Pio also reminds the priests and religious of their consecration and ministry.

He also thanked the priests and religious for their presence and for being together for that day.

A VISIT TO REMEMBER

Children from the Padre Pio’s Home for Children in Tugbok have also had a close encounter with the relics inside the chapel of REMASE.

Sr. Maria Angela Remonde, local superior of the Apostles of Jesus Crucified (AJC) said their founder’s spiritual director is Padre Pio way back in Italy and they are following this spirituality in their charism for the orphan and the poor.

“Padre Pio has paved the way for us to be here. Although the Italian priests who brought the relic to Davao City want to bring it to Tugbok, but due to constraints in logistics it did not push through that’s why we did our best to really come here and let the children venerate the relic of Padre Pio,” Sr. Remonde said in an interview with DCHerald.

Children sang the Ave Maria when the relic was exposed in the chapel prior to its departure going to San Pedro Cathedral. It was quick yet a very solemn encounter.

“Viva Padre Pio. We love you!” the children shouted as they boarded the pick-up truck that served as their transportation going to and fro REMASE.

The heart relic has stayed in Davao City from October 14 until October 17 before leaving for Lipa, Batangas.