Hundreds attend St Pio celebration
SEVERAL hundred devotees of Saint Pio were blessed with one of the mittens he used to cover his stigmata — one of two mittens used by the saint that are kept permanently in this country.
Hundreds made their way to St Mary's Church in Listowel on Thursday night for the special celebration of the life and spirituality of St Pio, one of the highlights this year for the Saint Pio prayer group attached to the Parish Church that is spear-headed through the laity by local woman Kathleen O'sullivan.
Canon Declan O'connor and former Listowel curate Fr John Kerin (now in Waterville) said Mass on Thursday night and blessed hundreds with the mitten.
The night was made even more special, of course, due to the new shrine to St Pio in the church — made from the wood of an old confessional box in St Mary's.
"We were delighted with the night and the turnout certainly shows how strong devotion to St Pio remains in north Kerry," Kathleen's daughter and prayer group member Bernadette Hanrahan explained. "The church was packed and people came to Listowel from parishes all over north Kerry and beyond. It was great to have Fr John Kerin there alongside Canon Declan O'connor, who both blessed everyone with the mitten."
Bernadette reminded everyone that the Saint Pio prayer group meet on the fourth Thursday of every month for Mass, rosary and benediction.
