First-class relic of Padre Pio in Ipoh

St Michael’s Church was given a special gift to start off the New Year in the form of a first-class relic of St Pio of Pietrelcina, for its weekly prayer group devotions.

Jan 16, 2015

IPOH (Herald Malaysia): St Michael’s Church was given a special gift to start off the New Year in the form of a first-class relic of St Pio of Pietrelcina, for its weekly prayer group devotions.

The relic, which is the blood of the saint from his stigmata, is on a tiny piece of cloth taken from his mittens.

The relic is enshrined in a framed picture of Padre Pio, and it is placed at the side of the altar of St Michael’s Church Ipoh.

It will be there permanently as SMC’s Padre Pio prayer group holds its weekly devotions to St Pio to pray for the sick every Thursday at 5.00 pm.

First class relics are instruments of Our Lord’s Passion or body parts of those declared saints or blessed by the Church.

SMC parish priest Fr Stephen Liew celebrated the New Year’s Day Mass, which coincided with the solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

It was concelebrated with SMC’s priest-in-residence Fr Robin Andrews.

Fr Liew said SMC had applied for the relic of St Pio through a letter signed by Bishop Sebastian Francis to Rome in November. It was quickly given the relic, which arrived the last week of December by courier, in time for the New Year Mass. It was accompanied by a signed letter from Rome, authenticating it as a first-class relic.

Fr Liew expressed his two wishes for the New Year — that there would be a greater devotion to St Pio for his intercession in healing and uniting families and communities. “My second wish is for more people to join in the Padre Pio prayer group, to pray for more terminally ill people,” he said.

After the thanksgiving, a member of SMC’s Padre Pio group carried the framed picture of St Pio with the relic inside and handed it to Fr Liew, who then placed it in its special place.

He lighted a candle and placed it in front of the framed relic. Fr Liew then incensed the relic and blessed it with holy water.

After this, the congregation recited Padre Pio’s prayer after Holy Communion, asking the Lord Jesus to stay with them throughout each day.

After Mass, many parishioners gathered around the framed relic, to pray and ask St Pio for his intercession for healing.

The Padre Pio prayer group at SMC has 18 members and caters for both Catholics and non-Catholics. It is a support group for people with cancer, stroke and terminal illnesses, irrespective of race and religion. Those who are interested to volunteer or register as a patient can do so at the parish office of SMC.

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