With spring upon us, we begin thinking of summer and for most of us that means vacationing at the South Jersey shore. In Landisville, N.J., about 30 miles from the shore, a beautiful treasure greets travelers: The Padre Pio Shrine.

The shrine was established by Marie and Pete D’Andrea, owners of a well-known family farm in the area, after a trip to Italy in 1997. It was during that trip that Marie and Pete made a visit to San Giovanni Rotondo to pray at the tomb of the then-Venerable Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, and their lives were deeply touched and transformed forever.